DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 85 



and English words and idioms, for the better understanding of onr own tongue. 

 Tiie French has thus been made conducive to the study of English grammar. 

 At the earnest request of 25 or 30 of this class, I have consented to meet them 

 one hour a week for English parsing and analysis. Tlie expectation of teaching 

 during the winter, entertained by many of the students, gives especial zest to this 

 study. 



No small portion of my year's work is found in oversight of the rhetorical 

 exercises of the Junior and Senior classes. There have been prepared under 

 my direction and delivered in the College chapel 103 orations, 17 of which were 

 pi'esented at the Junior exhibition. The methods of instruction have been es- 

 sentially the same as those given in the report of 1875. These exercises have 

 given me occupation with students at least five hours weekly, and fully twice as 

 many hours in the study. There are now in course of preparation 25 orations 

 to complete the work of the college year. 



Other duties at College have been the oversight of the Library, — elsewhere 

 reported upon, — a lecture in the regular order of Wednesday exercises, a Bible- 

 class under charge of the College Christian Union, and the usual committee 

 work. A relief in this last particular, however, has been felt by the appoint- 

 ment of a standing committee upon general arrangements for public exercises. 



My share in three of the Farmers' Institutes of January last has already ap- 

 peared in the published rejiort. Of other work outside of College routine I have 

 done very little, thinking my strength to be needed in everyday duties. The 

 work of Township Superintendent of Schools during the winter, amounting to 

 some five days' time, and a brief oration at the College on Indei^endence-day, 

 comprise it all. My absence from daily duties is all included in seven days taken 

 for a visit to the Centennial Exposition, during which the President kindly under- 

 took to provide for my classes. 



In conclusion I have only to deprecate the fact that my labor must be so 

 scattered in many directions as not to give the best results in teaching, and to 

 leave no time for studies that I need for my lectures, and that may bring ad- 

 vantage to the College. I feel that I ought not to ignore this need of my de- 

 partment. If any thought arises that some of the drill in composition might 

 be dispensed with, since the College is espocially designed to give instruction in 

 sciences related to agriculture, it must be thought too that "he who knows but 

 cannot clearly show it, is as if he had not learned." The influence that our 

 students and graduates have throughout the State must depend as well upon 

 their ability to express well the facts of their knowledge as upon their having 

 them. If the French could be provided for by additional instruction from some 

 source, my efficiency as professor of English Literature would be increased to 

 the benefit of the College in many ways. 



Eespectfully submitted. 



GEO. T. FAIRCHILD. 

 State Agricultueal College, 

 Lansing, Mich., Sej^t. 30, 1876. 



