File:Autobiography and personal reminiscences of Major-General Benj. F. Butler; Butler's book (1892) (14583155359).jpg

Identifier: autobiographype00butl (find matches)
Title: Autobiography and personal reminiscences of Major-General Benj. F. Butler; Butler's book
Year: 1892 (1890s)
Authors: Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893
Subjects:
Publisher: Boston, A.M. Thayer
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
to readthe text. Suffice it to say that he did not get the professorshipof rhetoric. As I have already admitted, my forte in college was not mathe-matics, and especially mathematical demonstrations by means of theblackboards. My tutor, of whom I have before spoken, remember-ing my impudence, thought to humble me in the examination inthat branch before the faculty. It so happened that I went out, asthose who were not being examined were at liberty to do, while thedemonstrations of others were being made. When I went into myroom, my trigonometry lay open at a pretty abstruse and difficultdemonstration, and, while waiting there, I went carefully over itwith a memory that would carry every line of it for a while. I hadbut just returned to my seat in the class when the tutor called out:Mr. Butler, demonstrate on the blackboard such a problem. Bygood luck it was the very problem I had just studied. Of coursethe demonstration was quite perfect. If ever a teacher was thunder- BUTLERS BOOK. 67
Text Appearing After Image:
BUTLERS BOOK. 69 struck at the proficiency of his pupil, it was Tutor Farnham on thatoccasion. Upon the whole, I graduated 7.5 out of 10 on the generalaverage, prayers deducted. I had a part, and as I remember it, my dissertation was the worstone I ever made. In the afternoon, after the degrees had beenconferred, the graduating class called upon the President, Rev.Robert B. Paterson. For him I had the very deepest regard, andfor him and his family in later years I had the good fortune to doseveral kindnesses. He courteously received the class at the doorof his house, offering his hand to each as we came up. We marchedup in alphabetical order. It brought me near the head of the line.I held back and did not present my hand, and I have no doubt hesupposed it was because we had had some discussion on the evi-dences of Christianity, wherein I took the liberty to differ fromsome of his propositions. Neither of us said anything until the restof the class had passed by him. When I came to my

Note About Images