Charlie

 

New Haven Nov 21^st 1860.

 

Dear Father:

                        Your last came duly to hand. I was very glad to hear from home, a luxury I have not enjoyed many times this term. It is partly my fault, but I dont fancy letter-writing particularly, and therefore put off the job from day to day until, before I know it, weeks have passed since some letter which should have been answered immediately was received. "Procrastination &c." How the weeks fly round! It seems as if every other day was Sunday. And before another week has passed I hope to be in the "bosom of my family". I know it is "by law prohibited" to write on a newspaper sent through the mail for one cent, but I was in a hurry, and furthermore I am hard up just these days. I wont do it again. I suppose you have heard / the result of the Medical Students' trial—Behlen was comitted for trial; M^cCullock put under $5000. bonds to appear; Baldwin put under $3000. bonds. The bail of M^c was afterwards reduced to $3000—Baldwins to $2000. They will forfeit bail probably. Almost all the ministers in town have preached on the affray, and it is likely to prove an effectual warning to young men, both of College & town. Our class, or rather a small part of it, for the class voted it down by a large majority, had the Burial of Euclid last Friday night. As you well know, this performance has usually been a riotous, drunken obscene affair. It was certainly so last year, when I attended and vowed never to go again. But '63 can’t do anything badly, so she took this old custom and reformed it. The exercises, which consisted of orations, poems and songs, were held in a good hall. / the audience was seated, and kept perfect silence: the blowing of the horns, which has been the characteristic of the institution, was forbidden and entirely suppressed; and the whole ended with a torchlight procession, probably never equalled by the students, and headed by the best brass band in the State. I am told that there was nothing objectionable in the whole performance. So far in her course our class has covered herself with glory. She has instituted more reforms than any class for many a year. Long may she wave. A week ago tomorrow my chum took out a leave of absence for the rest of this term, and went home. He has complained a good deal of being unwell, this term, and took his absence on that ground, but the fact is, he is tired of study and feels that he would only waste and worse than waste his time if he stayed. I hope he will not / come back. But I will talk about that when I come home.

 

Frank sent me his overcoat the other day. It needs a little fixing, and then will do me good service for the winter, saving quite an expense. He says not a word about coming home, But I have written him to ask about it, and shall know very soon. I shall be glad to help the young ladies of Norwich turn an honest penny in vacation. I expect to have to write another prize debate speech in the winter vacation, which will take most of my time, and prevent my visiting New York as I anticipated. I am bound to keep trying. I dont expect to take a prize. I do expect to be disciplined so as to take one, if not in college, out of it. The subject for division prize composition has just been given out. There is not the remotest chance for my taking a prize. All are obliged to write. Much love to all. I wrote Sallie the other day.         Your aff son

                                                Charles J. Arms.

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