Diary & Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes

Volume I [1834 – 1860]

[Page 90]

Kenyon College, January 25, 1842.--My time for the last two
weeks has been mostly occupied by my preparations for an ex-
tempore discussion with friend Bryan on the question, "Is There
a Limit to the Progress of Society?"
The discussion is now off my hands. This is the first time I
ever spoke extempore before a large audience. I was a little em-
barrassed at first, but it soon wore off and I felt as much at home
before I closed as if I had been long accustomed to public speak-
ing. My success was better than I anticipated, so I was satisfied.
Bryan made a good speech, but on account of recent illness he
did not do himself justice. Neither of us felt very desirous of
doing much. To use a favorite expression of mine, borrowed
from old friend Trowbridge: "Our political salvation did not de-
pend on that performance."
In addition to history, I have read a little of Scott's poetical
writings. "The Lord of the Isles" was after my own heart. Oh,
had I such power of description as is there displayed, the char-
acters of our Revolutionary sires should be portrayed in colors
whose brightness would eclipse the sun. The names of our
heroes and sages would outlive "the Bruce" in the affections of
freemen. I do not pine for talents I can never have; but then I
cannot but think of the glorious field for the display of poetical
talents the scenes and characters of the Revolution afford. What
a country we have; what mountains, what lakes, what rivers,
what plains, what cataracts, to inspire the poet and arouse poetic
fire! What great deeds of valor and patriotism are to be de-
scribed; what men are to be painted to life! All is here but the
genius to seize the strong points in our history. And shall this
always be wanting? I hope I shall live to see some Shakespeare
arise who shall do justice to the men, the times, and the deeds of
the Revolution.
I am too crazy with a fever to write this evening. I rave like
a maniac.

Volume I [1834 – 1860]

[Page 91]

GAMBIER, January 31, 1842.
MY DEAR SISTER:--Your family letter and brother's canes and
medals came together by the stage yesterday. All parties were
well satisfied. I have received pay for some of the articles al-
ready and will obtain what remains due in a few days.
I have just glanced over your very pithy reply to my "concil-
iatory epistle" to see if you had said anything which needed spe-
cial notice. I found nothing to remark upon in the first few
sentences, and after hastily running over the "Goths and Van-
dals of the North" and "the more polished of the South" together
with a snatch of "study" and "intelligence," I began to fear I
should be under the necessity of looking elsewhere for ideas,
when my eyes were suddenly arrested by the thrilling words
"apples" and "mince-pies." "Oh, the exulting sense," the "pulses'
maddening play"! But words are too tame to express what then
I felt. A fly in a pot of honey, "a pig in the clover," a toad in a
gutter,-- O pshaw, out with it,--Hayes at the dinner table!
I have studied pretty well this winter. The past week I have
applied myself so close I have scarcely had time to laugh, so that
I feel in fine spirits now and, if I was only at home, what a laugh
we would have over it!
I commenced the above sentence with study and ended with a
laugh. I'll try it again. My studies at present are not very in-
teresting: Algebra, chemistry, and Paley's "Natural Theology"
all dry, and with the exception of algebra I am not anxious to
excel in them. The chief amusement I derive from them is af-
forded in the recitation room where the Major [President Doug-
lass] occasionally gives us a good anecdote of his military life.
Like most men who have spent their youth in camp, his words
and thoughts seem to flow in the channel formed by the soldier's
drill. If he wishes to illustrate some remark relative to the
goodness of the Deity, he brings a file of soldiers to his aid.
If he is speaking of the wonderful adaptations of man's faculties
to the situation in which he is placed, he at once introduces a
regiment. But if the human toe is the topic, a whole army
marching with a disciplined step is required to make the subject
clear to our dull comprehensions. The President is, however,
one of the very best men in this world. About two weeks ago
a young man from Mississippi, who came here during the holi-
days, was taken sick. The Major took him to his house and
tended on him like a father till he died day before yesterday.
Mr. Quinn was very generally liked from the little acquaintance
which the students had with him. He was preparing for the
ministry and bore his last illness with unusual calmness and
fortitude. Two brothers who came with him are left desolate,
indeed. Every attention was paid him that kindness could
suggest. The seeds of his disease, congestive fever, were
brought from the South; he seemed conscious from the first
that there was no hope for him, and as far as self was concerned,
he was not sorry that his end was near.
The President when he announced his death to the students
was affected as much is if he had lost an only son. Bishop Mc-
Ilvaine preached a most excellent funeral sermon. He, too, was
greatly affected; he came regularly twice a day to visit Mr. Quinn
and spend some time with him for a week before his death. An-
other of my friends, Jones, was taken with some slight disease.
As soon as it was known, Lieutenant Ross took him to his house
and made him as comfortable as heart could wish till he had en-
tirely recovered. It is a consolation that if one is sick he will not
suffer any more than if he was at home, and in many cases, I ven-
ture to say, not near so much.
I am in good health as usual. My friends are at present well
except Edgar Hinton who occasionally bleeds at the lungs.--
Write soon. Your affectionate brother,
R. B. HAYES.
MRS. W. A. PLATT.

