Sincerely, Joel C. Swisher

Joel C. Swisher and unidentified friends

226 Frazier St.
State College, Pa.
Mar 21⁽¹⁾Editor’s note: This letter has been edited for length, removing sections unlikely to be of interest to modern readers. Deletions are marked by “…” in square brackets.

Dear Helen,
A college year is three quarters done. I have become somewhat accustomed to my surroundings. I like this place fairly well and have come to the conclusion that this is the college for me. I won’t change to any other unless I flunk out here.

[…]

There is quite a bunch from Westtown up here. About 12 or 15 I believe. There are also some Quakers of both branches⁽²⁾Quakers at that time were divided into two factions, Orthodox and Hicksite. Westtown School was founded by Orthodox Quakers, while George School, which Joel had attended, was founded by Hicksites. in the town. We forget our theological differences and hold our Meeting together. We meet every Sunday night, 7:30 in one of the rooms of the college. There are some mighty fine fellows among the Westtown bunch. I will have to hand it to these fellows that they take their religion mighty earnestly.

[…]

You probably have your opinion of Mr. Swayne as a Chemistry teacher. You should see and hear the Chemistry prof up here, He is a son-of-a-gun and a circus combined. If anybody makes a slight mistake he yells at them at the top of his voice and calls them “block-heads” and “fools” and similar flattering names. The following are samples of his remarks: “Take your feet down from the back of that seat, your brains might run to your head!”, and “Hydrogen atoms are hydrogen atoms, always will be hydrogen atoms and always have been hydrogen atoms ever since the morning stars sung together.” His favorite expression is “Outside!!” That means: get out of the room at once and drop the course.

Very few of the fellows here have any large amount of money. We are not exactly paupers but a large percentage are what might be termed “hard put” for cash. There are twice as many fellows desiring work than can find it. Competition for jobs is mighty keen. I didn’t expect to land any work my first year but was fortunate to do so. I became acquainted with a fellow that was running a boarding club. One day one of his table waiters rode a motorcycle thru a barbwire fence and went into the hospital for a few weeks rest. I was put on in his place. Later a dish dryer was fired and I was demoted to that. However I wasn’t kicking so long as it was work of some sort. That was in Nov. I still hold the job altho my hold on it has been mighty shaking sometimes and I put no trust in the future. Two other dish men have been fired since I was taken on. I am the only one on the job now. One of the women cooks washes the dishes and I dry them. Doesn’t sound like very heavy work for an able bodied man does it? However we get quite a bit of speed into it. We wash the dishes (chinaware) for 50 people three times a day, also the silverware, the glasses; likewise the pots and pans incidental to cooking a meal of that size. It only takes us from 30 to 40 minutes to do the whole business. It is a nice stunt to hold 8 or 10 dinner plates or 12 or 13 saucers in one hand and joggle them so all are perfectly dry and none broken. Occasionally I drop one just to hear the land lady swear. Two of the women have gotten married in the past month. Of the two single ones there now, one is cross-eyed and the other is decidedly fat. I don’t believe the club will be bothered with weddings for sometime.

[…]

The chief form of diversion in this town is the movies. Some times we get good shows some times poor ones. As a general thing they are pretty good. Occasionally a feature film comes to town such as Romeo and Juliet, Civilization, and The Birth of a Nation.

The Y.M.C.A. runs a lyceum course similar to the one at G.S. There were five numbers on the course this winter. All were good.The last one was last week. Edmund Vance Cooke recited his own poems. He was mighty good. He was the man who wrote the poem about “The harder you fall, the higher you bounce, be proud of your blackened eye, etc.” you have probably heard it.

[…]

These certainly are turbulent times. The war cloud grows blacker every day. When the thing started in Europe Mr. Shaffer said we would be drawn into it before it was finished. He was more of a prophet than I thought. This college will be hit hard in case of war. Practically every student has had some training as a soldier. The Student Regiment is subject to call after the National Guard.

I can plainly see that those of Friends who believe against war are going to have a hard time to stand for their belief. Those who believe as Friends but are not Friends will have it still harder.

[…]

As it is now in the wee small hours of the morning I must ring off. If reading this has bored you I heartily beg your pardon. I am a very eccentric letter writer. Until Xmas vacation I had not written to my father that I was in college.

Here’s hoping you had an enjoyable winter.
Sincerely,
Joel C. Swisher