News

Garber Announces Advisory Committee for Harvard Law School Dean Search

News

First Harvard Prize Book in Kosovo Established by Harvard Alumni

News

Ryan Murdock ’25 Remembered as Dedicated Advocate and Caring Friend

News

Harvard Faculty Appeal Temporary Suspensions From Widener Library

News

Man Who Managed Clients for High-End Cambridge Brothel Network Pleads Guilty

Wellesley College,

"Far off from men a college like a man's."

NO WRITER ATTRIBUTED

That was a wise plan which gave to the students of Wellesley College Monday, as a day of recreation. It was in self-defense. On every other day of the week there blazes over the college entrance the old legend "Let no man enter in on pain of death." If one desires to visit Wellesley the visit must be made on Monday. The reason of this strange choice of a "play day" is very evident. Wellesley is pre-eminently a college

"With prudes for proctors, dowagers for deans,

And sweet girl-graduates in their golden hair."

Not a male teacher is employed in the college except in the art department, strange to say, shocking as it may be to our vanity, the college succeeds, apparently, as well as it would under other circumstances.

The first peculiarity of Wellesley that strikes a Harvard student is the simple fact that all the innocent "freshmen," high and mighty "Sophs," etc., are girls. It is a girl who says in your hearing "she got plucked." They are, girls who are playing tennis over there. It is a girl-crew out on the lake that is learning the new Yale stroke. But here the analogy ceases, no "mighty daughters of the plough" are trying their rushing qualities in that game which is so popular at Yale and Princeton, nor can we see any signs of a diamond. Botany appears to supersede all other field sports, and has prevailed to such an alarming extent of late, that the faculty are said to have thoughts of prohibiting its practice within certain limits of the college, that the grass may have a chance to grow. The college grounds far exceed those of Harvard in extent and include a lake and adjacent pond. The buildings while few in numbers, greatly surpass both in appointment and convenience those of our Alma Mater. The larger part of the college work is carried on within one large building which is fitted up in a style which is simply startling to one accustomed to the hard benches and bare walls of his own college. The dormitory system pursued, in many respects, resemble that in vogue at Harvard. The central college building is located on a hill over-looking the lake and college grounds. The views from its windows are very fine. This building has a large court in its interior arranged after the manner of the Roman atrium from which branch off the various corridors, officers and reception rooms. The building is several stories high, and terminates unexpectedly with the art-room under its eaves. The college museum is not one half as interesting as the trunk-rooms. The trunks of the students, "as much as five thousand," as one of the students said, are all gathered together in two large attics,-either one of which might easily be transformed into a skating rink,-and would occupy the space taken up by one of our college buildings. As is usual with other colleges, the special students are allowed advantages commensurate with their ignorance, while those students who do not occupy rooms in a college building are allowed still greater freedom.

The curriculum of study while compulsory is equal to any which could be pursued by any one student at Harvard, and the teaching is of an exceptionally high standard. Many pretty college stories are told by the students to their visitors and none more often than that one referring to the great popularity of the present president. It was once asked if Wellesley was denominational. Yes, was the answer, the students are Roman Catholics. What, Roman Catholics? Yes, they worship the virgin.

The library of the college is, perhaps, its greatest ornament. Fited up in a style that puts to the blush our simple Gore Hall, it possesses, that which is more to the purpose, a most excellent collection of books. Wellesley has a very practical way of acquainting its students with the news of the day, and one which would not come amiss in many older places of learning. Besides a reading room open to all, where the prominent papers are kept on file every morning, an abstract of the news of preceding day is written on a large black-board and where the students will be compelled to notice it.

The college numbers between five and six hundred, and is increasing every year in popularity. Whatever may be the result of co-education, the present standing and success of Wellesly augurs well for the system of female education as there pursued. The college is making immense strides after its older rivals and despite the sex of its students bids fair to equal if not outstrip them in the race.

"For Solomon may come to Sheba yet."

Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.

Tags