CHAPTER III

OFF TO CARLETON COLLEGE

September came and with it definite plans for my going to Carleton College. Father drove us down and we stopped to pick plums as we went. Alice had attended the college before, but it was my first experience. The Cannon River winds endlessly through fields and under bridges, and when it finally nears Northfield, one is impressed with the great beauty of it and of the hills surmounted by the Carleton towers, and those on the hills of St. Olaf College. If one has a sense of beauty, he can certainly feast his soul here. The buildings of the little town nestle under the towers in a trusting way.

My father took us to meet the preceptress, Miss Margaret Evans. She was a stately brunette, I judge of forty-five years. We then drove to the home of Mrs. Kent, where we had rooms when I was in the public school. I had seen the faculty seated on the rostrum before, so I suppose I lost a little of the thrill that the new students experienced, yet the sight was always interesting. It was a fine personnel — Miss Evans and President Strong at center; Professor Goodhue, the Greek professor and dean of men’s department, called Zeus by the students, a ponderous man, with blue eyes that twinkled when he smiled; Miss Alice Armsby, a graduate of Oberlin, head of the Latin Department, a tiny woman with large blue eyes who was altogether charming and quite my ideal (she and Professor Pearson later were married); Miss Searle of the English Department and Miss Byrd, assistant in Astronomy and Mathematics to Professor Payne, the latter as near a saint as people become in this practical world of ours; Professor Huntington, an English teacher who had written some fine poems. My heart beat faster as I watched, for like them I had pledged my loyalty to Carleton.

Professor William Wallace Payne was at the head of the Mathematics Department and was the astronomer. He published the Sidereal Messenger, a paper devoted to astronomy, and he flashed the time through a large part of the U. S. daily. He was widely known and liked. Professor Smith taught Physics and I think Chemistry. Professor Clark, a cultured gentleman, I remember from his twinkling brown eyes and fairness in manner with students. Dr. Lyman B. Sperry who taught English, Physiology and Hygiene, was greatly interested in everything pertaining to physical health. He was a physician and practiced after a time. I shall never forget his reading Bryant’s “Thanatopsis.” As soon as he began reading, he had the attention of every student. “So live that when thy summons comes,” was too full of meaning ever to be forgotten.

Not having decided what course I wanted to take, I chose subjects of a varied nature at first but finally decided on the Scientific course. I had had many studies that would not count, but I was not sorry. I was fond of them all. I was in no hurry to finish as I thoroughly enjoyed my work. We had public and private rhetoricals which I think the students considered a nuisance. What were called public rhetoricals took place on the platform which the faculty occupied. Occasionally too, there was a course of lectures. Dr. Grimes, who was giving us a course, was late one night. This irked the boys, and they set up a drumming of feet and sang lustily, “Old Grimes is dead, that good old man.” He entered, getting full benefit of the song. So you see the young people of that day were much like those of this.

We were spending an evening at the home of one of the faculty or our minister, and the students sang many songs, including, “But down below where all is woe, the faculty, they’ll be there.” In general I think the students were respectful and fond of the teachers.

Professor Pearson was my favorite among the men and Miss Armsby was decidedly my favorite among the women professors, for she was made a professor after being there a time. She was quite determined to get perfect work from the students in Latin Grammar and Lexicon. Because of my real affection for her, and because it was not distasteful to me, I really tried to have my work as nearly perfect as my time would allow. I loved the Latin, so I naturally got along with Miss Armsby.

AN INTERVAL AS A NORTHFIELD TEACHER

There came a time when there was need of more funds for school, and I was elected to take the place of a teacher who was unable to complete the year. This was in the public school of Northfield. I recall the Superintendent, Professor Samuel Beede. He seems not to have been appreciated by the school board, and was dismissed at the end of that year, and a Professor Shepard, whose first name I have forgotten, was elected to fill the vacancy. Sister Alice had attended Carleton constantly and graduated in 1881. (I kept no diary, so of course shall not be able to give all dates.)

Sister Eva and I had rooms together one of the years while I was teaching there. We had of course been taught at home to cook as well as sew and do other work that a woman should do, and I think we rather enjoyed the cooking.

