Dickinson College

“ He had a family of two sons and five daughters, who founded in his memory in 1909 the ‘Lowes Dickinson Memorial Studentship’ at the Working Men's College for the study of art abroad. His younger son, Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson, fellow of King's College, Cambridge, has achieved distinction as an essayist and writer on political and social subjects. ”

“ An important and permanent outcome of the movement was the foundation of the Working Men's College, where in early days Lowes Dickinson taught drawing with Ruskin and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and in which, until his death, he maintained as one of the longest lived of the founders a warm interest, testified by the admirable portraits of Maurice, Kingsley, and Hughes which he painted for the college walls. ”

“ Dartmouth College, Brown University, Princeton College and Dickinson College all appealed to him for his aid in their efforts to secure money or other gifts abroad. In a word, he was not only world-famous but paid fully all the minor as well as major penalties of world-fame. ”

“ Miss Dickinson was born in Amherst, Mass., Dec. 10, 1830, and died there May 15, 1886. Her father, Hon. Edward Dickinson, was the leading lawyer of Amherst, and was treasurer of the well-known college there situated. It was his custom once a year to hold a large reception at his house, attended by all the families connected with the institution and by the leading people of the town. ”

“ And Phil read this:—
“Dear old Dick: Just a word to tell you of some kind of a scheme on foot to protest Dickinson. I got it from a junior who rooms in my entry, who got it from an old Hillbury man. They say that Dickinson ran in a race in Indiana last Fourth of July for a money prize, and they have posters to show that he was advertised to take part in the race. Is it so? If it is, he has buried himself for school and college athletics as deep as China. If it isn’t, you’ll have to disprove the charge fair and square, beyond the point where a doubt can be imagined, or they’ll shut him out. ”

“ John G. Saxe, Esq., of Vermont, pronounced a poem, which elicited great admiration. The annual oration before the Alumni was delivered by Howard Crosby, Esq. The number of graduates was twenty-two. The commencement of Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Penn., was held June 25th. Rev. Dr. Peck, the President, tendered his resignation, to take effect at the close of the next academic year. Rev. O. H. Tiffany, of Baltimore, was elected Professor of Mathematics. The graduates numbered sixteen. 416 Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, held its commencement June 28th, when eleven students graduated. ”

“ But the life of the college was in the men who administered it and spoke in its class rooms, a notable line of thinkers and orators. There had not been many men more to be regarded in debate or in counsel in that day than Jonathan Dickinson; and Aaron Burr wa s such a man as others turn to and follow with an admiration and trust they might be at a loss to explain, so instinctive is it, and inevitable -a man with a touch of sweet majesty in his presence, and a grace and spirit in his manner which more than made amends for his small and slender figure ”

“ They were acting as citizens, not as clergymen, and the charter they obtained said never a word about creed or doctrine; but they gave religion the first place in their programe, which belong ed to it of right, and confided the formation of their college to the Rev. Jonathan Dickinson, one of their own number, a man of such mastery as they could trust. Their school was first of all merely a little group of students gathered about Mr. ”

“ I EDWARD DICKINSON
EDWARD DICKINSON
rejoice to hear that the government of the college pleases you—that so much attention is paid to moral and religious instruction. Learning and science without morality and religion are like a man without a soul. They probably would do hurt rather than good. No man is a neuter in the world. ”

“ He is equally well known as parish priest, cathedral dignitary, novelist and poet, and Professor of Modern History. The roll of living members includes the name of Professor Alfred Newton (* Lowes Dickinson) , and the genial and kindly influence of the late Mr Frank Pattrick (* Dickinson) , Tutor and President of the college, is gratefully remembered by the latest and youngest of those who have pursued their studies at Magdalene. ”

“ There were as accomplished and well poised matrons, as chivalric young men,—nay, men both old and young, as full of high purpose and generous achievement as could be found in any town, university or commercial. Under President Humphrey and also under President Hitchcock, Amherst College and Amherst were one. The village, being smaller then, was fully represented at all the college levees, as the receptions were then called, and entered warmly into all college affairs, lectures, and literary occasions. ”

