Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/300

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272
Intellectual Life
[1784

15 Class met a new committee, I not one of them.
16 began 2d book of Euclid Left of reciting Fridays.
17 Foster preach'd forenoon Appleton after.
18 Juniors disputed forensically, we did not dispute.
19 made arguments, news of Du Quesne.
21 had a dance at Bradfords Chamber, my Chum at Boston all night
22 Freshman began to Declaim.
23 Cato brought me some wood, very cold.
26 began 3d book of Euclid.
27 Corporation met President sick.
31 Club at my Chamber, Saturday night.

The Dedham Historical Register, 1890 (Dedham, 1890), I, No. I, pp. 10-16.


96. A Skit on College Examinations (1784)
BY FRANCIS HOPKINSON

Hopkinson, member of the Continental Congress, and later a judge in Pennsylvania, was one of the earliest humorous writers in America, as well as a famous contributor to the polemic literature of the Revolution. — Bibliography : Tyler, Literary History of the Revolution, II, 131-157. — On colleges, see Nos. 90, 95 above.

METAPHYSICS.

Prof. WHAT is a salt-box?
Stu. It is a box made to contain salt.
Prof. How is it divided?
Stu. Into a salt-box, and a box of salt.
Prof. Very well ! — shew the distinction.
Stu. A salt-box may be where there is no salt ; but salt is absolutely necessary to the existence of of a box of salt.
Prof. Are not salt-boxes otherwise divided?
Stu. Yes : by a partition.
Prof. What is the use of this partition?
Stu. To separate the coarse salt from the fine.
Prof. How? — think a little.
Stu. To separate the fine salt from the coarse.
Prof. To be sure : — it is to separate the fine from the coarse : but are not salt-boxes yet otherwise distinguished?