Volume I [1834 – 1860]

[Page 93]

GAMBIER, February 7, 1842.
MY DEAR SISTER:--This is the last sheet of paper in my room
or I would not send one so blotted. The Society for which
Brother William made some medals paid me for it, but ten dol-
lars of it was Illinois money and I have returned it so I am
that much minus. Please tell some of the "constituted authori-
ties" that if they wish to see me, they had better send me ten dol-
lars about the quickest. I feel a good deal "stuck up" today, for
I have got my hair cut, my peaked-toed boots blacked, and my
t'other new brindle-colored pants on. And, what is still more
surprising, I have my face washed and a clean collar on. It is a
hard matter for me to "slick up" here for everybody notices it.
It's an unusual thing for me. The bell-ringer, a first rate fellow
he is, too, says I am the only fellow in college who has dressed as
poor as him this winter. He feels grateful to me, for he says
whenever the common loafers ridicule him he could always point
to one who was worse off than him. I have worn my sorrel
overcoat every day. You know how gracefully its folds wind
about my form when I have no other coat on. My cowhide boots,
not having been greased often, gradually acquire a yellow hue
from sympathy with the coat. As for my old pants, they have
been put on such a marvellous short allowance of buttons that it
seems quite miraculous that they should be induced to stay on.
I need not go into any particulars about the total absence of shirt
buttons and whole stockings, for enough has been said to show
you that in the present condition of my wardrobe it is something
of an undertaking to put on my "tothers," and of course should
not be attempted without some powerful causes are in operation.
Well, now, there have been a few curious developments made
about these parts within the past weeks. For spreeing and other
refined amusements, a very respectable number of Kenyon's sons
have been censured or dismissed and the rest of us sorely fright-
ened. But this is only a circumstance. The seniors in the majesty
of their power unanimously resolved that they would not go to
one of the regular examinations of the college. The faculty in-
stead of dismissing every mother's son of us, as they would if
they had been men, were so astonished at our audacity that, like
Mrs. [Mr.] Bumble when Oliver [Twist] asked "for more,"
they held up their hands in utter dismay, and if it wasn't to save
appearances before the body of the students, I verily believe they
would never take them down. The examination so unceremon-
iously dispensed with was in chemistry, that lovely study. Many
of my classmates were so excited that they really supposed they
were resisting a most unwarrantable oppression. I, of course,
was in the matter up to my eyes, but I wasn't blinded. I was
laughing "under my skin" in a manner very interesting to look
upon. The whole affair reminded [me] of the old couplet:
"Hey diddle, the cat's in the fiddle,
The little dog laughed to see the sport,
And the cow jumped over the moon."
I acted the part of the little dog.
The course of it all was that the faculty challenged us to a
game of boy's play. We accepted and being the best boys have
beat them. They will try to punish us a little but it's all humbug.
We have used them up. This is the first time I was ever before
the faculty and they were a great deal more embarrassed than I
was. However, they are all fine men, but they lack the nerve and
decision to act like Dr. Sparrow.
I was up to Mr. Douglass', sitting up with the old gentleman
who is very sick, a few evenings ago. I heard there that you
have all turned animal magnetizers. Well, I was some astonished
to hear you had become temperate, but to hear of your believing
in such a humbug is quite amusing, quite, I assure you.
That's about all. Don't forget the ten dollars and if you can't
make the change exactly, don't mind if you have to send more,
I'll dispose of any amount you may desire.
Your brother,
MRS. W. A. PLATT. R. B. HAYES.

