The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-16

possible at Harvard. But stop and con-
| slider what we are getting for our 1896
week. A suite Of four sunny and airy
rooms, sitting room, bedroom, dining
| room and kitchen, besides the bath, and
a wholesome home table catered to our
individual tastes, besides the small ex-
tras of living laundry. pressing and
cleaning. the occasional guest to dinner
or to afternoon tea.
I'VE live for the calendar year for
what we could pay for the smallest
room in - hall COR the eight months
OF the college year And we are com
piiing a list of living expenses from
practical experience that we expect to
find OF great value in our future work
as domestic scientists"
Economy of the sort practiced by
these two young women is not a virtue
universally appreciated in our under
graduate colleges. At Barnard, for in
stance, the undergraduate not living at
home or in the care of some relative is
required to live in Brook hall, q COL
lege dormitory. The dormitory is q
model building erected with view to
Illustrating a model standard of living,
and model living is not cheap" they
say at Barnard. The registrar confesses
that there is little chance for the self
supporting girl at Barnard.
Outside work takes too much OF a
girls time and strength" says the
registrar, when asked why not. 1--WE
do not encourage it. 1t is, of course,
none of our business what girl does
with her time If she is living at home
with her parents and If she keeps up
her standard of work. But If girl
is put in our charge, she must live
where we can be responsible for her.
and according to the standards that we
consider educational. We try to keep
our standards simple, but We are not
catering to the poorer class Of girls.
There are, indeed, cheaper grades
of living to be found at teachers col
leges. There the young women are
largely self-supporting and have saved
their own money to take the courses
offered. Barnard has to reach a diff
ferent class"
Inquiry into the cost Of living at
Brook hall revealed that the simplicity
Of living there is, in fact, very like the
simplicity Of fine tailor made frock
costly. The stated charge for board
and lodging runs from $3.50 a week to
SIT. This charge does not include
lights, use of bath. laundry or expenses
during the Christmas vacation. Five
hundred dollars Is a middle average, 1t
Is said, for dormitory expenses.
Add to this tuition, laboratory fees,
cost of books, fees for gymnasium
work and club dues, and the girls
necessary expenses touch $3.50. She
has yet to provide her clothes and all
trifling incidentals, and to pay her
dentist and her doctor perhaps. Can
she keep within her allowance of $1,000
a year? Doubtless she can and also
doubtless she will not, unless circum-
stances or an unusual American father
forces her to do SO.
Vassar is known by reputation as
the most extravagant" of the women's
colleges. Whether this reputation is
deserved or not is another story. Tales
of blooded saddle horses, pedigreed bull
pups and French touring cars may be
received with caution. At Vassar, as
elsewhere, there is definite attempt
on the part Of the trustees and faculty
to keep the spirit OF undergraduate life
democratic and simple.
Yet the establishment of the College
Inn on the edge of the campus Is said
by many to have brought the living of
the elaborate New York restaurants,
together with their scale of prices, into
the undergraduate life. The wealthy