The Monitor-register., 1897-11-26
a Day at Mills College.

wife, Susan L, Mills, who had been edu
Gators for more than twenty years. and
the latter being graduate of Mt. Holy
oke, conceived the idea of establishing a
Holyoke on this coast, that the young
ladies of California might procure COL
lege education at home, thereby saving
an expensive trip of two thousand miles
to climate far inferior to this. Thus in
site for Mills College, and Aug. 1. 1871,
the school was opened under the most
favorable auspices. The Doctor was far
seeing, and chose a place far enough
from the bay and inland to escape the
chilly trade winds and the heavy fogs so
prevalent in San Francisco and on the
bay. Thus situated at the foothills, and
surrounded by beautiful forest trees,
makes it the finest climate in California,
and might say in the world.
The building is three stories high and
two hundred feet long. with wing one
hundred and sixty feet. The whole is
built in a most tasteful and substantial
style. The ceilings are high, the halls
ample and airy and the pupils rooms are
sunny and we'll ventilated. A large
climbing rose runs to the third story in
front of the building, adding a cheerful
and homelike aspect, at the same time
contributing to refinement and taste.
The building is lighted by gas manufao-
tured on the place, and excellent water
is procured from deep wells and forced
through all parts of the building.
This now beautiful home twenty six
years ago had only the work of nature
for mans admiration, such as running
streams of water that are kept alive the
the year around by living springs, and
the old live oaks, so numerous through
out the State. But the Doctor and his
wife conceived the idea of mans assist.
ing nature in perfecting the beauty of
their grounds, so they planted many
Thousand trees of different varieties,
quite number being imported from for
eign countries, and while the trees were
receiving full attention, flowers and
shrubbery were not overlooked, and to-
day on the west and north of the whole
one hundred and twenty acres is forest
of trees interspersed with running
streams and three miles of graveled
walks for the students to take their da lily
exercise, for it is written law of the
principal that every scholar is required
to devote one hour each day to physical
exercise of some kind.
The college is situated on an opening
of five acres and the sun shines on every
side of the building during the day. so
that every pupils room gets a sun bath
onoe in twenty four hours. At the south
end, near the library, is. a quarter Of an
acre set in roses of every known variety,
and some are in bloom every month in
the year. In the rose plot and along thesss
walks are to be seen statuary without
number, that the student may study as
she walks. Directly in front of the
building is two-acre lawn, which has
no superior in the State, and is as green
in January as 1t is in June, for it must be
borne in mind that here we store no ice,
neither do we shovel any snow. In the
rear are about ten acres set out with all
kinds of fruit, such as apples, pears,
peaches, plums, apricots, figs, also berries
of various kinds. A little farther to the /
rear is dairy stocked with Jersey cows
that furnish milk for all the inmates of
the college, thus the students at Mills
are furnished pure air, plenty of sun,
fresh fruit and vegetables and pure milk,
all of home production.
1t was the desire of DR.. and Mrs Mills
to establish this institution that it
should be dependent upon no individual
life but become permanent to California
and the world, SO in 1877 it ceased to be
private property and was incorporated
under the laws of the State, and its
lands, buildings and furniture were
decided by Dr. and Mrs. Mills to board
of trustees to be held by them and their
successors forever for the specific pur-
pose of educating young ladies. With
advancing years and the uncertainties of
life they felt that it was better to give it /
while they lived in trust for the purposes
for which they had designed it,
On April 90, 1884, DR.. Mills died aud
the trustees insisted that Mrs. Mills con-
tinue in her old capacity as principal and
treasurer. She still holds that office,
with twenty-four skilled teachers, not
excelled in the State. Like to Ahe gen.
erals under Grant and Sherman, they
work separately and collectively for
the best interest of their superior and the
pupils in their charge. Over four thou.
sand young ladies have received instruc-
tion here and some of the graduates will
be found in every part of the United
States, Central and South America, the
Hawaiian Islands and Mexico.
AS health giving spot Mills College
has no equal anywhere. Many girls
have entered in delicate health and after
a term have become healthy and strong,
for the physical and moral welfare of the
scholar is as much looked after as is her
book instruction. While there is moth
ing seetarian taught here, morality is an
every day Iesson-reading of the Bible
and explanation of the same, and every
scholar and teacher is required to be
present at those readings. A certificate
of scholarship from Mills College is a
passport into the best society on the
coast from SaE Diego to Portland.
If it was not known fact eastern
people would think it improbable that in
December, when Jersey people are shak-
ing the ashes from big base burner,
the scholars at Mills would be sitting on
one of the many rustic benches under
the oaks studying their lessons, but such
is life at Mills College, in Alemeda
county, California.
Fl. II. KIRBY.