The herald., 1895-11-28

| far-reaching reflex influences of Vassar
| and It's successors in the higher educa-
ton is the incompatible improvement In
] preparatory schools. where few subjects
are taught. but with breadth and depth
| of thoroughness.
PRESIDENT RAYMoND's TACT
To classify such numbers Of students
with such diversified requirements was
long and difficult process. but it went
steadily on under the kind. myopic eyes
of the patient president. until the wholly
unprepared were sifted out. For the ost
advanced a quartet of courses was ar
ranged so experimenting their previous
work that they creditably TOOK the bacca-
laureate degree in June, 81. while the
great NJ ajority between these small ex-
tremes gradually became busy along well
appointed lines.
FROM A TOZ.
One of the tasks to which Miss Hannah
W. Lyman, the first lady principal, ad-
dressed herself during the summer OF
1865 was the assigning OF rooms. These
are mostly in suites of parlor and three
bed chambers, and there were many
double beus in those days to the appli-
cants for entrance. The scheme for this
was based upon the alphabetical list oil
her numerous and universally unknown
correspondents; hence 1t came ABOUT
that Glass and GLACIERS formed friend
ship with no flaw nor break; Hawkes. ana
Herons were peaceful chnms; Large and
Little made no odious comparisons;
Monks anu Nuns hobnobbed without
provoking scandai and So on from A TO II.
The general harmony of that immense
household of strangers brought into such
artificial and intimate relations and often
in considerable discomfort, is TO me de-
lightful rsmem hrance illustrating as Vt
does the common sense, the kindness,
she tact OF the average young woman. 1
know it str ngthened dear old Matthew
Nasssrs belief that she was altogether
worthy of the culture to whose initiative
he had dedicated his fortune and for
which he sbreathed his loftiest aspira-
tions.
MARIA MITCHELL.
Maria Mitchell, daughter of William
Mitchell of Nantucket, professor OF as
tronomy, was the only person in the fac
ulty who had more than a local reputa.
tion-her fame extended wherever tele-
scope was reading starry secrets-but she
was only woman, and agreeable to l m
memorable usage the salary offered and
accepted by her was less than half that
paid to the young and comparatively IN
known men selected for the other probes
SorSnlnS. her quaker tralHlns III ktuo
equal rights of the SEXES inspired her to
protest to the board of trustees against
this unjust discrim ination, in which
protest she was joined by the resident
physician; perhaps their most gratifying
memory of Nassar days is their thus
standing together for prinuiple-a union
OF purpose which nrst gave women fair
play in the country's first woman col
lege ano established it for all time.
"Reminiscences crowd-I fear | have al
ready passed beyond the space allotted
them If any reader wishes a more COM
rrehensive view OF early Nassar, let her
send for Vassar ::Miscel lauy, May, '95 edi
ton, which contains the address given on
Founders day by Prof. Mary W. Whit
ney, Maria Mitchell's pupil ana success
sor), o, the famous class OF rs. but that
is another story
Aida C. AVERY, NJ. D.
San jose, Noyembe Is, 1895.