Files
Download Full Text (15.1 MB)
Description
PF2.2.11
Date
12-2-1838
Transcript
Kenyon College Dec 2 1838
Dear Brother
I received your letter some two or three weeks since and should have answered it sooner but I have delayed from day to day until this period. I spent a very pleasant vacation of eight weeks
In the fore part of it I went to Cleveland after a horse. I staid at night at Mr Ely & they had a party there on Eliz account for she was there & spent two weeks or so. I then came home & staid a while then I went after her. I went to another party at Mr Monteith. I do not like [their] half so so well as those in Norwalk. They are so stiff so formall[sic] with their two exceptions I did not go far from Norwalk. There was a number of parties in N… the name of the old “Sociable” has been changed to “The Worcester Parties.” They have now a regular constitution. Whipple Baker President. Tom Williams V. Pres. J.B. Gibs Sec. Bill Gallup Treas. & Whipple Librarian. A notice came out that “The men here of the ‘Worcester’ return their thanks to the citizens of Norwalk for presenting them with Harpers Family Library.” signed JB Gibbs Sec. I hope you will be at home my next vacation
[Sleman] Ely came out just before Vacation ended. I spent a pretty pleasant vacation considering all I frequently went to ride in the carriage to see the wonders of nature. Unkle[sic] Roger game out with Aunt ---- & [Maria] & a young [?] baby. Oh the squalling brat!!! He left Maria to spent the winter with Mother. Father & Mother & Elizabeth came down with me as far as Vernon. They went town to Putnam to leave Liz at that one female Seminary. Father returned to Columbus & the turnpike. He then staid home a few days & came off again down here to a Meeting of the trustees. He staid here four days & then went to Columbus to hold Court in Bank which he will probably get through with about Chrismas[sic]. Dr Sparrow has returned from Europe with renewed health. The trustees have sent him off on a begging expedition for the College.
Rutherford Hayes is here & has entered the Freshman class. He seem to be a pretty fine sort of fellow I guess he is father fond of getting into [scrapes] of one kind and another. The other day he went a scating[sic] on Owl Creek & fell in all our [?] [?]. Dick Johnson killed [?]. The elections seem to turn out more favourably than was at first supposed. The patriots are, by the last accounts beaten & Bill Johnson has been taken prisoner. I have my squirrels yet, they are lying in a corner as composedly as you please. One in a while one of them gives a grunt when the other scrouges them. Jerome received a letter from you he says he will answer it in a week or so. Rutherford received one last evening from some of you fellows I do not know his name. These three young boys did not come back with us this session. Damn Paddy & Nat.
You ask me what I am going to do when I get through College. I have not fully made up my mind as yet. I however think some of studying medicine. Among other reasons why I should do this is this. I suppose that the study of Law will be more agreeable to you at least I should think so from your habits & disposition under this supposition I will avoid the Law for I think we shall be able to help one another more if we are in different professions. If we have the same one I do not say but that we shall always live peacefully together yet our interest running in the same line we shall become for selfish one will be continually running against the other. While if we have different we can play into each others hands more evenly. A Physicians life is a hard one so is any other one.”Man must live by the sweat of his brow.” In case I study Physicks I shall probably spend one winder in Cincinnati one in Boston & one in Europe at Paris at lease I have these premises. I shall expect in your next answer some of your thoughts on the subject. You must write longer letters they are hardly worth the postage. I would rather you would not tell any of my relations what I am to be, for I have not decided & if I should change what I have written to you shay would think me very fickle minded. I shall expect letters from home, Liz, & father in a few days
Your affectionate brother
ES Lane
It is a hard thing for a young fellow to make up his mind as to what profession he will enter. but after he has fully [?] mi[?]ed he ought not under [hardly] any circumstances to change it. I expect you will tell me your predictions. Think well before you [jump] Eben
Recommended Citation
Lane, Ebenezer S., "Letter from Ebenezer S. Lane to William G. Lane" (1838). 19th Century Correspondence. 29.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/correspondence_19thc/29