“ It had been in her dreams for a long time, yet she felt that it was part of her own nature always to anticipate more than to realize; a curious instinct in one so entirely normal with life just opening before her.
Her brother Austin had entered Amherst College the year before, and at his first commencement she describes herself as "now very tall and wearing long dresses." One of her quaintest sentences slips in here between childhood and girlhood: "I have perfect confidence in God and His promises—and yet I know not why, I feel the world has a predominant place in my affections." ”

“ Hear them kiss, the traitors!" To most women she was a provoking puzzle. To her, in turn, most women were a form of triviality to be escaped when feasible.
But stupidity had no sex with her and I equally well remember her spying down upon a stranger sent to call upon her by a mutual friend, and dismissing him unreceived after one glance from her window, remarking — "His face is as handsome and as meaningless as the full moon." At another time she called me to peep at a new Professor recently come to the college, saying—"Look dear, he is pretty as a cloth Pink!" ”

“ It has a chancery and circuit court and a larger and costlier courthouse than the county seat. Being accessible by three railroads, it is the logical commercial and political center of the county. It is also the educational center. In addition to a good public school system, it is the seat of the Dickson Normal College. This is a co-educational institution. The college building is modern and commodious in its every appointment. It is situated in a beautiful grove of native oaks, on a broad table land overlooking the town of Dickson. A corps of trained teachers is in charge of the work. ”

“ The next morning, when the school filed in to Memorial for chapel, they beheld with rapture the uncanny figure suspended directly over the rostrum. In an instant the name was whispered over the benches—"Tabby." It was then a feat of the Dickinson House. Every Dickinsonian was questioned excitedly and professed the blankest ignorance, but with such an insistent air, that twenty were instantly credited with the deed. Then, with a common impulse, the school turned to watch the entrance of the faculty. ”

“ From the beginning of the troubles until some months after the first shedding of blood, in 1775, public opinion in America had set strongly in favour of making demand—even armed demand—for our political rights, but without any rupture of the colonial tie. It was, therefore, a period calling for clear and resolute statements of our claims, but with loyalty, urbanity, and tact. To be the chief literary exponent of such a period, John Dickinson was in every way fitted by talent, by temperament, by training. ”

“ Whatever the defects of American universities may be, they disseminate no prejudices; rear no bigots; dig up the buried ashes of no old superstitions; never interpose between the people and their improvement; exclude no man because of his religious opinions; above all, in their whole course of study and instruction, recognise a world, and a broad one too, lying beyond the college walls.
It was a source of inexpressible pleasure to me to observe the almost imperceptible, but not less certain effect, wrought by this institution among the small community of Boston ”

“ Her father's ancestors were of the same religious faith as her mother's, and were among the Maryland pioneers. About 1750 the Dickinsons moved into southern Pennsylvania. Miss Dickinson's father was a wholesale and retail dry-goods merchant in Philadelphia, he died and left a family of five young children, who were carefully reared by the mother. They were educated in the select schools of the Society of Friends in Philadelphia, and in the Westtown boarding-school in Chester county. Susan, at the age of seventeen, became a teacher in the public schools of Philadelphia. ”

“ The curriculum embraces a four-years’ course, beginning with an exhaustive study of the common school branches and including a comprehensive course in language, science and mathematics. T. B. Loggins, A.M., is the principal of the college. The enrollment includes students of both sexes from all parts of the state.
The Hudson Business College is also located in Dickson, and is doing a fine work in fitting young people for the business world.
Dickson is a plucky town. Twice [678] within a decade it has risen from its ashes. ”

“ Tapping summoned the house to his study and addressed them as follows:
"Young gentlemen of the Dickinson House, I don't think you have any doubt as to why I have called you here. A very serious breach of discipline has taken place—one that cannot be overlooked. The sooner we meet the situation in the right spirit, gravely, with seriousness, the sooner will we meet each other in that spirit of harmony and friendly understanding that should exist between pupil and master. I am willing to make some allowance for the spirit of mischief, but none for an exhibition of untruthfulness. ”

