New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09
THE HOLYOKE GIRL.
u,,,E CHANGES THAT SIXTY YEARS
KAYE WROUGHT AT SOUTH HADlEf.

nary building Of Mary Lyon into the ornate
Mount Holyoke College Of to-day. the sNueth
anniversary. which was appropriately ce'e
bratea Z month ago. was chiefly in the way OF
a memorial TO the most celebrated advocate Oh
American female education yet. pathouc''iy
ENOUGH thcr, was in the surroundings not a
single material evidence Of the institution IN
which her favcrltc IDEAS were expressed.
THE uhvscal changes in the college however
mr. not the chief alterations OF the last ie"
years They are only the outward indlc%'lo"S
OF the more liberal ideas when are raplu'
rroa1erirg though not dsplacns. the gen
eral outline conceived by Mary Lyon III "o"'u
be inirsssibe TO exaggerate the reverence IN
which this famous educator Is held al MUM
Holy oke. and any suggestion to change e'-
fectively her conception OF the college "ou'u
not receive respectful hearing. The instltu-
t;on intends 70 advance. but to advance in ac-
cordancc with the philosophy Of its founder
The RELIGIOUS forms Of the college, for exam
n,e which have always been predominant, nave
slightly relaxed their vgor during the last T."
wears though its religious spirit is sun one oI
its most cherished traditions. 1t was only
few years ago that the regular chapel services
in the morning were supplemented ~ fifteen
minutes religious exercises with the section
teachers, by the conventional NeW-hhSlIiu
Friday evening prayer meeting. by TWO reHu-
lar services and n Bible class on Sundays and
the unique institution known as silent time
BY the latter term was understood the nail
hour every morning and evening which me girls
were supposed to spend in religious medltallon'
during which all social intercourse was iorDd-
don even between roommates, Of whom
regularly retired to the closet THIS soneWha'
elaborate religious pro gramme has now mar
IA q c the compulsory exercises
are concerned to morning chapel and Sunday
morning services The religious atmosphere or
the place however, is still fervid, but hardly
opprtssive. The compulsory work Of n few
years ago has been succeeded by the voluntary
efforts Of the students themselves. The re-
lgious life Of the undergraduates centres around
the Young Women's Christian Association
which has charge Of the class prayer-meetings
and is assisted by the student Volunteer Band
and the Mount Holyoke Missionary Association.
There are 10 further prescribed religious exer-
cisos. however than are required at an ordinary
institution Of learning.
CHANGE IN THE SOCIAL LIFE.
The social life Of the college. too, has expert
enccd as general a transformation as the col
lege grounds themselves Several years ago
1t could hardly be said that there was any So
cial life at all: or. at least, that the ordinary
social conventions were encouraged by the fac
ulty. Any such thing as a Greek ietter society
was crushed at the first evidence Of vitality
but now there two the Sigma Theta chi
and Xi Phi Delta, which are recognized. and
whose assistance In the uplifting Of the college
Is regularly sought. healthy club feeling
has grown up during the last few years; glee
and banjo club give annual concerts al the coll
lege and elsewhere. the financial returns Of
which are devoted to the college fund There is
q plentiful supply Of State clubs, such the
"Pine Tree" and I'VE Weserners." Athletics
receive liberal attention in the various associa-
tons, the polo rink polo, basketball. tennis and
boating clubs devoted to their furthcrancc.
Mountain Day. set aside for rankings on
Mount Tom. Mount Holyoke and the SURROUND
ing hills has been added 10 the list Of annual
diversions ard The Pedestrians" is also open
TO all stud erts for whom a single excursion Of
this kind viii not suffice. There also flour !
shing literary associations such as the Shakes |
spoare and the Debating club. unknown to the
previous college lustra
There are mary delightful evening spreads"
to-day which were INDUCED in several years
ago only in the utmost secrecy and the constant |
fear # faculty Interference. No girl in those |
days permitted to bring any food from |
home, and could ratronize Tie village store only |
to the extent Of a little fresh fruit. 1t was
also one Of the fixed rules in this connection
that the girs should keep a strict account II |
expenditures ana receipts and report to the
section teacher each wsek that they were prop
erly balanced dan obligation frequently fulfilled |
by "balancing' the books the bedpost. The
girls relations TO their men callers have also
undergone liberal change. Formerly they
were not permitted to introduce them to their
most intimate friends. and they not sup