rld within her reach
Somewhat the better for her living,
And gladder for her human speech."

SARAH DIX HAMLIN.

Class of '74, University of Michigan.

FOOTNOTES:

[49] See President Angell's testimony in the Appendix.

MOUNT HOLYOKE.

The Mount Holyoke Female Seminary was opened in 1837. During the
thirty-six years ending July 3, 1873, it has graduated one thousand four
hundred and fifty-five young women.[50] Its founder aimed to provide a
permanent institution, where the best advantages should be offered at a
moderate expense, and whose entire culture should tend to produce, not
only thorough students and skilful teachers, but earnest, efficient,
Christian women. Accordingly, its course of study has always given
prominence to the solid rather than to the showy, omitting mostly what
are termed ornamental branches, and devoting the more time to studies
which give mental discipline. There is no preparatory department. In
order to enter, pupils are required to pass examination in English
Grammar and Analysis, Modern Geography, History of the United States,
Mental and Written Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, Physical Geography,
Latin Grammar and Latin Reader. The course of study was originally
arranged for three years, but since 1862 requires four. No pupils are
received under sixteen years of age, and none are admitted to the senior
class under eighteen, while the majority are considerably older. The
age at the time of graduating averages something over twenty-one years.
None are received as day-scholars.

The amount of intellectual labor required is about six hours a day; that
is, two recitations of forty-five minutes each, and four hours and a
half spent in study. As a rule, only two studies are pursued at a time.
There are but four recitation days in the week, a fifth being devoted to
composition and general business. The day of recreation is Wednesday, an
arrangement which is somewhat unusual, and might not be convenient for
schools composed in part of day-scholars. Here, however, the holiday
interposed in the middle of the week serves to lessen the danger of too
protracted application to study, and makes the last two recitation days
as easy as the first.

The health of the pupils is under the care of the lady physician
residing in the family. She is assisted by a teacher who superintends
the diet and nursing of invalids. Besides the frequent suggestions in
regard to the care of health,