A letter from Willie (William Magenau) to his mother dated September 20, 1893. William Magenau is circled in the picture. The William Magenau Collection is housed in the Arthur Lakes Library on Campus. Dear Mamma, This is the third day of school, that is, in name, as we have done very little yet. First I will tell you about a few people I have met. With the Freshmen boys I have of course had some intercourse; talked quite awhile with a boy from Canada but do not know his name. I think the average age of the Freshmen is at least 18 ½ or 19, while some look to be 23. The School has the funniest arrangement I ever saw, and that is what all the new boys say. You come and go when you please, and no one cares or notices. If you miss a lecture, it is your own loss and no one but yourself knows the difference … The professors seem to take it as a matter of course that we knew just how the school was run, and they were too busy for us to ask them about it. But then, we got there just the same … They teach almost altogether by lectures though later we will have some recitations. We all have note books and record all the important facts in the lecture. This at first seems easy, as Prof. Chauvenet says the boys think what a snap they will have sitting listening to the teacher recite the lessons for them. But when the exams come, it is an entirely different thing. The exams here last days instead of hours, that is the examination in a subject, say chemistry may take 2 days to complete. At present I have a great deal of time on my hands, but Mr. Chauvenet told me that he thought I wouldn’t have that to complain of later on. I have spent, for school supplies so far, $4.25 for books, that is Geometry, Algebra, and Chemistry, and a trifle for note books, etc. For a deposit of $1.00 at school we get a key to a locker in the basement where we can safely leave books, etc. I also paid $1.00 for Gymnasium fee for this term. Other deposits are $1 for drawing instruments. Now you have asked me to describe my room … The house stands near the bottom of the hill on which the School is situated. My bed is first rate; has two mattresses and plenty of covers. The only use I have of the blanket you put in the trunk is as a chair cushion. Mrs. Johnson is very kind and obliging. She prides herself on the nice boys she has staying here so you see I won’t get in bad company from boarding here … Tell Papa that Mrs. Johnson gave me $6 which he had paid her. She says that when he asked what his bill was she made a mistake and told him $10 instead of $4. I will keep the $6 … Your affectionate son, Willie (William Magenau)