Professor Shepard was a very keen, scholarly man. I enjoyed teaching under his auspices. He was somewhat didactic, but I did not consider his manner unpleasant. Funds were needed for the school library and there was much ado about selecting a play or operetta, and finally “The Operetta of Laila” was chosen. It was a charming little thing. I do not know the name of the composer. We gave much time and energy to it. There were many choruses and some solos, and the leading ones were Laila ones, that is to Laila, honoring her. Professor Shepard talked of hiring a soprano from St. Paul or Minneapolis. Time went on and when it came near the date set for the great event, he called me to his office and told me he had decided to give me the title part. I had taken it in practice. Imagine my consternation and great hesitation, but believing, “He can who thinks he can,” I finally promised to attempt the part. Much more hard work was ahead and, with the school work, it made a very busy life for me, but, loving music, I enjoyed it. We had a very capable pianist to assist. Finally the great “first night” came and the opera house was crowded. It was pronounced a success. The operetta was repeated and I think the sum of two hundred dollars was cleared. The amount was turned over to the library. . . ”Something attempted, something done!”

It was perhaps the following year that a family, Blackman by name, went to California for the year — not so common a feat as it is these days. They wanted to get students to care for their home and have the use of it for the care. Friends told them of us, so it was decided that Edward should go with Eva and me. Agreement was reached and when college opened we occupied the house.

This made a pleasant year, though not very easy as we kept house and boarded ourselves. It was a temptation, too, to entertain. We had considerable jollity, but not too much, I think. Edward had an opportunity to take studies related to his chief interest, mechanics, and though youthful, he mastered college philosophy and other advanced studies. The year slipped away quickly. We said farewell to the cozy home that had seemed like a fairy story, and were again on the farm.

THE STUDY OF GREEK AND HUMAN NATURE

Alice had graduated and decided to take a school in Dundas, Minnesota. She did not enjoy teaching. I have not mentioned that she was a good Greek student, as father had been before her. She was salutatorian of her class — a small class as Carlton was still young — I think there were not more than eighteen. The year previous, Mr. Thomas Hughes, to whom she was engaged, had graduated, the class being even smaller, for this was Carleton’s infancy. Uncle Tommie, as the children in later years called him, used to visit sister, and they “studied Greek.” We younger ones were unduly interested, but we were content to let the courtship proceed as long as he came armed with candy. They usually studied Greek and possibly human nature, sitting out in the grove of willows north of the house. It had now grown old and gave fine shade.

Work came to us that Noyes Bros. & Cutler, wholesale druggists in St. Paul, would take a graduate of Carleton to head a department. Alice accepted this. I think there were no typewriters in those days and work was done by hand. More help was needed and Alice sent for Eva.

I spent time in three ways — helping my mother, going to college, and teaching. The last term I taught was in a school near Northfield. My reason for taking it was the fact that I wished to keep up with my class and this school was a short distance from Northfield, and I could easily walk the two miles to recite to my teacher. I made up some German in that way. Among other things I remember translating Schiller’s “Bell,” which was considered difficult German. I think I committed a part of this to memory. I also kept up with the advanced class in logic, reciting to Professor Huntington on Saturdays.

There comes to my mind an amusing thing that was just one of many alluring things on the farm. Father had a colt named Prince who attempted anything that father’s fancy dictated. Among other things, Prince would walk up the wood pile in the backyard. Father would wave his hand in a boyish way and the colt started the ascent, to the amusement of any who saw it.

Father had frequent attacks of rheumatism. I suppose in these days it would be termed neuritis or a kindred “itis.” He had given the man a piece of work to do — seeding or something that required the team to draw the machine. Father was confined to his couch that day and declared if they house burned he should not be able to get up. The man had the lines tied together, around his back under his arms. The horses became frightened and started to run in a circle. It was movie enough even for these days — horses, machine and man in a dizzy tangle. Of course father heard the frightened cries and was on the scene promptly. His and mother’s repeated “Whoas,” and the dog’s springing before the horses ended the excitement, and saved the man, but he had fainted. Father sank down on the step. Who thinks farm life tame, has never lived it.

