and in 1890 the last prize was abolished. The practical difficulty in the government of the institution has been to prevent the students from overworking under pressure of only noble motives.

COURSES OF STUDY.

In matter of standard, Elmira has always taken firm and foremost position, with many advances. The first freshman class in 1857 pursued the following required studies, usually four or five lessons each week: Cicero's orations, Kuhner's Greek grammar, Davies's university algebra, descriptive astronomy, critical reading of English poets, outlines of ecclesiastical history, botany and part of Mrs. Somerville's physical geography, philosophy of history, with a Sunday lesson in Nichols' Helps to Bible Study.

In the sophomore class Latin and Greek were continued; geometry, plane, solid, and spherical, completed; political economy and civil government, rhetoric, natural philosophy.

The junior class studied trigonometry, chemistry, French and German languages, with English literature, Kames's criticism, logic, geology, and mineralogy.

The senior class (with no electives) continued French and German languages and literatures through the year, conic sections and mathematical astronomy, mental science, applications of science to useful arts, moral philosophy, Paley's natural theology, Butler's analogy, with a Sunday lesson in Gregory's Evidences of Christianity. This course of study was in good faith designed by experienced college men to be fully equivalent to the regular four years' course of study at that time required in the best colleges for men. The less amount of Latin and Greek was sincerely believed to be fully compensated by an extensive and thorough study of modern languages which were not required at that time by any other college in the State, and by required courses in English literature and extended courses in history, ethics, and Christian evidences. It was at that time the most advanced course of required study in any institution for women in this country. After a few years the other colleges raised their requirements in Latin and Greek for entrance to the freshman class and a few introduced French and German as electives. Elmira allowed three and a half years of thorough study of French and German to take the place of Greek as a full equivalent, and those who took Latin and Greek were required to take either French or German in addition. If Elmira could have been supplied with students well prepared for the freshman class, the course of study above described might have been made almost the ideal course for women.

About 1884 the course of study and the requirements for admission to the freshman class were considerably advanced so as to compare favorably with the best colleges for women in this State and in New England.

The requirements for admission to-day are those of Smith, Wellesley, and Vassar.

PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT.

From the beginning of its history until the present Elmira College has sustained a preparatory department of the grade of a first-class New England high school. As this has long since ceased to be a necessity and, indeed, has become clearly an embarrassment, it was resolved in the spring of 1890 to arrange for its progressive abolishment by discontinuation each year of the lowest remaining class. In 1893 the preparatory department came to an end and Elmira became a college, pure and simple.

ART AND MUSIC.

An art school under charge of an artist of national reputation, with one assistant, forms a valued adjunct.

A music school of high aims and most ably officered, with its own faculty of six specialists, all enthusiasts in their departments, greatly adds to the reputation and influence of the college.

FUNDS, BUILDINGS, ETC.

The property of Elmira, at fair valuation, is rated at $230,000 over and above all indebtedness, of which $25,000 form a beneficiary fund for aid of needy and worthy students, and $10,000 represent private scholarships.

The main building of brick, situated on a commanding site facing a beautiful campus, is 225 feet long and at the center two-thirds as deep, is heated by steam, lighted by electricity, furnished with elevator, and can accommodate, if necessary, 130 boarders, besides ample room for chapel, parlors, gymnasium, infirmary, recitation rooms, laboratories, music rooms, art studios, and art gallery.

An astronomical observatory, formerly belonging to the Elmira Academy of Sciences, situate on a site of its own near the campus, is equipped with a refracting telescope, a sidereal clock, an electric chronograph, and star charts. In an enlargement of the observatory on the north side there is a museum and a lecture hall, the former with mineralogical, geological, and zoological collections, the latter for microscopic and telescopic work, for lantern exhibitions, and popular scientific addresses.

All work done in Elmira is intended to be intensely practical. cramming with book learning is held in disfavor. French and German are taught in the original languages, and the students learn to converse in these tongues as readily as to translate. Chemistry is acquired in actual handling of the reagents. Astronomy is studied

in the observatory, each student freely using every instrument. So of biology, geology, etc.

The fraternities have never been directly or indirectly represented. Two literary societies, originally called Philomathean and Kalosophian, and now designated simply by the Greek letters "Phi Mu" and "Kappa Sigma," comprising only full members of the four college classes, meeting on alternate weeks, devote themselves to literature, the drama, and good fellowship, much to the general enlivening and enjoyment of college life. The social atmosphere is always delightfully cordial, spiced with merriment and graced with affability, and finds its outlet not only in the beautiful and artistic society rooms, but in the pleasant dining hall, in occasional parlor reunions, and in none too infrequent "spreads."

The merriest and not least useful hour of the day comes immediately after a late dinner in a spacious, well-floored, and well-lit hall. This is called the "romping" hour, and the gravest Hypatia and most exalted Sappho unbends and laughs, sings, and dances to lively music to her heart's content. In this same hall later, after the evening study and before bedtime, gymnastic and Del Sarte exercises enable the young ladies to calm their wearied brains for sleep.

Degrees are conferred by Elmira only for merit. The practice of granting honorary distinction has fallen into disuse. A title from this institution represents work of high value actually done under competent supervision.

Elmira College has always issued a general annual catalogue, and of late has added thereto, each year, separate catalogues or circulars for the art and music schools. No historical volume, however, has been published.

In 1890 the word "female" was legally expunged from the title, and the proper designation of the institution now is simply "Elmira College." No legal limitation restricts the amount of gifts or of bequests in money to Elmira College.

PRESIDENCY OF DR. GREEN.

In June, 1893, the Rev. Rufus S. Green, D. D., was elected president, to succeed President Van Norden. He was a graduate of Hamilton College of the class of 1867.

INGHAM UNIVERSITY, 1857, LEROY.

By an act of the legislature in 1857 Ingham Collegiate Institute at Leroy, Genesee County, N. Y., was changed into Ingham University. This institution came into existence in 1841 as the Leroy Female Seminary. Only women were admitted to the university. It was a