by Martha DeWolf
12/30/2011

Cambridge

March 19th 1876

My dear mother,

The past week has been one of much trouble and some enjoyment for your devoted son.  I found, when reaching Cambridge on Tuesday A.M. a good fire and inquisitive chum on hand. 

He, my chum, believes that I never go to Holliston without meeting some new flame and staying over a day or two on her account.   So his first question this time was “Who is the favored fair now?” 

At Framingham I tried to find Dr. Cunningham but he was out & I let my teeth alone for that day.   But towards night they began to ache and by nine o’clock I felt as if a chasse factory had started in my jaw.  The pain seemed to increase & at midnight I wanted to go crazy.  I employed myself in vain attempts to overcome the conflagration in my jaw, wrote poetry, walked up & down, read Philosophy and danced by turns, all to little purpose.  At about 3 o’clock the active tooth seemed to get exhausted and about 4, I went to bed & was able to go to sleep.  The next morning it ached slightly. 

After dinner I invited myself to the dentist’s, took laughing gas and had two taken out.  This was no pleasant occupation after all.  While under the influence of the gas I felt as if a steam engine was rattling away in my head [at] a perfectly frightful pace. 

The second tooth came hard, extremely so.  It was my last one on the upper left side.  It came only after 4 attempts and during the last 2, I was wide-awake & conscious of a terrible wrenching pain.  It seemed ten or twelve feet down in my jaws when it finally came, on the fourth pull.  I was about exhausted and the dentist was also.  His arm was so tired that it shook like palsy & he declared that he never had pulled so hard a tooth and never wished to again.  The tooth was of gigantic size with 3 fangs & one of them crooked.  The dentist begged hard for it, saying it was quite a curiosity to him, but I was resolved to keep it & propose to string it with the others when they go. 

My jaw has ever since felt as if the largest part of it had been pulled out, I washed it constantly with strong alcohol which seemed to cauterize the raw places & thus avoided taking cold.  When the tooth came out, it cut quite a gash on the inner surface of my lip, which has troubled me a great deal.  I cut off the ragged edges with my scalpel & it has not healed somewhat though my jaw has been very sore & my lip quite swollen. 

We have received our marks in Philosophy & I got 94.  Only six men in fifty above me.  This was a great surprise to me as I do not pretend to be a philosopher & had not studied the subject nearly as hard as many men who received only from 70 to 80.  I did it all by pure inherent genius of course.  Up to this time I have despised the course & always felt willing to shirk it.  Now I feel encouraged and begin to enjoy it. 

The course is probably the hardest exept Chemistry in the College. In Chemistry I received 92.6 & studied week after week upon it.  Had I applied myself half as much to philosophy I should have obtained nearly one hundred, I think. 

Friday night we went up to Watertown in a coach & four & had a fine time.  A party of 15 we made & just filled the coach.  Douse, Stickney, Miss Carew, Mrs. Seaver, Miss Smith etc., seven ladies & eight gentlemen.  I spent considerable time in giving out invitations & getting things ready & was elated to think that all had so good a time & the affair was so great a success. 

We quite took the Watertown people by storm & had considerable attention shown us.  I danced with some magnificent waltzers, Gen. Banks' two daughters from Waltham among them.  Hattie’s chum was there and of course the Randalls.   I danced several times with Sallie and talked with her a great deal.  She looked remarkably pretty & had a good time with the several students of our party.  Hattie got along finely, danced very prettily & I fear almost captivated one young man.  Little Jennie did not go. 

On our way home we all felt very wild & sung all kinds of songs and combinations.  I got to bed about two, a tired but happy fellow.  My pictures have come & I will send one home.   I think they are quite good, & the finish is excellent.  My term bill has also been received  & I send that also.  It is due April 5 and can be paid, I suppose, anytime that is convenient.  I have written a long & rather tiresome letter I suppose.  Aunt is now in Cambridge & gives me lots of advice.

With love to all, I am yours,

JHB