ed as a test of the literary power of every college and goes far to fix its status with the outside world. It is, therefore, in their own interest that we ask of the students of Vassar College a more zealous literary support of the MISCELLANY.

We are aware that the essay-writing required by the College curriculum demands a large expenditure of time and energy, and that extra work in this direction cannot be expected. The most that we can hope for is some plan by which the best literary work of the college may be made more suitable for publication. The aid of our fellow-students in collecting personals and college notes is especially solicited. There must be some items of interest of which we are ignorant, and which, if known, we should find useful. This department, skillfully managed, may add greatly to the interest of our magazine. Now for our last word, which we speak with diffidence. We ask from some unknown genius or geniuses an occasional poem. We know that such a request made to young ladies is proverbially unsafe; but there are exceptions to every rule. The students of Vassar College do not display any undue disposition to pour forth their souls in song, and we do not fear a too liberal response to our petition. Occasionally poetical talent manifests itself among our fellow-students and justifies our faith. To our "mute, inglorious Miltons" we make our most urgent appeal.

Copies of the following numbers of the VASSAR MISCELLANY are desired.

Vol. I. No. 1.

Vol. II. No. 1.

Vol. VII. No. 1.

Vol. IX. No. 1.

Anyone having these copies who is willing to dispose of them, will confer a great favor by sending them to

EDITORS OF VASSAR MISCELLANY,

Poughkeepsie.

66

HOME MATTERS.

Improvements" is the generic term for the many changes which occur about the college buildings and grounds during

summer vacation.

This year, we returned to find rich surprises awaiting us. To begin with, the floors were less detaining than has been their wont. They had been oiled, but not enough to prevent our disengaging our dining-hall chairs, after two or three attempts.

The parlors, Room J, and the chapel have all been under the hands of good fairies, and are indeed improved. New carpets, pretty wall-paper, and fresh tints on the ceilings make both parlors much more homelike and inviting. Room J has been repainted and has also received its lawful inheritance, the old parlor carpet. The chapel is almost transformed by the stained woodwork, imitating walnut. The new organ is to be of walnut with gilded pipes, thus changing the whole effect of the chapel. The delay in the arrival of our organ is a disappointment; but we are told that we shall be fully repaid when our prize does come, about Christmas time.

More prosaic repairs have been made in the corridors, where five hundred yards of fresh ceilings have been put on.

Nor are all the improvements internal. At the head of the lake, a new brick spring-house replaces the old wooden one; and new receivers have been added, until the supply of water is over forty-three thousand gallons a day-a supply which places us beyond the possibility of want in this direction. At the gas house, greater facilities have been provided, and we shall have gas and to spare.

All this in one summer, and still the good work goes on. Honor to whom it is due!

On Friday evening, September 30, the three chapters of the Philalethean Society held their first meetings. Much purely

disinterested care for the intellectual and social development of freshmen and freshmen-elect, much concern that new girls should join just that chapter (always the speaker's own) in which they should receive the greatest possible pleasure and benefit, many sweet smiles and honeyed invitations preceded these meetings, and the result was quite a large number of unfamiliar faces among the well-known ones of the several chapters. The committee-women succeeded admirably in providing entertainment for their guests. The comic element universally predominated. Indeed, from the nature of the case, it seems that chapter entertainments must partake of the light and amusing. Whatever may have been their original object, they mean relaxation to us now, and it is right that they should. If there were any heavy intellectual work to be done in them, it would have to be done by the students who already have enough mental strain upon them, and these are the very girls who need to loose the tension when Friday night comes. Either consciously or unconsciously, our committees recognize this fact, and the first programme they offered us was but a fair index of what is to follow.

The crown of the evening's pleasures was the surprise giv. en by our Lady Principal. Just before the usual motion to adjourn, the presidents of the several chapters read from Miss Goodsell an invitation to the members and their guests to meet her in the college parlors, and presented, in her name, all the Philaletheans with the colors of their respective chapters. Our Lady Principal knows the way to the Vassar girl's heart,—a fact proved by the emphatic exclamations of approbation of her which were sandwiched in between mouthfuls of delicious ice cream and cake. When the glee club struck up,

"Here's to Miss Goodsell,

Drink her down,

Here's to Miss Goodsell,

She has treated us so well,"

we feel sure that the lemonade was drunk down with the heartiest of good wishes for our new Lady Principal.

Poughkeepsie has again a choral society. For three or four years past the city has been musically dead. The long winter season has been enlivened only by the appearance of some travelling company of artists whose fate was to sing or play to empty seats.

Nevertheless, there is, in Poughkeepsie, considerable interest in music, and a degree of musical culture, as is evinced by the organization of a society of nearly one hundred members, all of whom read fairly at sight, and who, if not already versed in the finer points of chorus singing, are, at least, earnest and enthusiastic.

The society, once organized, placed itself under the direction of Dr. Ritter, and agreed to carry out a plan for the production, during the coming season, of a series of four concerts in which only the best music will be performed. In the month of November Haydn's oratorio, The Creation, will be given with the assistance of the Philharmonic orchestra and soloists from the larger cities. The second concert will afford an opportunity of hearing glees and madrigals of the English and Italian schools. In the third soirée the selections will be of the character of Early Church music, and the fourth will be a Symphony concert.

The society, hoping to secure a sufficiently large number of subscribers to defray the expenses of the concerts, have placed the price of season tickets at two dollars and a half, which entitle the holders to reserved seats.

We of the college have reason to be glad that, in addition to our own chapel concerts, we shall have a share in so rich and varied a musical feast.

COLLEGE NOTES.

Mrs. Ray has left college.

The Art Gallery is undergoing a thorough renovation.

Dr. Webster this summer resigned her position as Resident Physician. She came to the college seven years and a half ago, leaving a large practice in New Bedford. For the past year or more, she has contemplated returning to her home to resume her practice there; but, though thus prepared, we were none the more ready for her departure. She is in many respects a great loss to the college, as she was ever loyal, efficient, and universally beloved. The best wishes of hundreds of friends will follow her, wherever she may be.

1,844 people visited the college during the summer.

The life size portrait of Matthew Vassar has been removed from the college parlor to the library.

Miss Finch gave a very successful concert this summer at Amherst, Mass. Her programme comprised selections from Bach, Mendelssohn, Batiste and Weber.

Room J is no longer used as a recitation room. Prof. Backus' classes now meet in the lecture room.

The boats on the lake can now be rented for fifteen cents an hour.

Miss MacMillan has been unanimously elected President of '85.

Committees for '82's class pins and photographs have been appointed.

The chapters held their first meetings Sept. 30th. After the regular meetings were over Miss Goodsell entertained the Philalethean Society in the college parlors.

Miss Ward, the presiding genius of the infirmary, has left college. She is succeeded by Miss Harris, who is a graduate of the Training School for Nurses in Philadelphia.