The start of a new school year

[DoctorThursday]

Before we delve into a little more of the long-buried lore of the past, how about a trivia question to start the new year:

Question: As you know, Knox, Linton, and Ryan graduated from Miami on August 8, 1839. On what date in the fall did the other five Betas return to campus in 1839?

While you think about that, here's an amazing view of that summer:

A Letter from David Linton to John Reily Knox
September 15, 1839

Todd's Fork
Dear Sir,
Your very acceptable letter came to hand in due season. I laughed heartily to hear of the full-orbed moon rising in splendor while it was yet day; but I suppose, if it were to make its debut in the appropriate season, the enjoyment would be quite as great, for I fancy that the titillation would even surpass the "cactumation"[?] its unnatural appearance occasioned. Yet both are pleasant, marvelously agreeable, and you have been reveling amidst all this! And climbing to the superb dignity of being a committee-man in loafer's club. Well, R-aly, Reily, how you are ascending to the proud eminence of animalism, and how nobly you sustain the exalted of Loafer's Hall. "Press on while yet you may," for I can assure you that Blackstone furnishes no enjoyments like these. But enough of this.
Perhaps you would like to know what your humble servant has been doing since I last saw you. I have enjoyed myself tolerably well for "sartin" I am, that every part of me has had some enjoyment, from the man down to the animal, and from the animal up to the man. For while lying on the grass in the shade – not of laurels won – but of the spreading beech – the dog by my side, giving myself over to Somnus and to pleasant dreams, and even when the sun shall have come around and beat upon me, forbearing to move, then, I fancy, I support the dignity of President of Loafer's Hall. When in my room poring over the annals of those ancient moral Epicurean people, called Quakers, or endeavoring to store my poor cranium with legal lore, or discussing some political subject with the old gentleman, I generally suppose that I have the man employed. Yet "the lasses O!" "The sweetest hours that e'er I spent, I spent among the lasses O!" The day after I returned, I went to quarterly meeting at Waynesville, met with some fine girls, and had a very agreeable time. Soon after I visited Xenia, thence to Clifton, thence to the Springs, and Clark County, and home – a pleasant visit, lots of girls and more fun. I cannot brag much, I know, we have handsome girls. There is one little black-eyed Quaker miss – Sir, I shall say nothing about her.
From what has been we pass to guesses about what will be, alias, our prospects. The experiment remains untried. I talk of going to the Law School this winter. I believe it is the desire of my parents and it chimes pretty well with my own notions, however, I have commenced the mechanical work of the experiment. I find I am no mechanic, but there is nothing like trying. If it does not realize my expectations, I think I shall go to the Law School. It is the opinion of Haines that I can graduate in the spring; if I do, I shall go to Iowa. This is the best of my guessing, and it is at best but guessing.
Having discoursed of the past and future, why not devote a sentence or two to the present? However if we cannot find room to have a few remarks upon the narrow isthmus which divides the eternity that's past from the eternity that is to come, we will extend our view to the whole of one day. And that day shall be this day, and this day is Sunday morning. Now, as soon as I shall have finished this letter, I will wash and shave and put on my Sunday fixups, go to church, and go home with some of the girls, play with them in the afternoon and tonight – "well, what of tonight?" Oh, lord, why should I tell you?
You're in the country and of course rusticating, and should I remain long will be rusty enough. Therefore, "all other things being equal" I had better spend this winter in the city. I would like to have all the company could get and as many of the B. etc as possible. What say you to meeting me there the last of next month at the Law School? Write soon and remember that I have a heart to reciprocate every kind sentiment you can cherish.
Believe me in sincerity,
your friend eternally,
D. Linton.

(after the signature follows a secret symbol, apparently deriving from the ancient form of badge)

PS Leb. sends his very best respects.

A few notes:

1. Reily - well, you know who that is.
2. Leb - James George Smith (who came from Lebanon, Ohio)
3. "the experiment" - ah, well, you'll have to wait and see about this.
4. "as many of the B. etc" - do I have to explain that?
5. Linton did go to the Cincinnati Law School and graduated in 1840.