to the end of his long life a lover of his boy-friend,
Nathan Hale.
Another warm friend, a classmate, destined to be
notable in future years, was James Hillhouse,
later United States Senator, the first man to leave
the stamp of beauty on his native city, New Haven,
in the wonderful elms of his planting.
In addition to these two noted men, many of
Hale's warmest friendships were formed at college
among the leading men of his own and of other
classes. At least two or three of these were his
companions in arms, to whom we may refer later.
Of his scholarship, one sure test remains. At
graduation, of the thirty-six men in his class, he
ranked among the first thirteen.
In one other important line Nathan Hale made
a notable mark in college, namely, in his intense
interest in Linonia. This society had been founded
in 1753 "to promote in addition to the regular
course of academic study, literary stimulus and
rhetorical improvement to the undergraduates,"
and to create friendly relations among its members.
The organization lived a long and honorable life,
and did a most helpful work among its members.
Nathan Hale was the first in his class to become its
Chancellor, later styled President. He was for
some time also its scribe, and many of his entries
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