With a fellow classicist he entered into a solemn compact to hold all their conversation, even on the most trivial topics, in Latin, with heavy penalties for careless lapses into English.
Probably the linguistic result would have astonished Quintilian, but the experiment at least had a certain influence in improving the young man's Latinity.

Another favourite dissipation was that of translating English masterpieces into the ancient tongue; there still survives among Page's early papers a copy of Bryant's "Waterfowl" done into Latin iambics.

As to Page's personal appearance, a designation coined by a fellow student who afterward became a famous editor gives the suggestion of a portrait.
He called him one of the "seven slabs" of the college.

And, as always, the adjectives which his contemporaries chiefly use in describing Page are "alert" and "positive." [Illustration: Allison Francis Page (1824-1899), father of Walter H.
Page] [Illustration: Catherine Raboteau Page (1831-1897), mother of Walter H.
Page] But Randolph-Macon did one great thing for Page.

Like many small struggling Southern, colleges it managed to assemble several instructors of real mental distinction.