“ The Dickey is the great Sophomore secret society. I don't remember just how the subject came up, but something reminded Berri of one night earlier in the year,—one of the nights on which the society takes on ten new members. They choose them from the Sophomore class always except late in the spring, just before college closes, when ten—the "First Ten"—are elected from among the Freshmen. ”

“ This was outside the realm of Sunday School instruction, being intended for secular teachers and presenting the principles and best methods of education. One of its leaders was Prof. J. W. Dickinson, Secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education, an enthusiast as well as a master. He had at his command a fund of witticisms and stories, always in the direct line of his teaching, which added [162] not a little to the interest of his lectures. I was with him at the table for a fortnight, and his juicy talk made even a tough steak enjoyable. ”

“ Dickinson, who proceeded D.D. in 1866, was appointed dean of the Chapel Royal, Dublin, by the Crown in 1868. He entered the chapter of St. Patrick's cathedral as treasurer in 1869, on the nomination of Archbishop Trench [q. v.] , and became precentor in 1876. He was elected to the chair of pastoral theology in Dublin University in 1894 by the Irish bishops a post for which his delight in the society of young men and his long pastoral experience specially qualified him. For many years he was a prominent figure in Dublin clerical life ”

“ I had always intended to enter one of the larger New England universities, but my teacher was naturally in favor of his Alma Mater, and the influence of our bishop, Dr. de Lancey, being also thrown powerfully into the scale, my father insisted on placing me at a small Protestant Episcopal college in western New York. I went most reluctantly. There were in the faculty several excellent men, one of whom afterward became a colleague of my own in Cornell University, and proved of the greatest value to it. Unfortunately, we of the lower college classes could have very little instruction from him ”

“ Al, there are ten freshmen in the Dickinson. Think hard now, the idea's growing. Ten freshmen. Suppose,—I only say suppose now that as a disciplinary measure we should decide that no freshman could enter the Jigger Shop say—well let's be moderate—for the space of three months. We might let them go to Conover's or Laloo's and then again—"
"Macnooder," said Al explosively, "when they lead you to the gallows I'll be sitting right up front if it cost every cent I have." ”

“ Mary Lowe Dickinson, the well-known authoress, was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in 1897. She received a preparatory education in the common schools, then was placed under the instruction of private tutors, and subsequently studied art and literature abroad. Returning to this country, she became head assistant in the Chapman school, Boston, taught for some time in the Hartford female seminary and finally was made principal of the Van Norman institute, New York. ”

“ Marrying John B. Dickinson, a New York banker, she on his death some years since became professor of belles lettres, emeritus professor and lecturer at Denver university. She is now connected in an official capacity with a number of philanthropic and religious institutions, is the editor of Lend a Hand Magazine, and for ten years has edited The Silver Cross. She has written poems and works of fiction which are illustrative of various lines of philanthropic work. ”

“ The highest work of schools, colleges, and universities is to fill the lives of men and women with the apperceptive centres of the community ideal. Christian community can not be made clear by books or teaching or sermons unless its foundations are laid by experience, by “sharing in the management” of the conditions of the life of the boy, or girl, or student. Froebel pleaded for a college and university education in which students should “share in the management.” Dickens applied this high ideal. ”

“ He then retired to Delaware, served for a time as private and later as brigadier-general in the state militia, and was again a member of the Continental Congress (from Delaware) in 1779–1780. He was president of the executive council, or chief executive officer, of Delaware in 1781–1782, and of Pennsylvania in 1782–1785, and was a delegate from Delaware to the Annapolis convention of 1786 and the Federal Constitutional convention of 1787. Dickinson has aptly been called the “Penman of the Revolution.” No other writer of the day presented arguments so numerous, so timely and so popular. ”