Autograph Letter by an Early Student at Emory and Henry College

Quarto, bifolium with [4] pp of ink manuscript, headed "Emory & Henry College May 22nd 1841", signed "Jas. B. Park" and sent to D.B. Gaither of Iredell County, North Carolina. A detailed letter by an early student at Emory and Henry College, which was only founded three years prior, in 1838. The letter discusses the recent congressional election, a memorial sermon for William Henry Harrison given by a professor, the grisly suicide of a local woman, and life at the school, including exams, the food, and expulsions. "I have not visited the ladies much this session, I saw some very nice looking ones on last friday at Marion, about twenty miles distant. The object of my visit to that place, was, to hear an addresss, or rather, a sermon delivered by the Rev. Wm. J. Harlow (one of our professors) on the death of Genl Harrison, a calamity than which no other has more completely enveloped a nation in mourning. I assure his that his remarks.were the most beautiful.so much so that the faces of the congregation (Democrats all) were diffused with marks of deepest sorrow." "We are getting along here tolerably 1 month after having expelled three of our number.they were expelled for drinking, profanity, neglect of duties, carrying arms and other immoral conduct, which by the by is a pretty long catalogue of crimes. There are others among us who still present in a course which if not checked will lead to consequences most fatal." "Our fare is only tolerable now, about the best of which is sometimes some pudding comprised of nails, splinters, straws, crumbs of bread and a variety of other little dainties.together iwth some hominy, with claws about a foot long." "I saw on last thursday the body of a lady who had committed suicide for causes which I have not as yet learned.dreadful act was commited while in a state of insanity. She killed herself by cutting her throat with a razor. The incision was about half way round the nech and to a depth sufficient to terminate her existence immediately.the blood recoiled in my veins at the sight of so unfortunate a victim to human weakness." Folding creases, toning, mild staining, lower fold of second page separated.…