The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-29
THE VASSAR COLLEGE,

ttachers-The Young woman Of Ame.
MA HOmewRRd BOund-The YOunr
Iipn Of POughkeepSie ana their Pecu-
Il pAFtties.
haerhaps the reader rndulges the absurd ides
tiot treatise on the necessity of female educa-
thu is about to follow. No such thing. The
cormometer tells story which would DIS
invrage any man from such q task. A courteous
\ peytation from the Committee induced me TO
HLll llte and limb and comfort on the rackety
mudson river road yesterday afternoon that
rpgnt attend the closing exercises of the cur
clnt year at the Vassar Female College. Con.
cirning the heat and the dust, the noise and the
Wowd on the cars, there is nothing new to
lLsntej COZ cerning the smash-up on the track
Wst below Peekskill, whereby poor Conductor
I alheeler and four men lost their lives, and the
4 thsoiute inhumanity of the Company people at
~ station, viii speak further on.
lofuttice 1T now to say that we we're detained
Hsg time and made very late in consequence.
i thfvlug reached the College, we were taken TO
We chapel, where the exercises of the evening
assre IN progress before a large and brilliant
wtemblage OF youth and beauty, wit and
th,rth. DR.. Raymond the President SAT upon
are platform where the young ladies read sang
4 rSd declaimed, as young ladies only can at such
cgre and festive seasons. Details one never
4 clres for; all was good. The "papers" were
i veverly written and carefully read; the singing
has really admirable, and the closing dialogue
netween TRUTH Peace "Dlscord,n and a
\ tumber of angelic friends, was not only instruc-
i eye, as such matters always are, but likewise
4 Entertaining, rs they very rarely are.
ID well-laid collation. consisting of tea coffee
cpecream, cakes, ICES, and the substantials. then
occupied the attention of the youthful damsels,
alelr friends, and the guests of the college until
4 n very late hour, when, with universal good
fature and entire satisfaction the congregation
broke up, and each person was at liberty to
suffer The sultriness of the weather and profit by
the gratuitous surgery of the over-zeaous mos
suitoes.
improved the leisure afforded me by glancing
AZ the history OF Vassar College as it has been
written ON the understanding of one who knows
all about 1t from egg to hatchment
i 1t commences almost like fairy legend, thus:
E"Once there was very rich and a very good
9an," VINO lived in this somewhat preentlous
CITY OF Poughkeepsie with wretched hotels a
heat many bills, and very lew hacks for which
dlgh prices are charged), who desirous of
4 wong something with his money while he lived
ahich would not only rebound to his credit
VI ter he died, but continue in its career OF bene-
4 colence and wisdom down through the vlstas
M tutuTity The name of the aforesaid was
f hatthew Vassar, and his conclusion was the
. iIunding and endowment OF this magnificent
hsttuton, WHICH is not only monument of
RS individual hbsralty, but a landmark on the
tpad OF progress towards light ana liberty in
ais broad continent OF ours
O Mr. Vassar having determined to give $780, 900
cF more to the turtherance OF his plan, asso-
GATED with him in the incorporation of the
Rlege number OF the most prominent men of
lew York.
& After the requisite preliminaries were attended
~, the college buildings were erected about two
irlles back from Poughkeepse. The buildings
"a themselves are worth visit. The main edi-
cce is 500 feet in length by 40 in depth. It
rontans five independent dwelhng-houses for
aesldent officers, besides accommodations for
frlout 400 young ladies and their teachers with
NJ ii suits OF rooms tor class recitaIons lectures
a usic, and painting. 1t also contains chapel
fnd dining-hal parlOrs, and suitable apartments
lpr library, art gallery, philosophical apparatus,
ofbora'ory, cabinets of natural history, and all
Wher appurtenances of college. 1t is provided
tilth perfect system Tor warming and ventila-
olon by steam-heated alr; with gas manufactured
WI the premises; with an abundance of pure
n ater, distributed throughout the building; with
c,umerous bathingrooms and other needful
onveniences.
The Young ladies' apartments are arranged IN
groups, three sleepng-rooms usually opening
into one study -parlor. By this arrangement
society is provided tor all, with the requisite op
portunty for occasional retirement and privacy.
Some OF the chambers contain single and others
double beds, to SUIT the different tastes and cir
,cumstances OF students. The rooms are neatly
Falpeted and furnished, and kept in order by
che College Matron. They are all airy and
iheertul, having on one side pleasant outlook
onto the grounds, and on the other opening into
spacious corrldors, which extend every floor
ihe entire length of the building and its wings
fnearly eight bundled ieet), aud which, being
beautifully lighted, aired, and warmed, afford
0mple means oil indoor exercise in nclement
weather. The College parlors are large and
\ PLEASANT; and access can be had by the young
INDIES at all times to the private apart
tpents OF their teachers, and 70 the homes of
ole President and resident Pro essors, with
; Tut passing from under the roof OF the College.
Tihe whole main building is nearly freproof
ctYery partition wall is OF solid brick, and is
arried from the foundation up TO the roof. The
C5lidng IS divided across its length by four pairs
VI hIe-walls, from eight to twelve feet apart
b hich are connected only in the halls, and there
i1g brick and stone. Into the fire. walls are run
Hon doors, on rollers, and SO adjusted that they
flay be drawn across the halls in case of fire so
ii at any nth part OF the building may be en-.
rely isolated from the rest Bet Ween these
are-wals run ire.pIoof stair ways, which must
towa!s be safe. Besides these precautions at
tour equi-dstant points run water pipes from top
ir) bottom oil the bulldmg with hose connection
al aCh pipe ON each story, and fifty feet OF hose
Q,ways attached to each stop. There are ten
bKtelnal doors, and eioht stairWays from TOP to
r(Dttom. The building is of brick, with slate
WDot. spacious boiler and gas house supply
Z armth and light 10 the entire establishment
a his building, whose dimensions are 81 feet by
e2, Is at a distance OF 400 feet from the College
raiihce and covers three boilers capable of gene.
ttDg sufficient steam tor the cooking and Iaun.
Cry service, and to warm all the rooms in the
to ollege, even in the severest weather, by means
al over fourteen miles OF steam pipe, some OF it
VT distance OF 1000 feet from its source, and
agater heated by the same agency is carried into
+ II parts OF the College This building also covers
CWo benches oil gas retorts, capable together
IF making $4,000 feet CT gas a day, with the
Necessary centre seal purifiers and meter, and
,room loT storing large quantity of coal. The
lmount OF coal consumed in all the operations
IS from l400 10 1900 tons per annum. The whole
CSystem OF steam, water, and gaspipes through
put the establishment, measures over twenty
,niles. The pump house covers the water
wheel and steam-pump, by which coplous sup
flly OF water is driven IRON spring fed lake TO
ole distributing reservoirs above the College,
md also the extensive filter by which it is first
n ieans6d of possible impurities. These, with
:. hhe requisite iarm-houses, barns, vegetable
- ,gE. raH hone Of ~