never told a story or sang a song. His voice was never heard in any shout of merriment; but the silent, beaming smile would testify to his keen appreciation of the scene and to his enjoyment of the wit. He would sit for a whole evening with head gently inclined to one side, hearing every word, seeing every gesture, and yet scarcely a word would pass his lips. But there was an indescribable something in the silent presence of Hawthorne which rendered him one of the most desired guests on such occasions. Jonathan Cilley was probably his most intimate friend in the class. And yet his discrimination would lead him to say: 'I love Hawthorne, I admire. him; but I do not know. him. He lives in a mysterious world of thought and imagination, which he never permits me to enter.'" It was of Hawthorne's college days I was to write. His manner of life, and the sources and elements of his fame are the common possession of the world of letters.

Jonathan Cilley, just mentioned, will be recognized as the young man who after rapid rise in the law and with talents and endowments which gave promise of future distinction and made him the hope of his political party, fell in a duel at Bladensburg, near Washington, in 1838, with Mr. Graves, a fellow-member of the House of Representatives.

Two seats behind Hawthorne sat Longfellow in the recitation room. In his school days he gave decided proofs of poetic taste, anonymous pieces from his pen in the poet's corner of a Portland newspaper having attracted attention. During his college life he contributed to periodicals of the time "An April Day," "Autumn," "Hymn of the Moravian Nuns," "Woods in Winter," and "Sunrise in the Hills," which were received with favor as ". early blossoms " of a spring of promise. The same classmate, from whom I obtained the sketch of Hawthorne, relates an incident of interest, as it had an important influence in determining his future career. At an annual examination of his class, which occurred in his Sophomore year, I think, his fine rendering of an ode of Horace attracted the notice of one of the Committee of Examination, a trustee of the college, the eminent counselor and advocate, Benjamin Orr, himself a lover of Horace. The professorship of Modern Languages being established soon after, Mr. Orr proposed the name of Longfellow for the chair, referring to that examination as his warrant for the young man's fitness for the position. Mr. Longfellow received the appointment, with the privilege of going abroad to prepare himself for the duties. While Mr. Longfellow was an undergraduate the writer was asked by the editor of the United States Literary Gazette, issued in Boston, about a young man in our college who sent him so fine poetry. It was Longfellow, then a fair-haired youth, blooming with health and early promise. I was glad to report him as ore whose scholarship and character were quite equal to his poetry, for he received at graduation one of the highest honors, an English

oration. After graduation Longfellow entered his father's office at Portland to read law, but his genius and taste lead in another direction, and the flattering call from the college was cheerfully accepted. He soon took passage for Europe, where he spent from three to four years in Spain, France, Italy and Germany. With unusual facility in acquiring language he faithfully and successfully improved his opportunities, rare at that period, and returned to assume his position in the college, which he held with ever increasing reputation for six years.

The Triennial again fails to make prominent that member of the class of 1826, who was really conspicuous for national reputation, Sergeant Smith Prentiss, whose professional life was spent for the most part in Mississippi. He was born in Portland, Me., of Puritan descent, an ancestor of the family having emigrated from England and settled in Cambridge, Mass., before 1640. His father was a much respected ship-master of Portland, but subsequently removed to a farm in Gorham, whence the son came to college. A fever left the infant son with crippled limbs and a special object of a mother's care, and the child was ten years old before he could walk without crutches, and ever after supplemented the inefficiency of his right limb with a staff. Among the earlier influences which gave impulse and color to his mind may be mentioned the ardent preaching of the eloquent Dr. Edward Payson, to whose church Capt. Prentiss belonged. When Gorham became the family home the habits of the boy became very active. He grew up a keen sportsman and indefatigable angler; was an eager reader, devouring every book within reach; knew almost by heart " Pilgrim's Progress" and large portions of the Bible. If not so occupied he would listen to the animated talk of his veteran grandfather, Major Lewis, who could tell of the tented field, having borne command at Bunker Hill, or to warm discussions of political topics. Not without important issues in later days the bright-eyed grandchild heard the staunch old Federalist dilate with pride on the virtues and principles of Washington and Hamilton, while he denounced with unsparing severity the policy and conduct of Jefferson and his party.

