ad a collection of old furniture and
armor which was better than anything else. Fresh from or rather musty
from these antiques, who should I meet but the cheerful Dixey and
Powers. We had a very jolly talk and I enjoyed it immensely, not only
myself but all the surrounding populace, as Dixey would persist in
showing the youthful some new "gag," and would break into a clog or
dialect much to the delectation of the admiring Bostonians. I am
stranded here for to night and will push on to Newport to-morrow. I'll
go see the "babes" to night, as there is nothing else in the city that
is worth seeing that I haven't investigated. I left the
Newburyportians in grief with regret. I met lots of nice people and
every one was so very kind to me, from the authoresses to the serving
maids. Good-bye.

DICK.

CHAPTER II

COLLEGE DAYS

In the fall of 1882 Richard entered Lehigh, but the first year of his
college life varied very little from the one he had spent in the
preparatory school. During that year he had met most of the upper
classmen, and the only difference was that he could now take an active
instead of a friendly interest in the life and the sports of the
college. Also he had formed certain theories which he promptly
proceeded to put into practical effect. Perhaps the most conspicuous
of these was his belief that cane-rushes and hazing were wholly
unnecessary and barbarous customs, and should have no place in the
college of his day. Against the former he spoke at college meetings,
and wrote long letters to the local papers decrying the custom. His
stand against hazing was equally vehement, and he worked hand in hand
with the faculty to eradicate it entirely from the college life. That
his stand was purely for a principle and not from any fear of personal
injury, I think the following letter to his father will show:

BETHLEHEM, February 1882.

DEAR DAD:

You may remember a conversation we had at Squan about hazing in which
you said it was a very black-guardly thing and a cowardly thing. I
didn't agree with you, but when I saw how it really was and how silly
and undignified it was, besides being brutal, I thought it over and
changed my mind completely, agreeing with you in every respect. A
large number of our class have been hazed, taking it as a good joke,
and have been laughed at by the whole college. I talked to the boys
about it, and said what I would do and so on, without much effect.
Wedn