84 STATE BOAKD OF AGEICULTUEE. 



was a very large one, numbering forty-seven, in which much energy was needed 

 to keep up the interest. The success was on the whole gratifying as marked 

 by general proficiency and interest in rhetorical exercises. Five members of 

 the class left during the term from sickness or other disability, and four failed 

 upon final examination ; one of these, however, has since passed satisfactorily. 



The new course of study has introduced into the Freshman year one course of 

 thirteen weeks in English composition instead of several shorter courses in dif- 

 ferent years. The advantage of this seems to be settled by this year's experi- 

 ence, in which it has been found far easier to interest the class and gain a real 

 progress than heretofore. The method adopted was as follows : Hart's Compo- 

 sition and Khetoric was taken as a text book, especially for its numerous examples, 

 and lessons from it embraced, first, prose composition in its various forms ; then, 

 punctuation, diction, and sentences, in order, with a brief explanation of figures 

 of speecli from an analysis of my own. Every week during the course each 

 member of the class was required to prepare a written exercise for my inspec- 

 tion, with especial reference to accuracy and neatness of execution, as well as 

 to arrangement and expression of thoughts. The topics assigned may give an 

 idea of the scope of instruction: 1, a business letter; 2, a letter of frendship, 

 giving a day's experience; 3, the journey to college, by analysis; 4, biography 

 of Socrates or of Washington ; 5, story of growth in some plant ; G, description 

 of some jirominent building, in the order of progress while visiting it ; 7, descrip- 

 tion of the oak or the pine, as a lumberman views it, or a forester, or a botan- 

 ist ; 8, description of some animal ; 9, explanation of some trade, business, or 

 profession ; 10, narrative of causes producing an effect, as a war or a loaf of 

 bread; 11, description of a complex machine, or of a landscape. Sj^ecial 

 instructions preceded the preparation of such exercises, and all were subjected 

 to close criticism ; some were read before the class and noticed there. The 

 whole number of exercises thus handled was about 800. The class of seventy 

 was heard in two divisions for the sake of thorough work, and sixty-two com- 

 pleted the study satisfactorily. Four left College before the close of the term ; 

 four failed in examination ; one of the latter, however, was able to pass after 

 some weeks of private study. 



I have now in charge a class of 12 Juniors in English Literature. The class 

 provide themselves with Chambers' Cyclopedia of English Literature, for con- 

 stant reference and frequent use in class-room, but the course is given by daily 

 lectures, covering the history of the language, the peculiar influences in the 

 growth of literature in different periods, and biographical sketches of leading 

 authors, from Chaucer down, with especial attention to the development of their 

 genius. While this course may be less defined than an ordinary text-book would 

 make it, the interest awakened is indefinitely greater, so that several of the 

 Seniors have been constant attendants upon the lectures this year, as a voluntary 

 exercise. 



In this connection may be mentioned a voluntary class in Shakespeare, de- 

 signed for the Juniors. It is held for an hour on each Thursday evening, and 

 has been well attended, the average number being as high as 15, I judge. One 

 play, *'As you like it," has been completed, and another, ''Hamlet," is begun. 



The Freshman class, numbering 4G, has begun the study of French in Otto's 

 Grammar. The class recites in two divisions, that all may recite daily, and oc- 

 casional Avritten themes are required. The excessive burden of so many written 

 exercises to correct, has led to the devising of other methods for drill, and es- 

 pecial effort has been given so far to interest the class in comparison of French 



