WILLIAM HIRAM RADCLIFFE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/14/1896 - HFSID 35390

WILLIAM HIRAM RADCLIFFE
The young Harvard student expresses some nineteenth-century viewpoints in passionate letter, signs name in black ink
Autograph letter signed: "Will" in black ink. 11 pages, 4½x7 folded, 7x9 flat. July 14, 1896. In full: "My dear Deta:- Your celebration of the "fourth" was greatly appreciated. Am sorry to say I did no such worthy deed to commemorate the occasion. In fact, passed a very quiet day - we had so many celebrations of like nature in Cambridge this Spring and summer that I was almost glad when the day was over. There were, however, an number of fine displays of fireworks around here in the evening and these I enjoyed fairly well. One think of which I can not be too thankful was, that I had free access to my pipe during the day and consequently had no trouble in finding myself The "Governor" joined me in the afternoon and we had a smoke-talk on politics. Although he had no written article on "Protection and Union" to his credit, still he upheld the principles of the Republican Party nobly, and I think would have convinced and sound-minded Democrat that he was a fool. Well the "fourth" is nearly two weeks behind us; how the time does fly, but still it is fly-time doncher know, and we could'ent expect anything different. Suppose you feel real important now days - being mistress of your own house, and how does my dear little Sister like it? Though you might get a wee bit lonely before the two weeks were up so am writing this letter a little earlier than I intended, although came to think of it, it is just ten days since I received yours, so you see I am unconsciously, following your 10 day rule - a rule I have never know you to break. You said you wanted me to tell you all about the race and celebration thereof when I wrote. Well, Peachy, there isn't much to tell that was'nt told in the newspapers at the time and which, I suppose, you read. The day was a perfect one for the race and an immense crowd availed themselves of the opportunity - Harvard was fairly well represented on the observation train, I mean in numbers. The noise they made easily drowned all the other colleges put together and for the first three miles of the course our crew pulled in fine form, keeping the lead from the start. We yelled like wild men, and thought surely the race was ours - but not! At the three mile, who had been struggling away with Pennsylvania for second place, crept up on Harvard. Harvard, at this time, seemed to be getting weak and the fourth and last mile was simply "rotten" - they seemed to row no stroke at all - whereas the Cornell men were hitting it up to beat the hand (excuse slang). Well, the consequence was that Cornell won my three second over Harvard. Not "half bad" as you say, but a defeat, nevertheless. Of course, Cornell went wild, and she certainly did well, and deserved all the praise she got; but the celebration in the evening was indeed, tame - tame, even when compared with any one of the our baseball celebrations of the past year. To tell the truth we, Harvard men, were disgusted with the evening performance and shook the place about half after nine that evening. No, Det, none of us felt like celebration, ourselves, in fact, it would'ent have been the thing to do, and rather than stay and see a tame celebration we cleared out. I am glad to hear you were so pleased with the Journal. To tell the truth, I like to glance over it, myself, once in a while and can imagine how it might be interesting for a woman. You asked "Have all my goods reach Rhinebeck". No - my desk etc. etc. etc. and pip cam O.K. but the last laundry I sent out I never got back. Have already written two or three letters ot the laundryman calling him every degrading name under the canopy of heaven, and never a word or a rag do I receive - If he were a Chinaman I would not think so strange of it but he is a _ _ _ _ _ _ ____. There - I feel relieved once more. How glad and thankful you ought to be you didn't hear me - the very air is blue. "I dare not say the restful hammock". No, Peachy, I dare not, myself, or I am afraid somebody would be telling a fib. Really, now did you ever rest any, while in that hammock? But remember, my dear little sister, things are to be different this year. Mother is expecting a colored girl from the south every day now, the girl she has at present lives up on the hill- she is small, white and indifferent - but she insists she is a great help. (Nit, says I) and just as soon as this new "coon" reaches here and gets accustomed to the atmosphere, doncher know, I shall immediately command my maternal highness, my Mammy; to write an epistle to my dear Sister, bidding her Come! Whereupon I shall expect to see my dear sister, my Sweet 22; with every feather waving, a guest at the "Old Homestead" or better "Sleepy Hollow". Now, dear, I must close as I'm getting anxious to know how that "water" down in Union-cellar tastes. Hoping to hear soon how you survived the two weeks, I am Your loving brother". 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.