WILLIAM HIRAM RADCLIFFE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 01/05/1896 - HFSID 35380

WILLIAM HIRAM RADCLIFFE
The young man writes of his 1896 journey from upstate New York to Harvard University in Boston, signs name in black ink
Autograph letter signed: "Will" in black ink. 6 pages, 4½x7 folded, 7x9 flat. Perkins Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. January 5, 1896. In full: "My darling Det: - Many times I have thought of my dear little Peach since bidding her good-by on the Pier, Thursday night. I hope you found no difficulty in getting back to the Bridge - you out to have let me seen you on a car, then I would have been certain. Well, upon leaving you, my dear, who should I meet before getting on the boat but two of my college chums just bidding their fourth cousins (?) good-bye. The scene was most effecting and nearly made me sea-sick, but the afterwards survived me (not on cocktails) so I held out very well. I soon found to my dismay that the Staterooms on the boat had all been taken and had it not been for my friends I should have passed the night, as many others did, by sitting up. However, they had both engaged separate rooms with two beds each, easily in the afternoon and I did not need much urging to except their invitation "to hold one down for the night." The first part of the evening was grand and as the boat was packed with Harvard fellows, we had a jolly good time out on deck till nearly ten. The wind then began to blow and before an hour had passed we were riding a pretty high sea. We retired a little before twelve and I soon fell asleep but was awakened about two in the morning by the rolling of the boat. The wind was blowing to "beat four of a kind," and many of the "gentler sex" had the "Oh my!" However, your old Grandpa, although he had just eaten a hearty meal, was stingy and so did not give it up. I managed to get asleep again and although the pitching of the boat wakened me once after that, I passed a very restful night. We were rapped out about five o'clock the next morning and I never felt more like swearing in my life than I did when I came to put my shoes on. The rocking of the boat had upset the pitcher of ice-water on the stand and the whole business, ice and all had gone in my shoes. You can imagine the "soaking sensation", I had when I boarded the train for Boston - Still sleep had not forsaken me and I finished my nap on the cars which has been so readily broken up on the boat. We reached Cambridge about 7:30 the next morning and everything was soon in working order. Now, my dear, see what I have don't when I said I would only write a few lines, and really, it was not my turn to write at all. I shall look for twelve pages at least now in return. Again thanking both you and your Father and Mother for the pleasant time I had with you and wishing to be kindly remembered to them, I remain, Lovingly yours". William H. Radcliffe (b. 1873) graduated from Harvard University in May 1896, and worked as an electrical engineer and professor. Radcliffe wrote Telephone Instruments, Their Operation, Arrangement and Management in 1913 and Home Study Course in Practical Electricity in 1916. Normal mailing folds. Toned. Light surface creases. Slightly soiled. Otherwise, fine condition.