The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-08

copyright. 1906. BY Underwood & Undersoood.I
HAHN AT VASSAR

chain day has become the chief event
at Vassar.
The tale of the origin of Vassar col
lege itself is even more romantic. Had
it not been for Matthew Vassar's wide
awake niece, Miss Lydia Booth. the
noted institution would have been a
hospital. The rich brewers original
idea was to found a hospital similar
to the one established in London by
Thomas Guy and in which Mr.. Vassar
became much interested Mr.. Vassar
considered and discussed his hospital
project for several years. One day he
spoke of it to his niece, who was the
manager of female seminary in
Poughkeepsie. He told her that he
wanted to put liberal portion Of his
fortune into an institution that would
perpetuate his memory by good and
helpful service to future generations.
Miss Booth heartily commended her
uncles philanthropic ambition, but
said to him: Nov, Uncle Matthew,
think that I can propose something
better than hospital. Why not found
an institution for the higher educa-
ton of young women-a real college?"
This idea interested Mr.. Vassar, and
he frequently talked it over with his
niece. He could not at once relinQuish
his pet hospital project. however.
Miss Booth died suddenly, and her
seminary was succeeded by a similar
school, at the head of which was Pro-
fessor NJ. p. Jewett, a Baptist clergy
man. A close friendship developed
between Professor Jewett and Mat
thew Vassar. The professor dealt the
final blow to the hospital scheme.
"a large hospital here in Pough-
keepsie would be out of place." he
said. eff you desire to become
notable benefactor of your race and
make your name inperishab1e follow
the suggestion of your niece and found
an institution that shall be to young
women what Yale and Harvard are to
young men,"
Mr.. Vassar consulted a number Of
successful educators and determined to
establish a college for women on a
large and liberal scale. charter was
obtained from the New York legisla-
ture in January. 1851, and in the fol-
| lowing month Mr.. Vassar transferred
to the board of trustees real and per-
sonal property aggregating $40S.000.
The work of construction was begun
at once, and even the turmoil and
anxieties Of the civil war did not stop
it entirely. The main edifice was COM
pleted early in 1865, and the college
work began in September of that year
with about $50 accepted students in
attendance.
! The twenty fifth anniversary of the
institution was fittingly celebrated in
June, 1890. On that occasion George
| William Curtis delivered an address in
which he suggested that Matthew Vas
sars simple explanation of his reason
| for founding Vassar college might ap-
propriately be carved in gold over the
entrance of the college. These were
Mr. Vassar's words: "It occurred to me
that woman, having received from her
Creator the same intellectual constitu-
ton as man, has the same right as
man to intellectual culture and devel-
/ opment."
1t was woman, said Mr.. Curtis,
who answered the skeptic's question.
"Can delicate woman endure the hard
ship of a college course of study ?''
With covert sarcasm at her own sex
this woman said: 81 would like you to
take 1900 young men and lace them
/ up and hang ten to twenty pounds OF
/ clothes upon their backs, perch them
on three inch heels, cover their heads
with ripples, chignons, rats and mice
and stick 10000 hairpins into their
scalps If they can stand all this they
will stand a little Latin and Greek"
/ James Monroe Taylor, D. D. and LII
D. has been president of Vassar col
lege since 1856, and his relations with
educational work generally have been
active and influential
+ A thread of romance runs through
the story of Radcliffe. For a long time