I cannot say that of my young self at Harvard.

My time was largely wasted in novel reading or reading books which had not much to do with the college studies, and lounging about in my own room or that of other students.

I am not sure that the period of growth from sixteen to twenty is one when it is good for a youth to study hard.

So far as my observation extends the poor scholars who have graduated at Harvard become as useful and eminent men in after life as the good scholars.

I do not now think of any person, who has graduated first scholar since Edward Everett, who became in after life a very great man, although some of them have been very respectable.