Prentiss was fitted for junior standing in college at Gorham Academy under the classic teaching and vigorous ferule of Rev. Reuben Nason, and at the age of 15 presented himself for examination. The writer recalls distinctly the appearance of the youth limping with a staff as he took his seat for examination in the preparatory course, and the studies of the first two years of the college curriculum. He was at once drawn to the unfortunate yet active lad of ruddy, beaming countenance, attractive features, and sympathized with him in what he thought the severe ordeal before him. He began his scrutiny, purposely to save embarrassment, with gentle touch, but found, at once, that the subject yet needed no special forbearance, as he met the trial with entire self-posses

sion, and was ready for any pressure of the examiner. Prentiss passed without exception. The two years of college residence gave promise of the future which was before him. After graduation he studied law with Judge Josiah Fierce, of Gorham, who gives the following account of his pupil: "In my office he read law studiously in the former part of the day, but in the afternoon perused other books. The writings of Walter Scott, Washington Irving, Cooper, Byron afforded him much amusement and pleasant instruction. His favorite author was Shakespeare, and, I think, a week never passed without his perusing more or less of the productions of the great dramatist.'

"

In the year following, his thoughts even in college having been turned towards the opening West, he left his New England home, went West, and, pausing a while in Cincinnati, soon pressed his way beyond, and in due time we find him at Natchez, Miss. After engaging in teaching awhile, and continuing his legal studies, he was admitted to the Bar in 1829, formed a favorable partnership, and in 1832 removed to Vicksburg, where he prosecuted his profession with sudden and brilliant success. The great distinction Mr. Prentiss subsequently won at the Bar, in Congress and in the political field for eloquence and power, scarcely if ever surpass.d, is a matter of history.

In our political annals the name of John Parker Hale, of the class of 1827, will attract attention. He was born in Rochester, N. H., and followed his father and grandfather in the law. He was fitted for college at Phillips Exeter Academy. Of his college days a classmate several years ago thus wrote: "In most cases the college life corresponded very well with the subsequent career. Hale was, to a considerable extent, an exception. In college he was recognized as of superior talents, and was, by far, our most prompt and fertile debater. He had a passion for mock law cases and for making speeches. But he was no student, and his habits were so careless and indolent that, I think, his classmates did not anticipate for him the distinction he has gained." This judgment of his undergraduate life seems to the writer very just, and yet one can discern in this estimate of him elements which were conspicuous in later days when his inhexaustible flow of humor, self-possession, ready wit and fertility of resource in debate were of so mnch avail for him. At the Bar Mr. Hale at once entered on a successful career. Entering Congress at a critical period of our national affairs, his independent action, apparently at great personal sacrifice, the courage and spirit with which he maintained his position against most formidable opposition, and the felicitous humor, keen retort and sarcasm with which he met reproach and insult, made him a conspicuous figure in the conflicts of that period.

When he looks over the class rolls of earlier years the writer sees

names which have won distinction and are held in high respect and honor, but the special service laid upon him by the editor restricts him from extending or multiplying details. The "earlier years" of the college have now passed in review. And yet within a few years from the date which we have reached occur the names of two or three men who became so prominent that they lay claim to a national reputation, and the writer pleads the indulgence of embracing them in this review.

