MOUNT HOLYOKE FEMALE SEMINARY, at South Hadley, Mass., two m, e. of the Connecticut river, and 4 m. s. of the mountain from which it takes its name. Its founder was Miss Mary Lyon, a lady who combined. in an unusual degree, physical, intellectual, and moral strength. During ten years of successful teaching in a private school, her attention was awakened to the importance of establishing a permanent insti tution for the education of young women, where the expenses should be very moderate and the advantages very great. The problem was difficult. At that time many people thought that for the higher education of girls little more was needed than a superficial with a few ornamental branches. There were private schools that prom ised this for the daughters of the rich, and district schools sufficed for the rest. Why should colleges be established with faculties, buildings, libraries, cabinets, and appara tus, merely to educate girls? For a long time the public could not be aroused to the importance of the subject. The rich were even more indifferent than the middle classes. But as Miss Lyon thought on the enterprise she became thoroughly absorbed in it, and was willing to spend her life in poverty and toil for its sake. In 1834 she devoted herself to the task. Little by little funds were collected for the first building. Its corner-stone was laid in October, 1836, and the school opened November, 1837. Its prin cipal objects were : 1: To proiide for young women with Iiinittird,PeOuniary resources a thorough practical education. 2. To supply, not a preparsiory school for younger pupils, but a college for those of maturer years, admitting none under 16 years of age. S. To educate superior teachers. 4. To arrange the institution so that the pupils should do the household work themselves, partly is order to reduce expense, but chiefly to teach the dignity of such work and to promote health, cheerfulness, independence, and symmetry of character. These objects have been kept steadily in view, and with great and increasing success through more than 40 years. The prescribed course of study embraced three years, until 1862. when a fourth year was added. There are also optional courses in Greek, German, and French, extending through the four years, which may be pursued in addition to the prescribed studies, but not as substitutes for them. In planning the course the friends of the institution were aware that many pupils would be able to pursue only a part of it. Yet to spend two years, or even one
year, in thorough study is a great advantage to those whose means or opportunities allow them no more. Of late years an increased proportion of those who enter com plete the course. The graduates, including the class of '80, number over 1700. Fully three-fourths of the whole number of pupils have engaged in teaching, sonic as a pro fession for life, and the rest for transient. periods. The terms for board, tuition, and inci dentals, have always been as low as would suffice to cover the ordinary running expenses. At present the sum of $175 per annum includes all charges. The buildings, grounds, library, and apparatus have been furnished chiefly by private benefactions; with the addition of $40,000 granted by the legislature of Massachusetts in 1868, after a careful inquiry into the usefulness of the seminary during the 30 years of its existence. The annual income from payments for board and tuition is about $45,000, in addition to which a small amount is received from invested funds given for specific objects Con nected with the welfare of the institution. The grounds comprise twenty-one acres of picturesque scenery in which nature has, to some extent, anticipated the work of the landscape gardener. The buildings are: the original main edifice, (enlarged) four stories high, with wings at each end; the gymnasium, forming with the others a quadrangle; the library, a fire-proof edifice, well arranged and handsomely finished; the Lymaa Williston hall, containing well appointed lecture and recitation rooms, a chemical lab oratory, cabinets of mineralogy, botany, zoology and geology, and an art gallery, enriched with some superior original paintings by celebrated American artists, and sonic fine copies of works by old masters; and a temporary observatory, furnished with a good telescope. The library contains 10,500 volumes of very carefully selected works, in English literature, in the French, German, Latin, and Greek languages, and in science and art. The instruction is given ty the principal, two associate principals, and twenty five teachers (all ladies) and by seven gentlemen (distinguished professors in other insti tutions) who deliver annual courses of lectures in their respective departments. The present number of students (1880) is 226, and the total number of graduates 1704.