Excerpts from the Diary of
George N. Thompson, January 26, February 14, and February
15, 1851[1](note838)
Sunday January 26th 1851
I arose this morning and went to prayers, When I came out I was
directed to look at the belfry, to which all eyes were turned—I could not
see until I had gone nearer than the chapel door, what excited the gaze,
admiration with some, and jolity with all—When I had gone near enough to
see plainly and to distinguish the pictures I was equally pleased—for the
first thing [I] saw was a large bull painted on the
side of the belfry—to represent
Mr James
Phillips over the bulls head were drawn a bowl (of hot) punch! glass &
Jug representing
Old
Mike, who, it was said, when he caught whiskey in a student's room
always took it, to the Elaberatory and made punch to drink himself—As you
went round, to the left on the belfry was—a pair of the most knock kneed
legs any one ever saw—These were the legs of
Bunk—and on a little farther was a man, who strutted
largely—apearantly of small capital—but who wished to be reputed
more than he really was painted—to represent
Old
Wheat—in the Campus. On farther was a skull with bones
under it, with the motto "Kill & eat" This is said, to represent
the life and character of
ole
Bull, during the ten years whichhe never
speaks of—Under the skull & Bones there is an anchor drawn, with
letters at each corner—Next on the row was a Jack ass, made very large,
above it being "x + y"—this is to denote
old
Fatty—and next you come to is, "Pay your $1.00 for
vaccination" but on the door was written "Dr
Dave Barum will vaccinate for half price"—This was to cut
Old
Mike who has been advising every boy to be vaccinated, saying the
"price was only one dollar"—After looking over all these
curiosities & talking about who could have been
so rude as to put them there—I returned to my room and went to breakfast
after having dressed, Came back and talked with
Jeff—and soon several boys came into my room and sat
until it was church time, We went to church and heard a tolerable interesting
sermon from
Old
Mike, I went down to dinner, The stage had not arrived when I had eaten
so I did not wait for it—I returned to
College and read over my
Bible
lesson—and talked with
Murchison,
Worth,
Jeff, &
Dandy Laurence until
recitation—Went to recitation was not taken up—but if hecontinues to take up in rotation I will come either
first or second next time—Aftr prayers and supper I went up by the P.
Office thinking perhaps I would get a letter but I
can but imagine my surprise & pleasure on reaching the office to find in my
box three letters—One was from
Brock
Holden, & one from
John
Wilkerson—and the other from my dear niece
Virginia
Wiley of
Misspi which last had been directed to me at
Leasburg— Father & Mother had read it—and
had it forwarded to me at
C.
Hill—I read the letters with much pleasure—
John
Spoke of his visit to Miss
Mary
Holden on Monday last at
Milton—I was glad he went to see her. I think the
little difficulty which existed is now blotted out and they both love eachother
more affectionately than ever, for they both are my frinds and, I love them as
such—
John
promised to tell me more of his visit when he writes again—I intended
answering one of the letters to night, but have been what I
called bored,[2](note842)
until now, and now one or two bores are in my room talking hard as they can I
will go to bed soon as I finish this It is now nearly eleven or past
ten—
Friday 14th Feb 1851
I have neglected to write any for the last two or three
days—from the reason that nothing unusual or interesting
happened—To day is
St Valentine's day—I wrote a letter to
W
Sergeant yesterday, sent a comic valentine valentine to
Miss Bettie
Moore This evening I went to recitation to
Mr
Shipp and while there, I had to act a very unbecoming scene,
El Scales & myself were sitting
together and I was fooling with him in one way or another, such as pulling his
breeches up his leg & when he becamemad and
struck me, I did not think he would strike me more than once & did not
return the blow, but when it was repeated, I did not think I was able to
justify myself in sitting still & allow him to pelt me with impunity &
when he struck me a second time, I returned his blow & we went into a
regularly built fight, but only one or two more licks passed before the whol
class, was up and arround us, puling one one way and the other in another way,
until they succeeded in separating us. I was not hurt, nor was
Scales
Mr
Shipp sat all the while a silent spectator, and did not say a word in
condemnation of the conduct, After recitation I asked his pardon for what I had
done in his recitation room he granted it, I have not spoken to
Scales since—I expect to soon—I went after
recitation prayers not to supper but to the P. O. where I found two letters to
me—One from
Brock
Holden, stating the death of
Dr
Comer, who died last friday I was very sorry to hear it. He was an
eminent physician, and a muchrespected member of
society. He leaves behind him a wife, and three beautiful daughters, to weep
the loss of a dear parent——The other letter was from
Sister
Kate dated 18th Jan. being not quite a month on the way—She
informed me of the difficultys into
which
Bro
John had lately gotten into, and came very near bing killed from a shot,
fired with the intention of killing him, but he was only slightly
wounded—ont his forehead—She told me that the difficulty was not
yet settled—I am anxious to hear—how it will terminate—I must
answer
Sister's letter to morrow—if I have time—
Saturday Feb 15th 1851
This morning after going to prayers I returned to my room and went
to bed,
Murchison had gone to the P. O. and brought back with him
two letters for me—one was a
Valentine post marked
Warrenton, I have no idea who could have sent it, I do not
know the handwrite, It was a right pretty one, the other letter was from
Sister
Annie, dated Feb 2ond. All are well & in
Misspi—She did not say a word about the difficulty
which
Bro
John had had—I went into the
Society; After society I was summoned to go before the
Faculty about the difficulty I had yesterday in the recitation room by
Dave, It was raining quite hard
indeed& I concluded I would not go down but happening to be at the window
of the passage I saw
El Scales going down. & I thought if he could brave
the storm, I knew I could. I throwed on my cloak, took my umbarellla; and was
soon on my way down to
Bunk's.[3](note844) I
knew not whether I would meet an enraged faculty or not, nor did I care much;
Scales had entered the door when I reached the gate, I
entered the house and the parlour in which all the facuty were; I made a bow
when I entered & took a seat,
Swain stated why we[4](note845)
had been summoned. He called on
Scales to make a statement of the facts which he did very
correctly and in a few words, I was then called and, I answerd "that
Mr Scale's statement was correct, and that all the blame
rested upon myself. I have no more to say" I took my seatand was surprised at, the acclamations of approbation
which came from all the faculty as I took my seat, Some said, "you have
spoken like a man" all had smiling countenances,
Old
Bunk asked me if
Scales and myself had made friends, I told him. "we
had not spoken since the affray but that I was willing to ask
Mr Scale's pardon for what I done"Bunk speaking to
Scales said "Mr Scales you cannot refuse his hand" Scales and myself shook hands and again sat down.
Bunk said "It was easy to return a verdict on this
case and that we might retire." so we left in
company—Old Mr
Phillips seemed particularly pleased with manner in which I had
acted in owning I was the only one to blame, and as I left the room, he patted
me on the shoulder and said "We can now expect something from you
George"[5](note846)—I came on back to College in the rain and told
Jeff of the proceedings at the faculty meeting At twelve o'clock I went up into
the library and took out
Goldsmith's
works &
the
Spy[6](note847)—and became at once very much interested, I read
in it until twelve o'clockat that time I went to
bed—