coach that ran between Amherst and Northampton, which left us early in the
morning and brought up with cracking whip, in front of the post office prompt-
ly at five in the afternoon. Brown delivered these boxed with a positively
tender hand, unrewarded by the scenes that followed behind closed doors, --
the tilting and trying of this alien bit of millinery, so tragically disturb-
ing to any woman of taste and ambition!

In time we felt sure that the college was more than bank or court house and
and gradually forgave Northampton her smartness and praised her beauty.
O scimiter of Fate! She has now more colleges than she can manage, -- but they
are only women's colleges and we are still amiable. Bless Northampton! If
there was jealousy between us in past ages, we all boasted of her when we got
far enough away from home. Fifty years ago or more, I could have shown you, dear
moderns, in the small circle of Amherst, -- for there was but one in those days --
as beautiful girls, or young ladies as they were then called, as ever graced
any drawing room. There were as handsome and accomplished young men, -- nay men
both old and young, as full of high purpose and generous achievement as could
be found in any town; either university or commercial.

Under President Humphrey and also under President Hitchcock, society was one.
The village being smaller than now, was fully represented at all the college
levees, as the receptions were then called and entered warmly into all the
college affairs, lectures and literary occasions.

My recollections of the hospitality of President Humphrey are limited to the
children's games in the big kitchen and dining room of the original Presi-
dent's house. Such wild, exciting games of blind-man's -buff [sic] as were played
there! The high mantel [sic] in the kitchen was the rather perilous retreat for
the taller boys of the party. There, they were safe from the nervous clutches
of the blind-fold girls, who suddenly recognizing a great shrinkage in num-
bers would sometimes pull up their blinders and bring the culprits ^{of the mantel-piece} speedily
down to justice.

H bMS Am 1118.95, Box 9