A BUTTER CHURN AND “THE YOUTH’S COMPANION”

I mentioned the cows on the farm. From their cream, mother made delicious butter. She first used a dasher churn, then the more advanced revolving churn. Mother would sit at that and read to us children from “The Youth’s Companion,” a paper published in Boston. It was wholesome, instructive and very interesting. Mother had a ladle and decorated wooden stamp. She would pat the proper amount of butter, after all milk was taken from it, into a neat ball, and then press on the stamp. When completed, it was positively artistic. Having sold a little to help in the college bills, she made a name for herself, and customers in Faribault and St. Paul were glad to pay a high price. Much ado was made about her butter, but with her it was must a means to an end.

In 1883 Alice and Eva began their work at “N. B. & C’s.” A young man, William J. Howard, also worked there. They became acquainted and before many months Eva became engaged to him and they were married in September of 1884. I had the pleasure of making the cakes and received many compliments on my success. It was a small wedding party — the family and a few friends. After the ceremony came peals of thunder. William said it was heaven’s artillery in honor of the wedding.

This wedding, I believe, was the last event of importance occurring in the old farm house. This was of course where I leaned the art of cooking, something I greatly enjoyed. My father used to say of my biscuits, “These are good enough for Queen Victoria.” My mother was more enthusiastic about my cakes, I think.

The young couple went to a little rented home in St. Paul, Alice to continue her work at “N. B. & C’s,” and I to enter the college proper. I recall how satisfied I was when President Strong stood on the rostrum and announced that the highest standing for entrance was made by Olive Irene Hills, but as the scientific course had only two years preparatory, the Reeve prize of, I think, $25.00, would be given to a young man, Mr. Wilson, next highest. His course, the classical, had three years preparatory. He had the small prize, but I had the honor.

I hope it will not be considered egotism, if I say here that I never failed in a study during all my work at Carleton, and almost always had high standings. The Reeve prize was given justly, although I’ve no doubt I had had studies to equal the extra year, but not the right ones.

I had earned so much toward my Carleton work that father and mother decided that I should live at the new ladies hall, Gridley. I greatly enjoyed this and it made work easier. There was plenty of sociability and plenty of study. I recall the faculty receptions. They were delightful, and I presume we were supposed to take on layers of culture. I was a member of the Alpha Beta Phi literary society and had great pleasure in that. I took my part in literary work and often sang solos, for I had given quite a lot of time to vocal music. Father and mother had sung in the Oberlin choir so singing seemed a natural thing for us.

Father was not in good health and in fact had never been, and it was decided to leave the farm to renters as soon as a city home could be built. A site just on the outskirts of Faribault was selected and work was begun on a reasonably comfortable house, probably in the last days of 1884. Finally in September or October, 1885, the new home was ready for occupancy, and at Thanksgiving time, 1885, Alice and Mr. Thomas Hughes were married, thus dedicating the new home.

We already knew many residents of Faribault and were to make many other friends there. Near us were the Nuttings, widely known makers of trucks. Walter Nutting was a pupil of mine. Another pupil was John Devery, now a prosperous merchant.

My Sophomore and Junior years were glad years for the most part. I must say that I believe I had had as many girl friends, beaus and proposals as the average girl. Several girls I recall, particularly. The group included Maude Stewart, Mary Cutler, and Josephine Robinson — of the beautiful dresses. Maude Stewart lived in town. The other two were hall girls, roommates of mine — and there was Adelaide Bigelow. Mary Cutler was married in her later years, to Mr. Wedge of Albert Lea, Minnesota. They finally went to Florida during the boom, and by good investment she became affluent. She has long been a widow. Adelaide became Mrs. Skillman.

My summer following my Junior year was spent in the new home in Faribault. It was a pleasant summer. My mother and I were like two girls together. We had always been good friends, but I think we came to understand each other better than ever before.

Into Eva’s home a little girl had come to stay. A little boy had come to Alice, but did not live long.