Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/357

Rh in his turn, ascended the stage, and said his speech, as the phrase was. This speech was carefully taught him by his master, both with respect to its pronunciation, and the action deemed suitable to its several parts. 2 Let us have his account of his first fight, before referred to : A few days after I had been put under the care of Mr. Kinnersley, I was told by my classmates, that it was necessary for me to fight a battle with some one, in order to establish my claim to the honor of being an Academy boy; that this could not be dispensed with, and that they would select for me a suitable antagonist, one of my match, whom after school I must fight, or be looked upon as a coward. I must confess that I did not at all relish the proposal. * * * I absolutely declined the proposal ; although I had too much of that feeling about me, which some might call false honor, to represent the case to the master, which would at once have extricated me from my difficulty, and brought down condign punishment on its imposers. Matters thus went on until school was out, when I found that the lists were appointed, and that a certain John Appowen, a lad, who, though not quite so tall, yet better set and older than myself, was pitted against me. With increased pertinacity I again refused the combat, and insisted on being permitted to go home unmolested. On quickening my pace for this purpose, my persecutors, with Appowen at their head, followed close at my heels. Upon this I moved faster and faster, until my retreat became a flight too unequivocal and inglorious for a man to relate of him- self, had not Homer furnished some apology for the procedure, in making the heroic Hector thrice encircle the walls of Troy, before he could find courage to encounter the implacable Achilles. To cut the story short, my spirit could no longer brook an oppression so intolerable, and stung to the quick at the term coward which was lavished upon me, I made a halt and faced my pursuers. A combat immediately ensued between Appowen and myself, which for some time, was maintained on each side, with equal vigour and determination, when unluckily I received his fist directly in my gullet The blow for a time depriving me of breath, and the power of resistance, victory declared for my adversary, though not without the acknowledgment of the party, that I had at last behaved well, and shown myself not unworthy the name of an Academy boy. Being thus estab- lished, I had no more battles imposed upon me. 3 2 Memoirs, p. 28. 3 Ibid, p. 28.