St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-09-05
Our New York Letter.

A MAGNIFICENT INSTITUTION -
WHAT 1T DOES FOR THE HIGHER EDU-
CATION OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
NEW YORK, Aug. 90, 1879.
To the Editor of the CaIedOnian:
A few days ago trip up the Hudson
river, made partly for business and
partly for pleasure, brought me in the
neighborhood of Poughkeepsie. Here,
certain friends, bent upon showing me
the objects of interest, proposed visit
to Vassar College. 1 consented, for,
blush to own i'll had never investi-
gated that wonderful seat of learning,
though from the time of its foundation,
my ears had been filed with its re-
nOWn.
The town of Poughkeepsie is de-
lightful place, and the country around
and about, is as fertile and healthful as
any that can be found on this bread
continent. Pardon me if l seem en-
thUsiastic about the region of our noble
Hudson river, but it has charm for
me that memories of the choicest
scenes at home or abroad cannot dim.
Poughkeepsie, lying on the eastern
bank of the river, is easily reached by
rail from north, south, east or west, at
nearly every hour in the day, and it is
also connected with Albany and New
York by several lines of teamboats. 1t
is celebrated for its boarding schools,
commercial college and state asylum.
Its educational institutions give in
struction to some 200 students every
year.
of all Americans, in connection with
POughkeepsie, stands Vassar College.
The college grounds cover space of
two hundred acres, third of which has
been ornamentally laid out by the cele-
brated artists, Olmstead and Vaux. The
re mainder is used as farm and garden.
In describing the buildings and grounds
L cannot do so more effectively than in
the words of the Rev. III. H. Mcfarland,
who has written extensively upon the
subject to Scribner's Magazine. He
said:
Going out from Poughkeepsie, soon
after entry upon the College grounds,
you pass through the gateway and por-
ter's lodge.
This structure is utilized by its afford
ing two dwellings for the families of
men employed upon the College farm.
At straight distance of 1000 feet
stands the main College building, the
roadway thither flanked right and left
by evergreens.
These superb facilities for producing
the mems SGnG in SGnO cOrpOre, and for
developing aesthetic taste, are in con-
slant use. By college regulation each
student, 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 recitations or
other college exercises, but go they
must and go they do. Nor has any in
stance ever been known of their dis
turbance in the freest use of all the
grounds.
NOrthward of the college on it's front,
lies circular flower ga den, half mile
in circumference, worked wholly by
such students as enroll themselves
members of the Floral Society.
1t is an admirable sight to look upon
these grounds, filled with bright and
happy girls, walking, gardening, en-
gagged in games, rowing Oh the lake, or
occasionally making ready, in some
shady recess, for work in class rooms.
1t is constant joy at Vassar to see
that bodily health is not to be sacrificed
to any other object whatever, and that,
so far as the result is attainable by
means within its power, those whom it
educates are to become physically well
developed, vigorous and graceful wo-
men, prepared to take enlightened care
of their own health and that of others
under their charge. In the past train
ing of our country women this end has
been so much neglected that we shall
present In this connection, and for the
sake of unity, what else we noted in our
visit which induced us to believe this.
Diet and regimen were fully laid before
us. We sat at the College table, and
bear witness to its variety, wholesome
ness and fullness. No man can 90 with
the steward through all his department
and miss the conviction we have ex-
pressed.
One of the most admirable features
of Vassar dicipline is the mingling of
study and recreation in wise proper
tons. The students have the advan-
tages of finely appointed gymnasium,
bowling alley, and grounds for every
variety of out of door sport in which
they may wish to indulge. The pro-
lessor of physiology and hygiene is a
woman and physician. She resides
in the college, lectures to students upon
the care of their health, and by her
watchfulness and constant association
with the students, enables them to
nua r1 hnI nh
The main building covers an area of
$4,000 square feet, has 800 exterior
and $50 interior windows, and upwards
OF 500 rooms exclusive of the chapel.
There are accommodations in this build
ing for $50 students. There is also an
Astronomical Observatory and Calls
thenium. The observatory is fully
equipped with astronomical apparatus
including large equatorial telescope.
In the Calisthenium there is Il neat lit
tie hall for theatrical and other enter
talnments, an Art Gallery filled with
choice works, numerous rooms for mu-
sic practice, Museum of Natural His
tory, containing large collections, emf
nent among which is the Girard collec-
ton of North American birds, presented
by j. P. Girard of Poughkeepsie. From
this collection Audubon made MANY of
his drawings fol 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 Is
years of age and of good character.
Applicants for any and every grade are
examined in Arithmetic, English Gram
mar, Modern Geography, and the His
tory of the United States. There is a
d. 0paratO V course which heinz com,