LOUISIANA STATE
SEMINARY, Alexandria, April 26,1860.
DEAR GENERAL: I will
send as usual for the mail to-day and I suppose you will expect to hear from
me. There is nothing new. All things move along. We have a new cadet, No. 61,
Cadet Bogan, nephew of Bogan of Alexandria. I expect the Board on Saturday. I
have made plans and elevations of a very good house that Mills will undertake
to erect by October 15, at $5,000. As this matter is of much importance and
interest maybe, if you have room it would be well to pick him up and bring him
out. There are one or two slight modifications in his plan that I would make
and his assent should be obtained. It will be cutting close to finish well at
our figures. We at one time thought of a plan that would admit of additions and
alterations as we became better able, but on reflection I concluded it would be
wisest to adhere to the idea of finishing absolutely for the money appropriated,
as new wants will arise faster than our means.
As for the
treasurership, until you intend to employ assistants to mathematics and English
to whom could be assigned the duties of treasurer and librarian, I would prefer
to wag along as now, getting Dr. Clarke and the drummer to help me in posting.
I don't think you can waste a cent on any sinecure office. You know in large
bills, there is no trouble in paying — it is in the small items which [are]
necessarily innumerable.
Some days ago some
cadets handed me a subscription-list for a "May party.” I returned it to
them because the sums were unequal and too large – from one dollar to five
dollars. I explained to a few of the oldest cadets that I would not oppose a
moderate May party on a Saturday or maybe of a Friday night after the week's
study was over, but all concerned must be equal, and share alike, and the
expense should not exceed a dollar or dollar and half each, but that no further
steps should be taken till Saturday that I might submit the financial question
to the Board.
Last night Gus
Jarreau brought me out a printed copy of the invitation for Friday next two
weeks. They are crazy to show their uniforms to the girls and as they have
really made good progress in study and drill, and cannot have a party at
examination — midsummer — I think we had better permit it. I can control the
invitations and expense, and see they are proper and moderate. My opinion is
that the studies and military exercises being regular and thorough, relaxation
and amusement outside thereof will be salutary. I hope the Board will take this
view of it, as it is very important that these cadets when they go forth should
be content and enthusiastic in favor of our system. Some may think this wrong
but too much study made Jack a dull boy.
Every Friday evening
"all hands” attend in the large section room to declaim. After they are
through I generally speak half an hour or so on some interesting piece of
history. They take great interest in it; next Friday I must in connection with
my last, approach and maybe recount the leading events of the Conquest of
California. Although not liking a critical audience, if you happen to be here
on Friday night, you may be admitted, but if a critical audience ever comes,
I'll produce St. Ange, the orator of our institution.
The elegant Black of
St. Ange is a "sell.” After his drive to Judge Boyce's and back he struck
dead lame. St. Ange is bound to have a lawsuit because he bought under
warrantee from one Levy of Alexandria and gave his note, negotiable of course,
at six months for two hundred fifty dollars. His letter to Levy is a
masterpiece – but I doubt much if it produce any other effect than to give him
time to transfer his negotiable paper. I would give one hundred dollars to be
free to take Levy's case – put St. Ange on the stand and make him describe his
drive to Judge Boyce's and back – he first described the journey as enough to
kill any horse, but now that his horse is lame he insists it was a sweet ride
and not enough to hurt a colt. There is plenty of fun in the cause. Tell the
lawyers the case is worth five hundred dollars cash.
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