The Portland daily press., 1881-12-22
A Michigan Letter.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. Dec. II, 1851

TO the Editor Of the Press.
The Michigan University at Ann Arbor is
the largest OF all the Western educational es-
Establishments. Indeed there are few, il any,
that surpass it in the country, in the number
of its students, in the number and character Of
its Faculty, and in the extent and quality OF
its work. was the guest Of one of the Pro-
fessors, and was taken over tho establishment.
The campus contains twenty-seven acres OF
land, which win be sufficient for oil its future
needs the buildings are good and substantial,
but none OF them are models OF architectural
beauty. Not much was thought Of that in the
old days, thirty years ago, when the Univer-
sity was founded, but in future constructions
it will be- properly considered The founda-
tions are now laid for a library bHilding, which
is to cost at least one hundred thousand dollars,
the Legislature having alTe ldy appropriated
that amount Tor it. The cost when completed
will probably be nearer two hundred thousand
than one. I did not see the designs and plans,
but was told that it Is intended to make it wor-
thy OF tue institution and Of The State, which
takes great pride in it, and is liberal in prosid
ing all needlul funds for its extension aud sue
cess The Library is very large Ter SO young
the University building, occupying the ground
floor, which is much needed for other pnr-
poses.
The laboratory is very large and complete in
every department., and has accommodations
for the work OF about two hundred students at
the same .ime. There were half that number
in it, or more, whom passed through, many
Of them ladies', all eagerly occupied IN the
matters they were engaged in, so that they
seemed to be quite unaware that strangers
were present Often it happens that the
places in the laboratory are all occupied The
ventilation of the laboratory is very complete,
so that there is very little smell from the many
gases that constantly evolved from the
processes going on, nor is there any uncomtort-
able degree of heat, though each student has
two or three gas jets at his disposition, and
there are several furnaces in full activity.
The Microscopic room is large, and many
students were in it, intensely occupied with
the examinations in which they were engaged.
Besides the instruments in use there were
many others in large glass cases where they
are kept. / was greatly interested IN examln-
ing these and to note the improvements that
have been made in them IN many ways All
the newer instruments were made in this coun-
try much superior, the Professor said, in
workmanship aud in adjustments, TO any they
have had from Europe.
There is large law school connected with
the University of which Governor Felch is Pro
fessor In the old days l knew him well,
when he was a law student in Portland, and
| with several others was a frequent visitor at
nv fathers house. Those were happy days,
| when there were no anxieties or cares to dark
| en- them, and when the future seemed TO be all
| aploW with expectation and hope The Pro
| fesso rwas most hearty and glad, and seemed at
| sight of me to be instantly transported back
| ward half a century, to the time when we were
BOYS together. He is very well and intellecu-
ally as bright and vigorous as in his best days
| He remembers Maine, and Limerick, his ma
| tive town, with very warm and tender anec-
| tion, and the friends Of his young days are
| very near his heart now. AS we were sitting
| in his apartment, it occurred to us that, beside
| others who were present, there were four OF us
| from Maine. The Professor, the University
| librarian and the Rev Mr.. Haskell of Water
| ford, settled here in the ministry many years.
| and many other Maine men and women are IN
| Ann Arbor, as in almost every other part OF
| Michigan and elsewhere in the Great West.
There are two Medical schools connected
| with the University. one OF them Allopathic,
the other Homeopathic, and each OF them
| has its hospital was in one of them-the
| latter--where were many patients. An opera
| ton upon the eye of patient was going on.
| most interesting to witness. Whatever OF
darkness, obscurity and doubt there may oe
| about the wisdom OF applying drugs TO the
| hidden organisms of the interior OF that mar
| vellous machine, the human body, there is none
about the application of the knife by skillful
hands TO those exterior diseases OF 1t, so painful
| to see and so dreadful TO bear.
The University Hall, in the main building,
can accommodate comfortably twenty-five hum
! dred persons but the seats are so arranged that
the great assembly is brought near the platform
| and every per on is face to face with the speak
| err The acoustic qualities of the hall are ex-
cellent, SO that the auditory, being able TO hear
every word distinctly, are easily kept in a state
| of sustained attention. It is very pleasant to
see great numbers Of young ladies at this Uni
versity, precisely ON the same footing as the
young men, and receiving the same instruction
| in the same branches Of learning, and in all Of
| them in no way inferior TO the men.
The Rev. MIR. Haskell took me to his church
-Baptist-a new aud very handsome building
| The walls are of beautiful stone, split from
| boulders taken from the fields. The stone is
| left with what is technically called quarry
| iace"-that is, uncut-while it is true to limo
| II is of many colors light rose, pale green,
| light slate color, light lead color, some OF
| blush shade, some of various shades of drao.