Volume I [1834 – 1860]

[Page 94]

GAMBIER, February 27, 1842.
MY DEARLY BELOVED:--When my washerman has on his Sun-
day shirt collar and feels perfectly at ease, he is about as genteel
and well-looking as any clownish clodhopper you will find in these
parts, and his name is John Miller. This has no very great in-
fluence on the general politics of the country but when con-
sidered in connection with my bodily condition, it is an important
fact. You can form no idea of the amount of labor he saves
John and myself, especially these rainy days. Perhaps you would
give the credit to his wife, but we think he is entitled to some.
Be this as it may, we are saved the trouble of bringing water by
his bringing home our clothes so wet that we can save an abun-
dance by merely wringing them dry. Mr. Miller accounts for this
unheard of kindness by saying that "sunshine is very scarce and
his indoor accommodations very poor for drying purposes." By
this time you may be curious to know why I stated the facts
relative to Mr. M-'s personal appearance, which was entirely un-
necessary for the right understanding of our established system
of water-works. To be plain with you, I wished to exercise your
reasoning powers in drawing inferences from certain circum-
stances known to be true. Now the particular inference desired
in this case is that my washerman is not the nicest man to look
upon, when deprived of the artificial grace which a newly-washed
countenance and formidable shirt collar always give to their pos-
sessor.
Whether you were enabled by your natural acuteness in logic
to deduce this conclusion from the premise or not is immaterial,
for from frequent and close observation I can assure you that
when very much embarrassed (he is a modest man) and very
dirty, he is the worst-looking mortal I ever set eyes on. Here
again you may be at a loss to know why I am anxious to impress
upon your mind a circumstance apparently so unimportant. You
must recollect I have been studying mathematics, the main object
of which is to train the mind to habits of close, vigorous thinking.
I never, therefore, state anything unnecessary, but come at once
to the subject and finish it in the fewest words possible. In my
letters you may have noticed what remarkable conciseness I have
in my style of writing. If you never have, mark the style of this
epistle. See if there is anything which I could have left out, and
I think you will be satisfied that I have not come to college for
nothing.
To return from this digression to Mr. Miller. As I was saying,
he is an ugly man, especially about the mouth. But Saturday
evening when he brought in my clothes he was much less pre-
possessing than usual. He came into the room with a halting,
staggering gait, and socked my wet clothes down on a chair, and
instead of hurrying out, blundered up to me and in his embar-
rassment and hurry to get off his hat nearly gouged his eyes out
trying to catch hold of the narrow brim of his beaver and then
commenced something in this wise:
"Mr. Hayes, I was in town this afternoon," here he paused to
catch breath, "and saw John W. Miller, and he said he was at
your mother's house and would like to see you at his house--and
--and would be very glad to see you--and--hoped he said you
would be sure to come to town--and if you did, he wanted you
to be sure to come to his house."
During the delivery of this oration his complexion, naturally
very ruddy, had increased in redness with a pulse constantly ac-
celerating till when he finally stopped for want of breath, I en-
tertained serious fears lest he would burst. After a short interval
of silence which gave him no relief, he again commenced: "I
really intended to bring it up but I entirely forgot all about [it],
but I'll bring it up early Monday morning. If you should happen
to be walking tomorrow you could come to my house, but you
won't, it's too muddy."--Here having an opportunity to say a
word, I quietly asked him what he had got. "Oh yes; why, you
see Mr. J. W. Miller got a letter from your mother and gave it
to me to hand to you and I really intended, but indeed Mr. Hayes
I forgot all about [it] and I will."
"Never mind about it, Monday morning will do," said I. This
eased the poor fellow and he cleared out considerably revived,
leaving me in a fit of laughter from which I have not yet re-
covered. I shall get the letter sent by Mr. J. W. Miller in the
morning and will then try and write a little sense.
R. B. HAYES.

