Senior year, 1878-1879

1878 August 21 M.H. Paddock to Dick re: notice that he will not return to L.U. and will have to graduate with Class ’80, needs to work and Asks if Dick’s father could find him a job at sea. 1878 Roster First term Senior Monday – Friday 8.30 Merriman, 2 -4 Merriman Fieldwork; Tuesday 10.30 Doolittle Astronomy; Wednesday – Thursday 9.30 Doolittle Astronomy 1878 September 8 Dick to Mother re: arrived after stopover in Boston and New York visiting friends and going to theater, reports that Class ’79 has only five students left – 3 engineers and 2 chemists hardly seems like the same place – hardly like college even – more like after [college] life 1878 September 21 Dick to Mary (sister) relates that Paddock is living in his room, having a rare cigarette, Freshies & Sophs football game, Seminary is poorly filled this year, father’s check came, pole vaulting going well 1878 October 12 Fall Meeting of the Athletic Association at Rittersville Driving Park, Committee: R.H. Tucker, Jr., ’79, Pole Vaulting R.H. Tucker Jr. 7’10” (second place) 1878 October 13 Dick to Mother re: successful athletics – he is chairman and president of the Association, Dr. Coppée and a Miss Nelson made the presentations of medals and Dick danced the waltz with her, Miss Sally Linderman also at the dance who Patty might know as the “rather unlovely heiress of about five or ten million.” 1878 October 27 Dick to Mother re: lovely weather, Chandler took Sophs to coal mines, saw Wilbur and got first rate letter to Superintendent of the Car Shops at Packerton, saw Packer’s deer park, went to Mauch Chunk by locomotive for dinner, on to Mr. Pisgah, climbed up the plane where the cars are hauled up for the Switchback rises 660 ft in half mile, view magnificent, offered a ride in safety trucks exciting and enjoyable, upon coming back went to opening new theater in Anthracite building for the Fountain Hill amateur toupe, will be 19 next week and facing graduation, mentions not seeing the “Mollie” prisoners [Mollie MacGuires – secret organization of coal miners who revolted against the harsh mining conditions and treatment from the mining companies and Reading Railroad, 12 men were sentenced to death and held in prison in Mauch Chunk awaiting execution] on their visit to Mauch Chunk. 1878 October 31 (New York) from William Waller, Treas. I.C.A.A. to Pres. of Lehigh Athletic Assoc’n re: “prizes for the Inter-Collegiate games of ’77 & ’78 will be furnished the latter part of Nov. Lehigh is entitled to one second prize, viz: “Half Mile Run” ’77 won by Mr. B.B. Nostrand. Please send me your name and address and oblige” 1878 November 24 Dick to Mother writes he looks forward to Thanksgiving and possibly petitioning off for the following days, says check arrived as well a package of clothes, lecture of Dr. Coppée in chapel well received. The petition is included. (Attachment) P.S. Important. (Note requesting someone to look at a panorama upstairs and find a picture of French troops fighting surrounded by Turks and send him name and date of battle [possibly Battle of the Nile]) 1878 December 10 John M. Leavitt to Capt R. H. Tucker reports that Richard has been before the Faculty reprimanded for 16 unexcused Absences should he have 2 more he will be dismissed. In every other he is excellent. (on reverse Father writes to Richard: “You may think this a trivial matter and that it is the last communication I had the honor to receive from your President – but I do not. Rather than be dismissed, you had better resign; -- if the rules of your institution are too extreme to endure. – R.H.T. 1878 December 15 to Mother writes that the matter of absences that are worrying them (parents), he gives his excuses and is not apologetic (also writes a Thesis “Absences” see SC MS 0041.01.19) 1878 December 18 to Mother writes that check came, bills all paid and sufficient money to get home, happy that she took a sensible view of the absences. He is in no trouble about them but will tell them if he has trouble. He passes his exams – did the best in astronomy. Looking forward to the last Xmas for a long time to be spent at home. 1878 December 21 Report - President’s Room John M. Leavitt on Richard H. Tucker Senior first Term General Rank in School of C. E. 