EUSSELL H. CONWELL 137 in public speech was farther strengthened, as the Academy made much of oratory. Even to the present time it excels in strong debating societies. From Wilbraham he and his only brother went to Yale, two mountain boys in mountain garb with no money in their pockets. Keenly sensitive to their lack of material things, the two boys settled down to earn their living and get their college education. By giving les- sons on the organ, he earned part of the expenses, while as- sistance rendered to one of the cooks of the hotel secured the rest^ Those were interesting days at Yale. The young man's autograph album is the witness. Every signer declared his political or religious platform, and abolitionist, pro-slavery, anti-slavery, free-thinker, or atheist written after the name announced his creed. There was plenty of opportunity for oratory now. John Brown was hanged. This young man's home had been a station on the '^ Underground Railway" and John Brown had been his father's friend and had often been a guest in their home. Fort Sumter was fired upon — more occasion for oratory. The call for volunteers came. All through the long sunmier the boy, for he was still a boy in years, gathered around him the young men of the surround- ing farms, drilling them into a company. When they offered fheir services the young captain was under the age set for cheers; so a special petition was sent to the governor that this company should go out from the hills under Captain Con- well, aged twenty. This petition was granted, and our boy captain went forth to learn what lessons war has to give. The college boy had been reading the philosophy and sci- ence of the middle nineteenth century. Of course, he thought he did not believe in anything, as that was the fashion of col- lege boys just at that time, when the wonderful discoveries of science of those years had not yet brought order out of the chaos which they had at first created. In the company of the young captain was a drummer boy who did believe that his Bible showed God's dealings with men and who read it faith- fully even though his young captain, whom he adored, teased him for doing so. One night there was an attack on the camp
