YALE AND EUROPE- 1850-1857 31 



could become a first-rate classical scholar, &quot; I answered: 



&quot;Mr. B , I have no ambition to become a classical 



scholar, as scholarship is understood here. 



I devoted myself all the more assiduously to study on . 

 my own lines, especially in connection with the subjects 

 taught by President Woolsey in the senior year, and the 

 one thing which encouraged me was that, at the public 

 reading of essays, mine seemed to interest the class. Yet 

 my first trial of strength with my classmates in this re 

 spect did not apparently turn out very well. It was at 

 a prize debate, in one of the large open societies, but 

 while I had prepared my speech with care, I had given 

 no thought to its presentation, and, as a result, the judges 

 passed me by. Next day a tutor told me that Professor 

 Porter wished to see me. He had been one of the judges, 

 but it never occurred to me that he could have summoned 

 me for anything save some transgression of college rules. 

 But, on my arrival at his room, he began discussing my 

 speech, said some very kind things of its matter, alluded 

 to some defects in its manner, and all with a kindness 

 which won my heart. Thus began a warm personal friend 

 ship which lasted through his professorship and presi- 

 dency to the end of his life. His kindly criticism was 

 worth everything to me ; it did far more for me than any 

 prize could have done. Few professors realize how much 

 a little friendly recognition may do for a student. To 

 this hour I bless Dr. Porter s memory. 



Nor did my second effort, a competition in essay-writing, 

 turn out much better. My essay was too labored, too 

 long, too crabbedly written, and it brought me only half 

 a third prize. 



This was in the sophomore year. But in the junior year 

 came a far more important competition ; that for the Yale 

 Literary Gold Medal, and without any notice of my in 

 tention to any person, I determined to try for it. Being 

 open to the entire university, the universal expectation 

 was that it would be awarded to a senior, as had hitherto 

 been the case, and speculations were rife as to what mem- 



