The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-12-14

when the Bridgeport quota for the Ssassar College Salary Endowment 1unu was announced 13,000 the 3 Iocai members of the a1umnae held lhear breaths in astonishment Thir- ooa 6eGh thousand dollars meant that S1,- Vuo 8 piece must be raised and that nuge sum here in Bridgeport Strat- lord and F'afrfiel d.pdaces which had fn fpeen well combed over by other col tesSe endowment fund workers during the last couple Of years. Unlike New Haven with it's 12O or more graduates, there would not be the in- splration of a large group working together for the fund and yet the in nlvidual sum for which each graduate was responsible was far greater than workers,
 But were the Bridgeport Alumnae haunted by the big task before them Not bit. Once they caught their DreathS they began to work with the result that within two months they have already procured s6,OO0 or near iy half of the allotted sum.
 How they went to work is another story. Before they even asked a per- son for one penny toward their fund they each gave their personal pledges to subscribe. Bridgeport was one of the first cities dn the country to report a 100 per cent. response to it's alumnae pledges. Then they began on their own friends and relatives and on known friends of Vassar fir sub scriptins.
 They sold things. Riddle koops and automobile jacks, candy, books, soap flakes, flowers playing cards. balsam pillows, stlverware, jams and jellies, dars, clothes, silk stockings, yarn, hair nets and kitchen knife sets. all arti- cles on which substantial profit toward the fund, were sold by in- dividual effort to the public.
 The fact that while there have been no large subscriptions to the fund, it is already nearly half raised, shows how hard they have worked.
 They are planning more things for the future. They will receive their share from the Bruce Simond's con cert and after Christmas there will be a card party for the fund and later they are hoping to obtain the use of a theatre and put on some moving pictures there, the proceeds of which will go toward making up the requir- ed S13,0O0.
 As they still have three years to get the remainder of the sum, they are more than hopeful of making it a success. Besides since they have been so successful at a time when business has been so poor, they feel tha once conditions have improved they will have bu comparatively lit tie trouble in reaching their quota. away tafy at ther iob do gf pa nsn s9o0e more, getting subscriptions and sell ing the hundred and one different articles which bring them a percent age.
 They have been spurred on in their hard work by the Knowledge of the great need of this permanent salary endowment fund. It is a known fact among college people, that despite the recognized high standard of the fac ulty of Vassar college, it is one of the most poorly paid faculties in the country. President Henry Noble MaoCracken of Vassar. speaking at the luncheon in New Haven in OctO- Der, which opened the drive in this Hofa 1Noa a-iZ Za6 hn ia nJS were some members of the faculty who were in actual want because they were receiving less money than it was possible for them to live on even with strictest economy.
 Yet, as all Vassar people know, these professors and Instructors have repeatedly refused offers of much larger salaries to go elsewhere be cause of loyalty to Vassar and the hope that. this proposed endowment fund would be raised and as con- sequence their salaries brought up to at least 3, living wage scale.
 A professor a VaSSar now receives from s3.20o to $3.600 a year. an in d ytant instructor $500 to S1,0O0. But t takes years of hard study and spe- cia1 training to become even an as years and much more study to become a professor. Many of these instruc- tors and assistant instructors have families which they are trying to support on their meagre income.
 It is claimed that every girl who goes to college receives from S25O to $500 worth a year more than for what sine pays. To raise the salaries of the faculties and bring up tuition charges even to cost would make a college education prohibitive for all except blre very wealthy girls.
 It ts for this reason that Vassar alumnae all over the country have taken 1t upon themselves to raise s3,- 100000 within the next three years, the income of which will be used per r1anent1y to incIisase the salaries there.
 Already more than $2,OOOOOO has been raised and they are now work ing on the last million. More than 70 per cent of the entire alunnae body have giv en their personal pledges for upwards of S250 and many of those who could afford it. have given a great deal more. As it stands to- day. every last graduate has given as much as she can possibly afford, and then more
 Besides the articles which they have sold by personal canvassing, a shop has been opened at S4S Madison ave-