28 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



retained a vivid recollection of occasionally walking 

 through the long yard that fronted the President's 

 house,* hat in hand, according to the old etiquette, 

 (which Dr. Stiles strictly enforced,) to present an ex- 

 cuse, or obtain leave to be temporarily absent. Once, 

 in his Freshman year, oblivious of the rule, he gave a 

 kick to a stray football in the college yard, for which 

 misdemeanor he was instantly fined a sixpence by 

 the President, who happened to be an eye-witness, 

 a circumstance that drew upon him some banter 

 from Mr. Eliot and his friends at home, who were 

 much amused that " Sober Ben," as they were wont 

 to style him, should be so unlucky as to fall into the 

 hands of the law. This, it is believed, was the only 

 instance in which he exposed himself to penalty or 

 censure daring his college course. Though only thir- 

 teen years old when he came to college, he was 

 somewhat grave for his years, and his thoughtful 

 temper disinclined him to coarse or mischievous 

 sports. The purity of his character was sullied by 

 no gross or unworthy act. The accession of Dr. 

 Dwight to the presidency at the beginning of his 

 Senior year made an epoch in Mr. Silliman's col- 

 lege career. This eminent man seems to have cast 

 a spell over him from the first. The vigorous and 

 animated discussions of Dr. Dwight, in the lectai-e- 

 roorn and the pulpit, opened to his admiring pupil a 

 new world of thought. Although Mr. Silliman, on 

 account of a severe wound in the foot from an axe, 

 which was unskilfully treated, was obliged to be 

 absent during portions of his last year, he yet received 

 a deep and lasting influence from the inspiring les- 



* Which was on the lot where the College-Street Church now stands. F. 



