Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-09-12


THE vAssARs OF TO-DAY
New YoRK, Sept. LIST, 1879.
A few days ago a trip up the Hudson river
made partly for business and partly for pleas
ure, brought me in the neghborhood Of
Poughkeepsie. Here, certain friends, bent
upon showing me the objects of interest, pro-
posed visit to Vassar College consented
for, blush to own it, had never investgat-
ed that wonderful seat of learning, though
from the time of its foundation my ears had
! been filled with its renown. The town of
Poughkeepsie is delightful place, lying on
the eastern bank of the Hudson river, easily
reached by rail from North South East or
West, at nearly every hour in the day, and
also connected with Albany and New York by
several lines of steamboats, 1t is celebrated
| for its boarding schools, commercial college,
| and State asylum. It's educational institu-
tions give instruction to some !, 200 students
every year.
Pre-eminont, however, in the minds of all
Americans, in connection with Poughkeepsic,
stands Nassar College. The college grounds
cover space of two hundred acres third
of which has been ornamentally laid out by
the celebrated artists Olmsted and Vaux The
remainder is used n farm and garden. In
describing the buildings and grounds l can
not do 30 more effectively than in the words
of the Rev. II. H. Mcfarland who has writ
ten eNhaustivoly upon the subject in Serb
ner's Magazine. He said
Going out from Poughkeepsie, soon after
entry upon the Coli, ge grounds you pass
through the gateway and porter's lodge.
This structure is utilized by its affording two
dwellings for the families of men employed
upon the College farm. At straight dis
| Of / fpp no
ing, the roadway thither fanked right and
left with evergreens. These superb facilities
| for producing the m6liS sdHd IN SdiO cOTpOfe,
and for developing aesthetic taste, are in CON
stant use. BY college regulation each stu
dent, save in stormy weather. is to be out in
the grounds twenty minutes every day, and
sixty minutes every other day. They may
go when they like, if not engaged in recita-
tions or other College exercises, but 90 they
must. and go they do. Nor has any instance
ever been known of their disturbance in the
freest use of all the grounds Northward Of
the College on its front, lies circular flower
garden. half mile in circumference, worked
wholly by such students enroll themselves
members of the Floral society. 1t is an ad-
mirahle sight to look upon these grounds,
filled with bright and happy girls walking,
gardening engaged in games, rowing on the
lake, or occasionally making ready, in some
shady recess for work in class room.
One of the most admirable features of Vas
sar discipline is the minglng of study and
recreation in wise proportions. The students
have the advantages Of a finely appointed
gymnasium, Il bowling alley and grounds for
every variety of out of door sport in which
they may wish to indulge. The professor of
physiology and hygiene is n woman and
physician She resides in the colleges, lee
lures to students upon the care of their health.
and by her watchfulness and constant asso-
citation with the Students enables them to
guard their physical welbeing.
The main building covers an area of 5O,-
600 square feet has 600 exterior and l50
interior windows, and upwards of 500 rooms
exclusive of the chapel There are accom-
modations in this building for $50 students.
There is also an astronomical observatory
and calisthenium. The observatory is fully
equipped with astronomical apparatus, includ-
ing a large equatorial telescope. In the cal
isthenium there is neat little hall for theat-
rCal and other entertainments, an art gallery
filled with choice works, numerous rooms for
music practice, a museum of Natural History,
containing large collections emint Mt among
which is the Girard collection of North Amer
lean birds, presented by j. Z. Grard of
Poughkeepsie. From this collection Audu-
bon made many OF his drawings for the
Birds of America" In the main building
there is a library stocked with nearly 10000
volumes, besides the Astronomical library of
200 volumes at the observatory.
Candidates for admission must be fifteen
years of age and of good character. Appli-
cants for any and every grade are examined
in Arithmetic, English Grammar, Modern
Geography, and the History of the United
States. There is preparatory course, which
being completed will admit the student to the
Freshman class and the regular college
course embraces all the highest branches Of
science, literature and art, such as are com
mon in the most advanced colleges for men.
In fact many special branches i'll their higher
forms, such as drawing, painting, music,
| etc, are seldom embraced in the curriculum
of colleges for the sterner sex. A student at
Vassar is not obliged to take all the studies
that are taught in the institution; special
| course that meets with the sanction of the fac
ulty may be mapped out and then pursued to
| the fullest extent
The great aim and object of the education
al system at Vassar is to provide women with
a complete course of intellectual training SO
that they may become better wives, mothers
and members of society, and be able to take
their stand with men in dealing with the COM
plcatons and trials of life. 1t was the hope
of the founder that, if the institution should
| prove a success and the idea on which 1t was
based that of (true liberal education for
women) should be accepted by the communi
| ty, other benefactOrs would arise To carry out
tho work he began, by endowing professor
ships and scholarships, adding to the library
| and cabinets, erecting new buildings as they
might be required and otherwise augment
ing the resources of the institution. Matthew
Vassar founded the college in 1861, and en-
dowed il in various ways with over SiOO, 900.
Subsequently he made numerous other Blfts,
SO that at the time of his death, which occur
red in 1868, the total of his benefactons to
this one institution had reached the enormous
| snm of 81 600 OO0 He intended, as he him
self expressed it, that all sectarian influences
should be carefully excluded, but the train
| ing of our students should never be entrusted
to the skcptical, the irreligious or immoral
This intention has never been altered by MS
successor in management
Vassar college, learned in conversation
with Mr.. NJ Vassar, Jr,, is not rich, though
report to the contrary has spread abroad,
aud though it is commonly believed that 1t
frequently has heavy endowments. Not one
dollar has been given in the way of endow-
ment since the original donations by Matthew
Vassar, senior 1t has not like many institu-
tious run in debt during the hard times, for
its financial affairs have been wisely ana aOly
managed But it requires funds and recent
lv when the board of trustees decided that
Completely appointed laboratory was a neces-
sitv Messrs. Matthew Vassar, Jr., and John
1Gity Cav Vassar, nephews of Matthew yassar, sr.,
and formerly his partners in business, gave
the money, a large sum, for the purpose, ana
the building is now well under way. By the
wav, may state that the Vassar brothers are
again adding to their good works by erecting
tha old Vassar homestead. This they are not
opiv To build, but to SO literally endow that
IL viii be self-sustaining Their outlay in
This benevolent direction will fall httle' II