1838 Stampless Letter Lovell ME FUTURE BOWDOIN GRAD SHARES OPINION OF EDUCATION

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1838 Stampless Letter Lovell ME FUTURE BOWDOIN GRAD SHARES OPINION OF EDUCATION:
$36.50

Traveling the Paper Trails of American History

\"I tell you friend Nutting, four year\'s hard study is a long drag. how much better to gratify one\'s curiosity with a cruise round the world than to throw away the best part of his life wasting his money and destroying his health at a \'College Castle\', and after all gain nothing of great importance, except imaginary, and that is his degree.\"

(See below for scans)

Three-page stampless letter written by Paul L. Chandler on December 1, 1838, at Lovell, ME, to James L. Nutting at Otisfield, ME. Pages measure approx. 7 3/4\" x 9 3/4\".

Postal history: Manuscript town mark, \"Lovell\", with a manuscript 6 cents rate mark.

Condition: Small edge tears and some fold splits repaired with archival tape, holes in folds, old archival tape repairs, hole in page 3 (affecting addressee name), age toning.

Paul L. Chandler writes to James L. Nutting about topics ranging from enjoying alcoholic beverages to the importance of a college degree. The two men had apparently attended Bowdoin College earlier in 1838 and Paul is currently teaching school to earn money so that he can continue his education. He mentions that his uncle has come into $30,000 worth of property and has promised to pay his tuition. He hopes to return to Bowdoin, but in the meantime is considering attending a more affordable school at Bridgton, ME, and wants James to join him. Apparently, all went well for Paul Chandler. He and James Nutting graduated from Bowdoin College in the Class of 1842. He writes in a very friendly and intellectual manner. We have added a little punctuation to make his words easier to read in the transcription below.

Please see our other listings for a letter written in 1843 to James L. Nutting by his friend John P. Davis, an attorney in Bridgton, ME.

Paul L. Chandler writes:

\"Lovell

\"December 1st 1838

\"Friend Nutting,

\"According to my promise, I now take the opportunity to write you that I still have a being in a remote corner of this world, and am stationed as a country pedagogue, which is all the news you can have at present. were we in some populous place or even at \'Old Bowdoin[\'], we could hear something new, such as a Democratic supper or at tips at the demi-john, we could occassionally become partakers besides being much received by a bounteous outpouring of the Spirit – what a cheering thought! believe me sir I have not felt its workings but once since we parted and that was last night at a Ball where I received it without measure not to say that I was in a deeper trance than on a former occasion but it is confessed that I was almost used up for school keeping. it was a time of great refreshing. But stop – you may say my senses (what little I have) are now under the guidance of the God Bacchus in exposing my own errors, but no, [illegible], it is a good thing to confess – and would that now face to face I could drink your health, but I must be content with the remembrance of past visits and the anticipation of future. To leave off this topic as nearly exhausted, I would inquire how go the times!! are you still determined to press forward and gain that height from which you can look down with an eye of scorn on us vile wretches, who engage \'low pursuits.\' I tell you friend Nutting, four year\'s hard study is a long drag. how much better to gratify one\'s curiosity with a cruise round the world than to throw away the best part of his life wasting his money and destroying his health at a \'College Castle[\'], and after all gain nothing of great importance, except imaginary, and that is his degree. it is well for any one to possess a good Academical education and as for anything more is it not quite useless[?] so it seems to me. However I yet expect to continue at College, though I should not had I no other resource to depend upon, than I have had. for to work hard three months to pay one at school, is a little thing I shall not do. I am in strong hopes to receive help from my Uncle, who is abundantly able, a large amount of property being left him – nearly $30,000 – at least he promised to do it, and should I succeed I shall return to Brunswick. I too well remember the famine, that scarcity of provisions when we looked up with thankful hearts, for a roasted potatoe, (and that too a stolen one) for again to undertake a method of growing tall, by cutting off my feet to put on my head – that will never do.

\"I have had some idea of attending school at Bridgton next term if they get a new teacher as heard our venerable preceptor, Mr Burnham, resigns this term, it being so much cheaper. I think we can gain admittance, and be as well off in point of knowledge, and much better in funds, that at Brunswick. what say, will you come up? think of it and give us an answer. As to my studies I have not done much – Livy (for this term) is completed except 3 or 4 pages and Xenophon yet lacks one book. Algebra is rather hard tho I think I can digest it after much study. let me know how far they go in it this term.

\"I arrived safe home after a passage of 3 or 4 days, had some sport out to Portland and along the road, which at present I will not tell. write and tell the news what happened after I left – also about Holder where he is &c tell him to let me have a letter. I would write more, but the truth is I have been without my dinner and \'I am as idealess as Phocians daughters were destitute of eyes and teeth.\'

\"Yours in friendship

\"Paul L. Chandler

\"P.S. Write me as soon as you receive this. direct Fryeburg Centre. my school continues 3 months from the beginning Nov 19 at $18 – rather low wages, but the highest in town. we shall expect to room together, shall we not?

\"P. L. Chandler

\"Excuse mistakes.\"

Paul Langdon Chandler (1818-1904) was born in Fryeburg, the son of Dr. Moses Chandler (1765-1822) and Mary Langdon (1782-1863). He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1842 and taught at the Waterville (ME) Liberal Institute for two years. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1844. Around 1846, he married Mary M. Dow (1820-1903), the daughter of Waterville innkeeper Levi Dow. He practiced law in Waterville until 1850, went to California for three years, then returned to his family and law practice. At some point his marriage ended in divorce. In the 1870 Census for Waterville, Mary was raising their sons Sewall and Phillip. Records show that he was appointed a Professor of French Language at Oberlin College in 1872. While living in Oberlin, he married the widow Almeda Osgood Kimball (1824-1889), but apparently that marriage also ended in divorce. On January 23, 1880, he married Marietta Achilles (1830-1923) at Suspension Bridge, Niagara County, NY. They lived with her mother in Ridgeway, Orleans County, NY, then moved to Wendell, Franklin County, MA. Paul Langdon Chandler died in Wendell on January 14, 1904. See The Chandler Family (1883), History of Bowdoin College (1882), The Achilles Family From New Hampshire, 1776-1961 (1962), and Obituary Record of the Graduates of Bowdoin College and the Medical School of Maine (1911).

James Lewis Nutting (1818-1880) was born in Otisfield, Oxford County, ME, the son of Lyman Nutting and Charlotte Chadbourne. He began teaching school at the age of sixteen in order to pay for his education. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1842 and studied law with Howard & Shepley in Portland for two years. He then went to PA, where he taught school in Womelsdorf, Berks County, before settling in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County. There he taught school before getting involved in the manufacture of iron and coal mining. In October 1851, he married Barbara Ann Graeff. In 1876 he ran for U. S. Congress on the Republican ticket and lost to James B. Reilly by 81 votes. Nutting unsuccessfully contested the election based on what he deemed were illegal votes; Reilly was seated as the Representative of the Thirteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania. James L. Nutting passed away on June 20, 1880. See History of Schuylkill County, Pa. (1881), History of Bowdoin College (1882), and the Harrisburg (PA) Telegraph (June 21, 1880).

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