James Kellogg Burnham Hockaday letter to I.O. - n.d.
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My dear I.O. : -- I received your letter of the fifteenth this afternoon and am certainly sorry I shall be unable to see you before leaving for Princeton. In regard to your questions. To get my furniture go down to Patton Hall and ask for the janitor “Andy” or Mrs. Haupt, who is the chambermaid, for that part of the building in which I lived. He or she will tell you what they did with the furniture. Then go to the janitor of your own building, Witherspoon, and he may help you or tell you how to get it into your room. If he can bring it over for you, give him a tip for whatever he charges, or what you think it is worth. If he can’t bring it over, get an express wagon, or first I would see the man who is in charge of the storing of the furniture, I believe his name is Higgins, and he will bring it over or if he can’t, then get an express wagon at the station. In case Patton Hall is closed, as it might be since so few are going back, then go to the University police, who are under Stanhope Hall and they may tell you where to find the man in charge of storing the furniture first and get his advice. Then, if he can’t help you, get your janitor or an express wagon. The furniture may possibly still be in my room. Leave your suitcase and all baggage in your room so as to be absolutely free from luggage when you go around after arriving. You will undoubtedly find your room in an awful mess, it may look like a deserted attic store room, but a sweeping out and a little furniture and pictures will make all the difference in the world. Don’t try to fix it all up in one day for you will get discouraged, - you have all year. There will be no “horsing” at the University and no one can make you do a thing. I don’t know what the Freshman rules will be this year but they will be published in the Princetonian when you first arrive. I have an idea that they will be much simpler than last year. Skull caps, black ties, black socks and shoes, Keeping off grass, and undercover at nine p.m., I think this will be all. You will find out, however, soon enough. You will not have to go by any laws whatsoever until the formal opening of college which will be some afternoon in the Chapel. Here President Hibben will speak and you will see all of the “profs” parade in with their different colored robes, indicating their degrees. As you come out of the Chapel through the Freshman door, you will see the upper classmen gathered around and giving you the severest kind of a critical eye. You will feel like an ant in the middle of the ocean. In the old days this is the time when the initiating began, this time, however, your career as a Princeton under-graduate begins and you are subject from this time on, to the laws which will be published. We have all had to go through this and it brings
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[Page #2] out some fine qualities in a fellow, grit and determination. You are much better qualified, coming as you do, all things being taken in to consideration, to stand up against whatever circumstances may arise. Absolutely the best advice, I or anyone else can give you is summed up completely in two expressions, first--Have confidence in yourself-second-use common sense, just plain common horse sense. I can tell you now that it is going to be rather hard for you for the first day or so, especially since you are rooming alone. I certainly Hope Bob Ingraham will go to the University this Fall. He would make a fine room mate for he is a good companion, a good mixer and he has just enough of that happy-go-lucky way about him to carry him over all rough places. Let me advise you not to be too serious about everything or too full of good resolutions. Just go into anything to win and go in with a free and easy conscience. Otherwise you might feel kind of strained and you won’t be able to let yourself out and you might get worried or dis-heartened a little if anything happens to go wrong. I believe my trouble was, to a great extent, that I had too many good resolutions. I would make one good resolution after another and finally realized I was nothing but a mass of good resolutions which did not amount to a damn. You may find yourself in some pretty tough or discouraging places, but just keep a stiff upper lip and a smile on your face and think of the better days to come. Time is always flying you know, and remember that every tight place you get into makes the next one just so much easier and also they can’t keep a good man down. Of course get acquainted with your classmates, as many and as soon as possible. You will meet the best men, who will go out for football, it seems this is nearly always true. I am glad you have decided definitely to go out for this. You will come in contact with some very good upper classmen. Get to know as many upper classmen as you can with out forcing yourself. Don’t be afraid of them by any means, but just use common sense. One of the best ways of know or getting acquainted with all is to get acquainted and make friends with your classmates. Make the Princetonian. Another thing is keep your dignity. You will always stand higher and have truer friends if you are respected. I don’t mean by this of course to be a preacher or a hupocrite. Use common sense again. Don’t laugh at every smutty joke when with a crowd nor curse. You may find that some of the best fellows in your class may be reeling drunk some night. This is something which you absolutely should not do, however. You may find that sometime, to relieve
