Sophomore year, 1876-1877

1876 September 24 Richard to Mother re: tells got letters from all our girls, tramping through iron mills and blast furnaces with Prof. Chandler, goes to Allentown to see puddling furnace – none open in Bethlehem, needs new knives, wants to meet Father in Philadelphia and see Centennial - needs more cash, college election for President of the Country to determine college political tone 1876 October 8 Richard to Mother re: visited coal mines and had a good time –fine scenery in Wyoming valley, passed Mauch Chunk, Glen Onoko, 90 miles by LVRR railroad to Wilkes Barre, special train met them and they rode the cow catcher and top of locomotive to coal breaker and engine houses, rode in empty coal cars into the mines, walked out of mines, Judge Packer provided free train, also going to zinc mines, needs money 1876 October 15 Richard to Mother re: snow, cold and windy, got money from Father, walked to zinc mines (4 miles) professor walking too had good time, the Lehigh Zinc Co. mine - the Ueberoth at Friedensville will be closed as the ore is poor and the company has other mines in New Jersey, political election at university selected Hayes by 2/3, political excitement in Bethlehem – bonfires, police men shot, two observing Freshmen put in jail, Leavitt good lawyer 1876 October 18 Richard to Father re: received money enabled trip to Philadelphia to see tournament at Centennial, trying to arrange a visit with Father in Philadelphia and enclosed a time table for train depot at 3rd and Berks 1876 October 29 Richard to Mother re: his birthday today went to Philadelphia for shopping and Centennial which was crowded 1876 November 12 Dick to Mother re: went to theater, election not yet decided, Centennial closed 1876 November 19 Richard to Mother re: Patty (sister?) is at Mr. Wolle’s School a year, notes that Bethlehem is not a pleasant place in Winter, asking if she would want him to come home for holidays 1876 December 3 Richard to Mother re: some students refuse to go to recitation and professors report them to be expelled due to a scrape of the seniors, “Epitome” came out to day – his class produced it and it is “neat” but Leavitt not satisfied with the photographs, Prof. Chandler lectured on silk and he mentioned the silk works in Paterson, N.J. Chandler replied he would take students to see the mill if he had a contact, Richard contacts Mr. Herrick asking him for name, Chandler intended to take class to Philadelphia to see sugar and glass works but instead maybe to New York and stop along way in Paterson (Packer can arrange free pass on LVRR but Philadelphia –Reading RR is excursion rate), also go to Allentown to go through woolen & cotton mills, tannery & earthenware works, one of the students left to go to Stevens Institute to study mechanical engineering 1876 December 10 Dick to Mother re: death of Will Duncan, the best student of the Class due to inflammation of the bowel, most of letter describes funeral and student reaction to death 1877 January 21 Richard to Mother re: class with Prof. Harding, as a C. E. he will take surveying and map drawing, sleighing is good, business in civil (engineering) is dull so he plans to go to sea until he can get something 1877 January 28 Receipt from President’s Room 1877 February 4 Richard to Mother re: thaw in weather, St. Luke’s Hospital perhaps will devote two rooms for Lehigh students and dedicated to Will Duncan Memorial, Leavitt asked Paddock and him to take up collection , Paddock moved out of hall (Saucon), Howe moved into his room being one of the best, Howe offers Richard his room but Richard stays, 1877 April 8 Richard to Mother re: lovely weather, start of surveying class, classmate Horn leaving to study medicine, got “May flowers” at Lechauweki (Springs resort) great variety of flowers only found there, examinations decide about the scholarship 1877 April 10 A. J. DuBois (Sec. of Faculty) to R. H. Tucker “Dear Sir, The damages at Christmas Hall committed last Thursday and Friday have been estimated at $50. Nine of the students having rooms in the building, yourself included, and held responsible for the payment of this sum, which must be paid at once to me. If paid in full before the next meeting of the Faculty on Monday, 16th inst. no further notice will be taken of the matter. If not, more rigorous measures will be resorted to.” (apparently a lot of damage had been done to Saucon Hall during the term by students culminating in destruction of door, no one directly guilty - so all residents in Hall had to pay for repairs) 1877 April 16 A. J. DuBois to R. H. Tucker “Dear Sir. The money you enclosed cannot be accepted in that shape. The whole amount must be raised and paid in one payment.” 1877 April 21 (note) Saturday Bell Halsey Palmer Paddock Tucker Room 27 Saucon hall, (recipe for egg nog) 1877 April 27 A. Rodgers (South Bethlehem) to Tucker “Received Payment” 1877 May 6 Dick (South Bethlehem) to Will (Richard’s brother)admits has not written very much to him, remarks about war in Europe, general depression in business so may never receive it, walked to Hellertown to see a shooting match, much beer consumed, Faculty probably have decision on the door scrape, telegraph company is rather weak in members having lost three members moving out of hall 1877 May 26 Lehigh University Athletic Association Spring Meeting At Rittersville Park (program) R. H. Tucker Second Half Mile Race 1877 June 4 Alex. Bell (Orkney Springs, Va.) to Dick re: furniture etc. stored in end room in the Hall, Bell may return next year but is uncertain and may take a job as chief miner on the O.E.H. Co’s staff if nothing better offers, relates his nice visit to Winchester cavorting with the damsels, asks for his brush and comb 1877 June 13 Alexander Bell 79 “A noble heart doth teach a virtuous Scorn; To scorn to owe a duty overlong; To scorn to be for benefits – forborne; To scorn to lie; to scorn to do a wrong; To scorn to bear an injury in mind; “To scorn, a free born heart, slave like, to bind” R. H. Tucker Jr. L.U. ’79 Wiscasset Maine” (on reverse of note) “I did not receive any help.” 1877 June 15 (note) Friday Symposium! Room 27 Saucon Hall Bell. Halsey. Sargent. Tucker. 1qrt Currant .45 1 qrt Blkberry .45 1 Bottle Port 1.25 1 Bottle Sherry 1.00 4 qrts Strawberries. 32 1 lb Sugar .13 4 glasses .40 Cake 20. Fruit 20 .40 $4.40 1877 June 15 (port bottle label “Sunny Slope Port” Perkins, Stern & Co.) Room 27 Saucon Hall Alex. Bell ’79 – Reperlative? L.M. Halsey ’79 – Comparative F.W. Sargent ’79- Temperance R.H. Tucker Jr. ’79 – Positive Friday night 2 term Soph. year (stick figure sketch) 1877 June 19 (invitation) University Hop from George G. Convers, Frank P. Howe, G.R. Linderman Jr. 1877 June 21 President’s Room (report slip) Richard H. Tucker standing Sophomore Class Second Term Jan. 12, 1877 to June 20, 1877 Number of students in Class 14 General Rank in Class 1 John M. Leavitt