Volume I [1834 – 1860]

[Page 96]

Monday morning, February 28.--I have just got Mother's let-
ter I am glad Uncle has arrived safe. I heard of him in Del-
aware. I shall, of course, be home to see him. My vacation com-
mences about the 18th of March. I have no time to write
more I shall be home about the 20th, no preventing Providence.
Your brother, in love and haste,
MRS. W. A. PLATT. R. B. HAYES.

Volume I [1834 – 1860]

[Page 97]

Columbus, March 27, 1842.--Many, many weeks of labor and
rest, pleasure and pain, have passed since I last penned a line in
my book, misnamed a diary. I am now enjoying myself with
my friends at home. I shall try and atone for past neglect by in-
creased diligence while I have leisure.
The Junior Exhibition took place as usual at the close of the
last winter session. The class was a poor one but they were aided
by a representation of the literary societies of the college so that
the whole affair taken together passed off in fine style.
A year ago and I was in their stead. How the weeks and
months have flown! Soon I shall have to leave the scenes of
many a frolic and many an hour of joy, and, that too, forever.
From this fond theme how can I part ere half unladen is my
heart?

Volume I [1834 – 1860]

[Page 100]

April 15.--We have lots of new students. Hedges has joined
the Y. A. Washingtonian. I shall not, now he is safe of his own
good sense.
MRS. W. A. PLATT.

Volume I [1834 – 1860]

[Page 102]

KENYON COLLEGE, June 13, 1842.
MY DEAR MOTHER:--I was overjoyed at the favorable account
of Fanny's health contained in Brother William's letter of last
week. I have strong hopes that by this time you have had de-
cisive evidence of her improvement and good reason to believe
that she will speedily recover. It appears to me a good sign that
thus far her state has been precisely as Dr. Awl anticipated at
first. I really hope that she will be able to come with you to our
commencement. The trip would do her so much good after being
so long confined.
The session is more than half out. Commencement day is the
fifth of August. We shall have a good deal to occupy our minds
till then, although the hardest of our regular studies are now
finished. We have a great quantity of small jobs to finish which
have been accumulating ever since we entered. These are chiefly
with reference to societies, such as writing compositions and the
like.
The weather has been so cold that there has been much more
studying done than is usual in the summer, and of course we have
had less frolicking and trouble, for these are always the result of
idleness. There have, however, been two dismissions, both of
which were richly deserved months ago. Now I am speaking of
these matters, I might as well inform you that the senior class
have all been restored to the grade which they lost by their
chemistry rebellion of last term. It was done without any solici-
tation on our part but merely from the faculty's desire to do us
justice; or that should have been their only motive, though it may
be that they were influenced some by the fact that unless they did
so, we could not graduate.
Before I leave I must dispose of a few bedclothes I have with-
out you wish me to bring them home. The sheets are good, but
as for the quilt and comfort, they are rather dusty for common
use although very fine for college.
I have bought, as the merchants say, a cheap and well-selected
assortment of summer goods, which I may have occasion to use
if I should ever go to the West Indies with Uncle, but in this
climate they will only serve as a memorial of the warmth we en-
joyed in former times. Speaking of clothes suggests the idea
of expense and that again brings to mind the chinking of specie or
rattling of bills--things which are remembered like the indistinct
visions of a dream, for I have not been charmed by the reality
of such sounds for many a day. Urbana shinplasters and Gran-
ville issues have been my only source of enjoyment in this quar-
ter. But to the hard reality: My county order may not be cashed
this summer and in the meantime I need some money. I have
already had thirty dollars sent me. During the session I shall
probably spend a hundred. This is considerable more than usual,
but then this is my last session and I have a good deal of extra
expense, diploma, commencement, etc. Now the conclusion of
the whole matter is that about now fifty dollars would be thank-
fully received. You must not think I am in any great want im-
mediately, but I had rather have it soon. Besides, the considera-
tion of this subject has enabled me to fill a respectable letter.
Give my love to all. Write often.
Your affectionate son,
R. B. HAYES.
MRS. SOPHIA HAYES.