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[Page #3] the monotony, you might want to go to Trenton to take in a dance at the Arcade or a burlesque show, etc. Of course never wear your Freshman clothes at this time and don’t do anything to attract especial attention. Just have good time and forget all work. It is much better not to go to Trenton, however, for it is a bad town and a fellow who gets the rep of going there all the time is generally in bad. Save up your cash and have a real sprre in New York two or three week ends with some good fellows. When you go, have a real good time, forget everything and take a few cuts if necessary. When you come back you will feel like working hard twice as hard if you have enjoyed yourself. New York is a wonderful place. Don’t go, of course, during football season. Don’t get the gambling habit. You will find that most of the fellows there will waste considerable time gambling. Keep out, even if the stakes are small. The only time to gamble is when you have all your work behind you, when you are feeling fine and when it is raining outside and when you have nothing to do and have plenty of money, in fact an excess of money so that losing a few dollars won’t hurt you much. If you go into any circle at this time and under such circumstances you are pretty sure to pick up some cold dollars which might help in a trip. Never go in under any other circumstances for it is only a waste of time and money, and if you lose, you will go away discouraged and mad at yourself. These are just common sense hints and you are bound to run into these things. Every fellow does and I don’t doubt but what you have had considerable experience already. It is best to keep out, however. Finally remember that an education does not consist in learning only those studies which are required. You can get that at any “one-horse” college. Remember that at Princeton you have the advantage of hearing the finest speakers in the world, the finest orchestras, quartettes and musicians give concerts there. Take as much in as you have time and learn to enjoy such. Learn what it going ton in this beg world and get the advice and opinion of the leading men. This you can take seriously and you will find out that it will mean more to you than if you simply studies and played. I really think that this is over half of your education. Talk to beg men whenever you get a chance. Call on Dr. Hibben and Mrs. Hibben some Sunday afternoon for tea. I wish I have done it. If there is a big fellow from Harvard named Dr. Fitch, go up to him and stick out your hand and tell him your name. He is a prince of a man and you don’t have to talk religion to him. I have heard him cuss a streak, which would make a minister turn green in the face. By all means see Dr. and Mrs. Stevnson. She is a peach and has some mighty nice parties sometimes. By all means look up Bolton Kelly if he is there, I have tried to locate him. He is my ideal of a prince of a fellow and will help you in every way. He is a jolly, happy go lucky fellow but is O.K. and one of the most popular in college. Harry Keller is another of my room mates. His family and the Hibbens are closely related.
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[Page #4] Don’t talk or discuss about the clubs there in anyway and don’t worry about them. My personal advice is not to go in deep in any religious or missionary work unless you can give your whole heart and soul to it. A fellow has to be kind of gifted that way. It is certainly the finest work you can do, however, and you may be sure the highest type of men are leaders along this line. Boost it all you can and if at any time you are called upon by them for money, donate freely. I would give six or eight dollars the first term. If you want to go into any of this work, remember there is no glory or honor to be sought, but go into it as a sacrifice. You will certainly get much out of it. Knowing you as I do, however, I don’t believe I would enter in. Attend the meetings, by all means the first one, and go down to the mission house and play with the poor kids a time or two. Use your own common sense and if you don’t feel like you care to go into it as an extra curriculum, don’t worry any more about the matter. Remember that God Almighty is always with you and you can turn to him for advice in the quiet of every evening in your room. As Abraham Lincoln said, “I have been driven to my knees more than once with the realization that I have no other place to go.” Thus you have my advice. You may follow it in whole, in part, or not at all. Do whatever you think is best. I would say that if you keep on in the same way as you have always done, making friends in the same way (You’ll find classes of fellows the same world over), making the same records you have made, you will come through Princeton with a record which every fellow will envy. Have confidence in yourself. You are all right. You have proved it thus far. Just be yourself. If there is a three year course over there, I would take it by all means if it wasn’t in Civil Engineering only. Beginning tomorrow morning, mu regiment receives over 3,000 men, who are coming in so many per day for about four days. I shall be pretty well snowed under for a while, but if there is any advice whatever, I can give, don’t hesitate to telegraph me and I will let you know at the first possible moment. If there is a list of the 1919 class of men who attend the University this Fall, please send it to me. I would subscribe to the Princetonian and one other magazine, either the Pictorial Review or the Tiger, or both if you want, but preferable the Pictorial Review. Well, all I have to say is, the plow is in your own hands. You should rejoice at the advantages before you. Remember we are all behind you. Good Luck! Your brother, BURNHAM
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[Page #5] Join the University Store. It is five dollars membership and you get 10% of all your purchases. I did not resign my membership when I left, and have some profits coming to me this coming Christmas. Find out about it for me. Ask John Fennelly for some advice. I would take a pair of corduroys up there or possibly two pair and wear them for a week or two or as long as you want, and then change if most of them quit wearing these pants. I have a jersey and skull cap some place there at home. The cap is pretty small but it stays on The corduroys certainly save your good clothes.
Details
| Title | James Kellogg Burnham Hockaday letter to I.O. - n.d. |
| Creator | Hockaday, James Kellogg Burnham |
| Source | Hockaday, James Kellogg Burnham letter to I.O. n.d. James Kellogg Burnham Hockaday Collection, 1917-1924. 1986.213.29. National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | In an undated letter to his brother I.O., provides advice about being a student at Princeton University. |
| Subject LCSH | Princeton University; World War, 1914-1918 |
| Subject Local | Bob Ingraham; John Fennelly |
| Site Accession Number | 1986.213.29 |
| Contributing Institution | National World War I Museum and Memorial |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the National World War I Museum and Memorial: (816) 888-8100. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | n.d. |
| Language | English |