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I promised to tell you about my class
Having not heard a word from Augusta, James Griffing returned to his room after
the regular Monday night meeting of the Missionary Lyceum and wrote: Middletown
[Connecticut] Beloved
Augusta, I
have been waiting with the greatest patience for an answer to the letter I wrote
you immediately after coming here and have tried to satisfy myself with some
reason why you did not write [back to me]. But [I] can hardly think of any
[reason] without it was this, "That [the letter I sent you] was
hardly worth it." i.e.. an
answer. It was a poor apology for a letter I must confess, yet I hardly know how
I shall be able to better it. But stop! There
may be a thousand other reasons. Perhaps it was not received. Perhaps, because
it was directed to Miss Jemima A. Goodrich, Mr. [Charles R.] Barstow, [the
postmaster in Owego,] might have thought that it meant "Aunt Jemima"
who lives down at Washington [D.C.] [1]
I think I promised to tell you something about my class which I will endeavor to do, taking up their names in alphabetical order. Bangs, Nathan D., is a grandson of Dr. Nathan Bangs of New York City. He came here whilst too young, was naturally active and lively, fond of society and fun; has not sufficiently appreciated his privileges and the consequence has been very bad. He has worse than wasted his whole college course, has chosen bad associates, has preferred their society in the grocery [2] and streets than that of his books and his studies. He is soon to graduate (i.e., if he can), yet unless he greatly reforms, his whole life will be one of dissipation and disgrace. Bennett,
Charles W., is from East Bethany, New York.
He stands forth a beautiful contrast to the fellow I have just mentioned.
He is a still, sedate, modest sort of a fellow, steady and regular in his
habits, thoughtful and inquisitive in his investigations, thorough in his
studies and faithful in his duties. He stands a little above medium as a scholar
and is very exemplary as a Christian and a student.... Cantine,
F. C., is a native of Brooklyn, New York. He was young and bright, but as is
the case with many who come here young, they are liable to fall behind their
classes unless they study closely. Such was the case with young Cantine. He was
not able to pass the mathematics of his junior year in consequence of neglecting
his lessons. Disliking the idea of falling behind one year and not graduating
with his class, he asked for a dismissal from College and went from here to the
New York University a few weeks ago. Foolish boy. With his natural ability, he
might have taken an enviable stand in his class and graduated with respect. But
he chose not this, but rather to spend his time in light reading, visiting other
students rooms [during] study hours, &c.
Just before he left, he expressed deep regret at the course he had taken.
Said he saw where he had greatly missed the figure and wished he should live and
act very differently. I went to the [railroad] cars to see him away and he
seemed to think that, "he should go down to the University at N.Y. and
redeem himself." I do hope he may. Chester, Simeon F., lives at Brooklyn, Ohio. He went home last vacation and has not yet returned. Consequently, I know but little about him. The class speak of him as a very clever, conscientious fellow, still and unassuming, yet possessing a well balanced mind and a good disposition. He is the one I supposed I should be obliged to chum with when I came. But Cantine's leaving lets me in with my friend Mr. Walton of whom you have often heard me speak and who I shall tell you about on time. Clark,
William Robert, 3 is the oldest member of the class. [He] came here
after he
had married him a wealthy wife who was greatly desirous that he should secure
all the advantages that college discipline might afford. Before coming, however,
he was an excellent scholar, chaste and concise in writing. Thoroughly versed in
rhetoric and logic, Mental & Moral Philosophy and a few other branches, so
that whilst the class were obliged to give all diligence to these [subjects], he
could give his attention to the other branches. I think him a most excellent
scholar, and although he may be very far from being valedictorian of the class,
yet he will graduate much the most finished scholar of any in the class in every
respect. I wish I had time and room to tell you [more] about him. As a public
speaker, he has few equals in this section of the country. At this hour, he is
in Cincinnati to represent the free soil convention there from this state. Dusinberre, George Brown, 5 is a good-hearted, clever, honest Dutchman from East Avon, New York. In some things he almost excels; in others, [however, he] is quite behind the mark. In all his college studies he stands quite low. Yet as a writer and public speaker, he stands almost among the first. He is extremely fond of fun and sometimes will carry things altogether too far, so much so at times as to make himself appear ridiculous. If the professor attempts to reprove him for his conduct, he resorts to his wit for defense. But as he is not overstocked [with wit], he sometimes receives a severe castigation. But
I find I must postpone the rest until my next [letter] if you desire me to
continue. I have not seen Hancie
[Abbey] since my first visit shortly after coming here about which I spoke in my
former letter. I do think she has improved much in her music. If formerly she
sang well and agreeable, now she sings delightfully enchanting, superlatively
excellent, supremely gratifying. Oh how she loves her piano and so does Aunt
Rachel. I believe she would almost sit three hours with her hand up to her face
if Hancie would only keep playing and singing. She has some old favorites that
Hancie has played and sung over so [that they are played] pretty well. I
promised Hancie that I would write to her soon as I received an answer from you,
but as none has come, I have delayed. She told me if I would come over some
Saturday, she would take me up in Glastonbury and show me some of the [Goodrich]
cousins there. Tell me all about the other letter when you write. What do you
expect to do the coming winter? A number of the students are complaining with
the dysentery. There is much sickness in the city [of Middletown] and I think
many deaths for its size. The Roman Catholics have torn down their brick church
and are erecting a splendid edifice. Believe that I shall ever remain yours in
the very best of bonds, -- James
[1]
James is teasing Augusta, knowing full well that she does not like to be
called by her first name, "Jemima."
By 1850, it had become a common stereotype and expression to refer to
Negro "mammies" as "Aunt Jemima's." At the time that James visited Washington, D.C. in the spring of
1850, the trafficking of slaves was still permitted and the slave auctions
conducted within sight of the Capitol Building were a source of no small
embarrassment to most Americans.
[3]
The Free Soil Convention held in Cincinnati must have been held for State
and local offices as the National Free Soil Convention wasn't held until
August 11, 1852, in Pittsburgh. The Free Soil Party supported free homesteads for settlers and
unimpeded entry for immigrants. |
