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Lectures, how we loved them! and throve on them! We did not have many, but the profess
ors in turn gave us of their best; Wise men from Europe now and then. ^X John Lord with
his wizardry of style and manner, who could pursuade [sic] against one's better reason. ^*1
Though now we cry enough, -- and draw nearer the fire with our books almost abhoring
a lecture, for are we not "letured" [sic] to death? But then, we were young and Professor
Sheppards lectures on botany in the basement of the old chapel, on Summer mornings, were
graceful in style and matter, and the "young ladies" liked them because it was a pleasa
pleasant pastime to attend them escorted by some attractive Senior before whose class
they were given. The walk and the escort and the lecture had a refinement of morning-
glow quite fascinating to remember. Though a blur of values clouded my young brain whn [sic] I
found toward the last of tae [sic] course that the charming beaux mostly got out of the window
and took their botany "au naturel ^{, gracefully disposed on the grass} under sky and trees. As the years have passed and I have
been often bored ^{and could not get out}, their habit has seemed increasingly enviable!