LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 373 



Fourth Year. 



First Term. — Astronomy, Entomology, Veterinary, Mental Philosophy. 

 Second Term. — Political Economy, Constitutional Law, Geology, Mineralogy, 

 Moral Philosophy. 



The labor system began on the plan of making the school one in which the 

 student should nearly support himself by his labor. President "Williams says 

 in his report, April 1, 1858 : "The paramount object is to enable the student 

 to support himself by his own labor while acquiring his education." He 

 adds: "It is quite probable that balances will be charged against the first 

 classes of students, while successive classes, under the superior facilities the 

 institution will afford for cheapening the cost of articles of consumption, may 

 easily support themselves. It was a dangerous experiment to establish such 

 an institution on any farm, not already, in part at least, capable of the highest 

 cultivation, and ready to yield the maximum of production." 



In accordance with this system but one man was regularly employed on the 

 farm. Mr. Hiram Hodges, the farmer, occupied the present herdsman's 

 house, only it was then situated upon the plank, some half mile east of 

 the college hall. The students were to do about all the work, and this work 

 was mostly clearing up land. For the first four or five years the students were 

 divided for work into three divisions ; one went out to labor as early as half 

 past six, for the first term at half past five. After three hours of labor they 

 transferred their tools and teams to the second division and went in to lectures 

 and study; a third division worked three hours in the afternoon. Classes of 

 course also were distributed throughout the day. Three hours' work was 

 required on Saturdays, as well as other week-days. Students were paid for 

 their labor according to fidelity and ability. The maximum rate the first year 

 was 10 cents, the second year nine cents an hour. The following are exam- 

 ples oC the rating of those times : 



In the summer term of 1858, 33 students received the maximum rate of 9 

 cents an hour for labor ; 30 received 8 cents, 15 received 7 cents, and 7 received 

 5 cents. In 1859 the rating was very minute. 



Sixty acres of land were brought under cultivation the first year. 



The price of board the first term was 83.50 ; the second term §2.10 ; in 1878 

 f 1.75, with 25 cents extra for tea and coffee if used, and 60 cents a week for 

 washing, heating, and lights. In 1859 board was $2.30. 



Students of the present day will find it difficult in imagination to realize 

 those early days of the institution. It was a wearisome task to reach Lansing. 

 Three and a half miles over a wretched road through the forest took them to 

 the clearing in which the few college halls were situated. It was uot a road to 

 travel often. Prayers were frequently held much earlier than now. On Sun- 

 days for the first year the clergymen of Lansing preached at the college in 

 turn. At the close of this year an account of some difficulties which I know 

 of only by hearsay, the board directed the faculty to take charge of these 

 exercises and invite no one. There was always a Bible class on Sundays. 



Students were usually crowded four in a room. 



The students, however, had the excitement of study, of work, of complain- 

 ing of their food, and early organized societies for mutual improvement. 

 These, at that time, had no Greek letter names, and were open to any who 

 wished to participate in their benefits. An early society was called the Excel- 

 sior Lyceum; the Cincinnatus followed, and the Sons of Demeter. Party 

 politics frequently ran high at the election of society officers. A reading room 

 was started, and amongst others, the Lansing Republican at once sent its 



