The Arena, Volume 4, No. 20, July, 1891

A lively portrait unfolds of a 19th‑century polymath whose wit and curiosity left a lasting imprint on American letters. The narrative traces his modest New England upbringing, his rigorous schooling at Phillips Academy and Harvard, and the surprising turn from law to medicine that opened the door to his creative pursuits. Along the way, it highlights the camaraderie of his college literary circle, whose spirited exchanges sparked poems, essays, and playful sketches that still charm readers.

Interwoven with anecdotes of early family life and the bustling intellectual climate of the era, the piece sketches how his humor and keen observation found a home in the university’s Collegian journal. It showcases a handful of his most memorable early works—light‑hearted verses and fanciful tales that reveal a mind both scholarly and mischievous. Listeners will come away with a vivid sense of the youthful energy that shaped a voice destined to influence generations of poets, essayists, and thinkers.