1, Inexcused Absences 15 1879 February 16 to Mother writes “No check yet” hopes Father will send it soon, attending dinners, concerts, dance socials, visit to Philadelphia saw opera, has to work on thesis, check arrived day late 1879 February 23 to Mother reports quiet Washington’s birthday, roller skating a rage – YMCA opened a season, says that if Mother comes in June she will be comfortable at the Sun Inn, progressing with his thesis, goes before Faculty about absences, remarks about calculations for a bridge that would be strained beyond a safe limit, doing a little work on cable making, says he is not attending chapel 1879 February 26 to Mary reports Ash Wednesday today, he is sleeping in but woke up when heard a “joyous shout over the fact of “Prex” being sick” – went back to sleep – no absence report, thought he was up before Faculty for absences but then mistake in report of chapel absence because he was on an excused mining trip, went dancing on eve of Ash Wednesday but stopped at midnight as dancing not approved for Lent but other amusements are tolerated, asks her to send some of her collection of plays to perform privately, everyone “mad” about the music of “H.M.S. Pinafore” so he will play it for the students, snowing but never enough for sleighing, roller skating still attractive 1879 March 2 to Father accounts for how last check he sent has been spent the money and asks for more so he can give money to loan to Paddock who needs $40 a month, is thinking about going into mining when he graduates as he likes it, says idea of going to Brazil is not good for civil engineers as it is over run with C.E.s, notes that won’t go to New York until work begins on the East River (bridge that is eventually named the Brooklyn Bridge) 1879 April 13 to Mother lovely Easter morning went to Moravian sunrise service, after at the cemetery then at the University, spent the night at the observatory with Prof. Doolittle looking at comets, practicing vaulting, went through the mills, tunnels, furnaces 1879 May 3 Spring Meeting of Athletic Association at Rittersville Driving Park: Pole Vaulting R.H. Tucker R.H. Tucker Jr. 6’6”, Hurdle Race R.H. Tucker Jr. 78 ¾” (both 2nd place), Running High Jump R.H. Tucker Jr. 4’10” (first place), engraved medal (measures 2 x 3.5 cm overall, 2cm dick suspended from brown and white ribbon 1879 May 4 to Mother successful athletic meeting but he did not do well in vaulting but did well in hurdles 1879 May 11 to Mother writes of the intercollegiate athletic meeting Lehigh made a good show, Merriman will take the Junior engineers to the mines, heartily wishes class to be over, hopes to finish thesis next two weeks, thinking about post graduate work studying mining, has spent several nights in observatory – real pleasant work, go to New York with Prof. Merriman to examine the Bridge and different works, Prex. Wants him to come back again to study assaying – there is no better place except perhaps Columbia 1879 June 1 to Mary miserably hot, sorry about death of Nellie Savage, taking many exams, parade of Grand Knights Templar in Allentown, “city of peanuts,” boating carnival on river a success with elder Miss Chapman – most delightful evening and got above the island (Calypso?), sat for photo 1879 June 8 Charles W. Schmick (Rockhill Iron and Coal Company, Orbisonia, Pa) to Friend Tucker regrets not able to go to class dinner on the 13th, wishes all others well and wants to exchange photos 1879 June 19 President’sRoom John M. Leavitt Report to R. H. Tucker, Jr Senior second term General Rank in Class 1, Excused absences 19, Inexcused absences, 7 1879 (Maroon silk ribbon ‘badge”?) Lehigh University ’79 “Fit via vi.” 1879 June The Lehigh University Annual Exercises, June 1879, Founded by Asa Packer Order of the Annual Examination, University Day June 19th … Abstract of Thesis – “Iron Highway Bridge over the Androscoggin, at Brunswick, Main” Richard H. Tucker, Valedictory Richard H. Tucker (official program) 1879 June The Lehigh University. Annual Exercises, June 1879, “Don’t Grow Weary.” Order of Exercises - Music – “Pinafore”, .. Abstract of “Report of Chief Engineer of Iron Railway Bridge over Androscoggin River, Brunswick, Maine” by Dick Tucker … Valedictory Dick Tucker (humorous satirical program)