HOUSING THE FRESHMAN CLASS

The much-heralded Freshman Dormitories are at last complete and ready for occupancy by the entering class of 1918, the first class to enjoy this new feature of Harvard democracy. These buildings, of colonial style, combine the atmosphere of Hollis, Stoughton, and Holworthy, with modern, comfortable, and inspiring surroundings. All the dormitories are of Harvard brick with limestone traceries, slate roofs, and are fireproof.

The Smith Halls, as they are known--Persis, William, and George--form a quadrangle. Persis Hall fronts on Boylston street, and through its arched central doorway gives access to the ample court made by the four interior sides of the Smith dormitories. Directly across the yard is William Smith Hall, and at the north side of the quadrangle is George Smith Hall. The southern side is formed by the wings of William and Persis, respectively. Within the court on the eastern facade of Persis is a good sized clock at the fourth story; and on the roof of the southern side of the building is a tower suggestive of that on Harvard Hall. The south side of this set of buildings, contains, on the ground floor, the common room and dining room, one at either side of a central door. The common room has built-in, leather upholstered, wall seats of generous dimensions and panelled walls of weathered oak. At one end is a fire-place for three-foot logs. The dining room also has its fireplace.

In the basement of the Smith Halls, on the southern side, is the immense kitchen for all the dormitories, with its capacious ovens, its steamers and caldron-like soup kettles.

The bed rooms and studies in all the dormitories are typically colonial. The studies have broad windows with built-in window seats and the finish is white enamel in bedroom, study and bath room. All the doors are wide and white, with heavy brass handles and on the outside doors are hospital thumb-latches. The large general rooms have ample air space, and the bedrooms and studies are nine feet high in the air.

Standish Hall, which is on the Charles River front, in a southeasterly direction from the Smith Halls, extends along Mill street, and its two wings, at right angles and reaching down toward the river, form with the main building a court yard nearly as large as that of Smith Halls.

Gore Hall is still farther down the river and in general layout is like Standish Hall.

While the halls very considerably in exterior appearance, they all follow accurately the ideas of the colonial period, and each is practically a complete unit.