240
��THE GRANITE MONTHLY.
��to return as a passenger. This voyage effectively cured him of sea-fever, yet the ocean always had a strong attrac- tion for him, and in later life, whenever in a sea-port town, he was fond of walking about the wharves, going on board vessels and talking with sea- faring men.
During the last two years of his stay at South Berwick, the principal of the academy was Stephen Chase, who, in March. 1838, became tutor at Dart- mouth College, and in August of the same year was made professor of mathe- matics. In the last year of his aca- demic course, he was piesident of the Ciceronian, a literary society composed of students, and at graduation gave the valedictory oration.
In August, 1838, he entered the freshman class of Dartmouth college, which numbered one hundred and one, the largest class that has ever entered, and numbering eighty-five at gradua- tion, — the largest that has ever gone out. Of this class were the late Amos T. Akerman. attorney-general of the United States ; Judge Lincoln F. Brig- ham, of Mass: ; Benjamin F. Flanders, late governor of La. ; Hiram Orcutt, ll. i)., die \; teran teacher; John D. Phil- brick, li,. D., the well-known educator ; the late John S. Sanborn, ll. u., judge of the court of the Queen's Bench, P. Q. ; S. J. Spalding, d. d., Newbury- port, Mass. ; the late John E. Tyler, M. i)., superintendent of the McLean Asy- lum, at Somerville, Mass. ; Hon. George Walker, U. S. consul-general, Paris, not to name others who have gained dis- tinction.
During each winter of his college course Mr. Woodman taught school, the first year at Madbury, the second in his own town, the third and fourth in the academy at Flenniker.
At this time, and until 1866-7, there were practically but three terms in the college year, thirty-two weeks in all, with a vacation of twelve weeks from Thanksgiving. During this time, how- ever, there was a term of six weeks, attendance being optional, the subjects taught varying from year to year, and
��not being regarded as part of the regu- lar college course. The attendance on this short term was generally very small, the larger part of the students being occupied in teaching. Under this system the loss was chiefly in the number of studies pursued, not in accurate and thorough scholarship, and it certainly tended very strongly to develop the best traits of manly charac- ter.
In the spring vacation of his sopho- more year, he was employed by Presi- dent Lord to survey a piece of land, and seems to have performed the work satisfactorily.
Drawing not being taught in the regular college course, in his sopho- more and junior years he began to turn his picture making habit to good account, and gave instruction to vol- unteer classes, one of which numbered forty members. In the spring vaca- tion of his junior year, he drew a beautiful map of ancient Italy for use in the college classes, and it has served a good purpose to the present time.
Under date of July 28, 1842. we find this entry in his diary, — "Grad- uated with a class of eighty-eight. Have permitted nothing to interrupt my college course. I have been uni- formly in good health, always present in term time, at al! lectures designed for the class, all recitations, and never tardy, and only once absent from prayers in the four years' course.
With great intellectual ability, and such rare fidelity to duty, we should expect thorough scholarship and large attainments. What his exact rank may have been in his class, I do not know, though he stood among the first, and in mathematics far above all others. Immediately after graduation he began the study of law with John A. Richard- son, Esq., of Durham, a graduate of Dartmouth College in the class of 18 19. A few months later, a tempting offer in- duced him to suspend his studies and go to Charleston, S. C, as a teacher. Here he remained for four years, teach- ing with very marked success, and studying as opportunity offered. In
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