36 Edward Livingston Youmans. 



only wish that they possessed some real value in propor- 

 tion to the usefulness that the faithful record of such a life 

 must have for all who find themselves compelled to strug- 

 gle with obstacles seemingly insurmountable ; but such as 

 they are I most willingly place at your disposal in the fol- 

 lowing sketch : 



In the year 1838 a new academy was opened under the 

 presidency of Professor Morgan, at the small village of 

 Galway, Saratoga County, New York, and it was there, 

 during the summer months of that year, your brother and 

 myself became schoolmates together. As I remember it, 

 there was nothing in the peculiar advantages of the school 

 or in the character of its teaching specially fitted to call 

 forth or develop any talent not already struggling for spon- 

 taneous manifestation; but to some minds only opportunity 

 is needed ; all other help is but adventitious, and not essen- 

 tial. Of such was your brother. Although fifty years have 

 come and gone since that time, I recall with great distinct- 

 ness the impressions then made upon me by our brief asso- 

 ciation as fellow-students, for from the very first there was 

 some genial attraction that drew us together and speedily 

 ripened our intimacy into a warm-hearted friendship. 

 Though we were born in the same year, there was in his 

 appearance a maturity of demeanour and expression which 

 made him seem my senior. He was less boyish and more 

 grave than myself and others of about the same age. 

 Yet was there nothing austere or repellent in his manner; 

 on the contrary, he was ever cordial and affable, and en- 

 tered with zest into our academic sports and jests. His 

 perceptions of the ridiculous were keen and appreciative. 

 When the matron's cockney English son-in-law requested 

 us one day to "hallow those birds to henter the gate," this 

 appellation of birds to some very common barnyard fowls 

 seemed to him such a sudden promotion that its funny 

 aspect fairly overcame his gravity, and ever after the sight 

 of those birds brought a twinkle into his eyes. In sportive- 



