Artist if they want you. Take any honors lying around. See 21 

 all the Artist does this year and then improve on it next. 



I am glad you did not tackle that snake in the dark. You 

 will do well to keep clear of water moccasins. They are deadly 

 poisonous. Rattle snakes, vipers & copperheads are by no means 

 uncommon in this country. It is not very safe swimming 

 around after frogs — by lamplight — but science has its martyrs! 



Your proposal to graduate at the top in the medical college 

 is a good one and there is no reason why you should not. Don't 

 underestimate your own ability. Genius is after all a capacity 

 for hard work & close application. If you study a language 

 next year you will do well to study German. 



The medical colleges will no doubt raise the standard of 

 scholarship everywhere. It will be some time before they carry 

 out their rules. There are too many "wild cat" concerns yet 

 in the country to make it feasible to reject all students below 

 college grade. I wish you could be in a class where there would 

 be only college graduates because the lower grade fellows 

 degrade the lectures, professors having to lecture to their 

 capacity. . . . With prayers for your success. . . . 



SEPTEMBER of 1896 found Wherry happily started upon 

 his final year in college. He had discovered a better place 

 in which to live and had so written the father. Not altogether 

 pleased with the form of his enthusiasm the father had an- 

 swered: "Your room no doubt is dandy!" Yet, to aid in its 

 equipment and to tell of the family, he continued: 



I am afraid you will begin to think you will never receive the 

 box of bedding. Well I got it off on the Wisconsin Central yes- 

 terday & hope it will get started by B & O freight on Monday. 

 The box contains a pair of red blankets (sewed together) a 

 coverlet, two sheets, two pillow cases, a pillow & a cake which 

 I hope will not be too dry to eat. I shall have to send the testa- 

 ment by mail. . . . The girls are busy with a proposed enter- 

 tainment — "The Mouse Trap." Like all actors and actresses 

 they quarrel like cats behind the scenes. I am doubtful as to 

 the whole business. . . . Keep in mind the idea of teaching 

 for a couple of years as it is altogether likely that that is what 

 you will have to do. I am likely to hear very soon that my sal- 