Cyrus Hamlin, of the class of 1834, has occupied so important a position, and has achieved such a work in the service of the American Board of Foreign Missions in Turkey, that some account of his college life will be of interest. He was a native of Waterford, Me., became an apprentice to a jeweler in Portland, when his decided religious character and impulses led him, in hope of a wider field of usefulness, to conceive the project of a collegiate education. He was fitted at Bridgeton Academy, and entered college in 1830. His memory is fresh among his college contemporaries for strength of character, versatility of talent and resource, calm energy, unflinching courage and unquestioned Christian devotion. The youth was remarkably father of the man. He left a memorial of mechanical skill and persistence, now one of the curiosities of the college, a steam engine constructed by himself in Portland during a winter vacation, instead of keeping school, without his having seen a complete one (he had seen the upper works of the "Chance'lor Livingston, steamer"), except in such drawings as he could find. He used the engine in a few attempts at lecturing in different towns with the result of more compliments for his ingenuity and perseverance than of money for his short purse. The engine was made one of the college treasures at a price that perhaps was an equivalent for what he could have earned by school keeping, and has been of service in college lectures. His fearlessness, sagacity, patient persistence, abundant resource and power of influence in the various experiences of a stirring period in the history of the college are among its traditions, and thus foreshadowed the energy, active agency, manifold experiences and efficient labors of one of the heroes of missionary history. Another of the same class has, within three years, been numbered among the "stellati" of the Triennial, leaving a name in Europe, as well as in his own land, among the leaders of theological thought in the world, Henry Boynton Smith. The writer recalls his appearance as a youth scarcely fifteen, with light hair, beautiful eyes, slender form, active movement, full of life, mirthful, of winning ways. A classmate writes that “he had, in a very eminent degree, the attributes both of the boy and the man. He had the overflow of spirit, the joyous hilarity, the love of fun of the boy; but also the power of thought and of keen analysis belonging to far riper years.” He soon showed superior

scholarship in all departments, but peculiar critical faculty and a special tendency toward a region of thought in which he became prominent. He graduated with one of the highest appointments, and the subject of his English oration indicated the same tendency, his topic being "The Character of Erroneous Belief and its Influence on the Conduct," out of the range of subjects which usually attract the undergraduates; and, at the same time, suggesting that profound themes had been familiar to his thoughtful mind. During the last year of his college life, after a severe conflict, for he had been subjected to influences leading in a different direction, he had come out from perplexity and doubt into a clear, definite and assured Christian faith, and consecrated, as he hoped, his brilliant powers and his deepest affections to the service of Him who was henceforth, in the highest sense, his Lord and Master. As his classmate says, in referring to that crisis of young Smith's life: "When he emerged from doubt and danger into a clear, calm settled faith, we knew he was destined to be a leader of the Lord's hosts." Few have attracted more interest of faculty or students than he. The promise borne by his genius and scholarship awakened most tender solicitudes in his behalf, and nothing interfered with the anticipation of a brilliant future but the feebleness of his physical constitution, which was ever a source of ceaseless anxiety. John Albion Andrew, Governor of Massachusetts, during a most critical period of our national history, was so pre-eminent for the ability, energy and wise efficiency of his gubernatorial career, which has given him rank among the most distinguished incumbents of that office and a lasting remembrance, that he deserves a place with graduates who have national reputation. He was born in Windham, near Portland, in Maine, a descendant of an English family who settled in Rowley village, now Boxford, Mass., in 1688. His father removed from Massachusetts to Windham in early manhood, bought a small house, still standing, near the Presumpscot River, and established the business of a general trader, in which he was fairly successful. He was greatly respected as a citizen, a deacon of the church, a man of substance and of great influence. His mother was well educated, of great sweetness of temper, with remarkable conversational powers, and highly prepossessing in appearance. It was a happy home, the usual resort of the ministers when visiting or journeying through the town, and in this way the family had excellent opportunities for acquiring information from the cultured men of the day. From early youth Albion was interested in questions affecting the happiness of the race. At thirteen he made a speech in a public meeting in the town under rather peculiar circumstances, which are thus related by a brother: "A temperance Society had been organized with general interest. Previous to one of their meetings, appointed for a Sabbath afternoon, the officers of the society and others were desirous that young Albion should