Gulliver18780527_001

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Binghamton N.Y.
July 27 1878

Rev. W.E. Park

My Dear Bro.,

Your note came to hand on Sat. I
& am serialising in the most hearty manner a reply, which may
possibly be of some service. Yours coridally John P. Gulliver

I was a boy of twelve when I entered Phillips Academy, Osgood Johnson was the Principal. I first saw him
while slowly and limpingly, he was making his way from
the door of the old Brick Academy down to his chair. His
pallid face demonstrated by a dome-like brow with his
large spectacles, and a peculiar spiritual expression,
gave me the impression, to a degree I never got it from
any other man, that what I saw was not the man,
but that his real self was out of sight, behind those
glasses, & that white placid face, and that great
coat & muffler which he wore. He had a club foot,
which struck the sidewalk with a thud at
every step, and alternatiely raised his
form as he walked. The tout ensemble made a great
impression on my boyish imagination. His infirmities
added to to his dignity and the whole effect of
his appearance, was to inspire the idea that some
supernatural being had been born lame, like Vulcan,
and unjustically cast down from Olympus, after he had
got out of sight in the depths of his capacions chains
my attention was attracted to his home. It was a
beautiful day, well turned, of his final action; but he carried
his tail over on the side, as some troopers mean their
not being that aquainted with the tricks of the home craft
that tail has a daily wonder to me and with the club
foot, stimulated my scientific curiousity, as a true

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