that could be given. It may well be imagined that the winter was a pleasant and profitable one. He was solicited to remain as principal of the academy, but, considering his pledge to Professor Kenyon as sacred, he gave up the pleasanter path for that of rugged duty. Returning to Oberlin to graduate, he then came back to Alfred near the close of the spring term in June, 1849.

T

CHAPTER VII.

GENERAL ADVANCEMENT.

SYNDICATE FORMED.

HE principals, Professors Kenyon and Sayles, had felt for some time that the teaching force of the school was insufficient to meet the growing demands made by the increase of numbers and the call for classes in the higher branches. These men, with the preceptress, Miss Maxson, were often required to teach from ten to fourteen classes a day. Much work was also done by assistants who were students paying their way through school. Several of these young men were consulted from time to time about plans to best meet the interests and demands of the growing work. Afterward, some of these became connected with the Institution.

CO-WORKERS.

On the Fourth of July, 1849, Mr. Allen entered with zeal into Professor Kenyon's plan for reorganizing the Faculty, and forming the compact, by and between Wm. C. Kenyon, Ira Sayles, D. D. Picket, J. Marvin, D. E. Maxson, Darius Ford, and J. Allen as associate principals and teachers to build up a non-sectarian school. All were to share equally in the government, teaching, and financial management, and agreed to labor five years on a salary of four hundred dollars per year-the remainder of the income to be used for the payment of debts and needed improvements. This arrangement proved no exception to the universal law that where income is made dependent upon the financial success of any enterprise, it begets economy, industry, and thrift. These young men were already warmly attached to Professor Kenyon and to each other as co-workers in student

life. They believed in him and in themselves. All old students will recognize Darwin E. Maxson as the fiery radical, the ready talker, who in his chapel speeches made every heart to throb and every face to glow, Daniel D. Picket, the conscientious conservative, careful and exact in all things, as were the mathematical problems themselves; James Marvin, the sagacious, balancing power, his great, loving nature softening all discordant elements; Darius Ford, the fine scholar, the bright, true gentleman, never believing that "wisdom would die with him," ever ready for advanced thought on all lines of human progress.

In a few years Professor Marvin left his position, he having been induced to enter another field of work, and Professor E. P. Larkin was called to take his place. He is remembered as one of those thorough, versatile men that draw mental sustenance from all things; he had traveled extensively, and one could not converse with him without gaining some new thought. were the men who were co-workers with Professor Allen.

MARRIAGE.

Such

During the week following this compact came the Anniversary exercises for the year. On July 12, after the speeches and other exercises were finished (these being held in the grove above the buildings), Professor Allen was married, by the Rev. N. V. Hull, to Miss Abigail A. Maxson, the preceptress.

PROSPERITY FOLLOWED FAITHFUL WORK.

All these teachers spent their spare time, including their vacations, in repairing and fitting up rooms, or at work upon the Institution farm, or at whatever was most needing to be done. At every point Professor Kenyon and his wife, Mrs. Melissa Kenyon, were the leaders. Professor Marvin, one of the syndicate, afterward Chancellor of Kansas University, writes: "With exalted hopes and enthusiasm at fever heat, we entered. upon our new career. The school increased rapidly; new build-ings were planned and erected, more land secured, the farm opened up, and the question of assuming collegiate rank and