Widener Display Pictures Hardships Of Collegeman in Revolutionary War

For the interest of students who complain about the heavy burdens the college man must bear these days, Widener Library, under the direction of Kimball Elkins, has set up a display of college manuscripts which gives an interesting picture of the University's unique situation during the Revolutionary War period.

Typical of the problems was that perennial college bugaboo, the food situation. On display is a paper, dated 1778, which authorizes the Faculty to send a Sophomore to Connecticut on a flour buying expedition, lest the College disband for lack of victuals. Then there is a letter to the College Butler commanding him to cease selling fire water to students since the price had risen too high.

A year earlier there was a recommendation that the students be required to furnish their own sugar, butter, coffee, tea, and chocolate. Excellent way to do away with collecting ration books.

The official report of costs for the Commencement Day dinner included expenditures for such items as 33 gallons of rum (seasoning purposes, no doubt), the upkeep of 17 horses, one cord of wood, and the rental fee on sixteen bowls. This event, according to the manuscripts, was the first public commencement in six years due to the war.

One Silvanus Bourn writes, in another epistle, that he would have to borrow a pair of shoes to walk to Boston and that to buy a new pair would cost 30 dollars. During the winter of 1777-78 an order was issued to close the college due to the fuel shortage.

When American troops occupied the different halls during the Revolution, they caused no end of trouble. There is the original bill that the college sent to the government for damages inflicted on the buildings. Damaged items to Massachusetts Hall included 200 yards of painting and the replacement of all sorts of locks, door knobs and hinges, which is much better than the Navy has thus far been able to do.