Cha^s—

Oct 26, 1860

 

New Haven Oct 26^th '60

 

Dear Father:

                        Mother's letter came to hand and reminded me of a duty I have been intending to perform for several days—that of writing to you. I received a letter from Lucy too, this morning. She says she is well and writes in good spirits. W^m Clark yelled to me from under my window last eve asking me to call on him at his room in Divinity College. As to my meals, I board in my own club—that is, there are only four of us at the table—so far, it has cost $3.02 per week apiece. At the end of the term if the bill is not very large I shall not pay quite as much as the rest, and I think / I shall save something. As to my lessons, my average is probably better than last term—

 

We are still having magnificent weather. It is so warm we do not think of a fire. We begin to speak this week. You must not think, because I write occasionally of politics that I waste much time over them. I take time every day to read the papers carefully, and if a great speaker is in town I go to hear him. These I think I ought to do. I have resigned (perhaps I told you) my lieutenancy of the Wide Awakes. My subject for composition this week is "Our ignorance of the future—its kind & degree". For next week "Pope's Essay on Man".

 

Prof Lowred gives them out.

 

Uncle Geo. is in town quite often, but I generally see his name on the hotel register a day after he / has left. I saw his & Mrs Gould's only a day or two ago. I had a letter from John Washington last week. Lucy sends me the following sentence—

 

            "Sator arepo tenet opera rotas"

1. This spells backward & forward all the same

2. Then taking all the first letters of each word spells the first word

3. Taking all the second letters of each word spells the second

4. Then all the third, and so on through the fourth & fifth.

5. Commencing with the last letter of each word spells the last word.

6. Then the next to the last of each one, and so on through.

 

Arepo seems to be a spurious word, but I think the sentence is well got up, not withstanding /

 

Mother says Sallie has concluded to put in a note to me. She's a beautiful correspondent. Please give her my love, as also Mother & the rest of the family. I will answer Mother's letter soon.

 

Your aff son

Charles J. Arms.

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