374 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



paper to the college, and has continued to do so ever shice. I am not sure but 

 the same is true of the Journal. The Flint Citizen came from the beginning 

 of 1859, if not from the first, and Mr. E. B. Pond, of Ann Arbor, sent the 

 Argus from May, 1858, until he sold it in 1878. Horace Greeley, who mani- 

 fested a lively interest in the college, sent the students a box of books, and 

 the students themselves subscribed for five English magazines. So they 

 helped tlie library and reading room to grow in interest. Besides debates, 

 they had lectures not very infrequently. 



Professor Fisk gave the first lecture July 17, 1857 ; followed by Prof. Fisk, 

 in September, President Williams lectured on "Obedience to Natural Naw.'^ 

 Other lecturers were Eev. George Willard ; Hev. C. W. Knickerbacker ; Eev. 

 Asa Mahan; President E. B. Fairfield, of Hillsdale college; President Welch, 

 of the Normal school, on "American Deficiency in Taste; " C. B. Stebbins, 

 Esq., a poem ; Hon. James Birney ; Bethune Duflfield, Esq. ; William With- 

 ington, "Theory of Civilization;" Eugene Teuney, Esq., on "Cuba; " Hon. 

 J. M. Gregory. 



The Michigan Female College, presided over by the Misses Abby and Delia 

 Kogers, was at Lansing, and parties and courteous attentions were not infre- 

 quent between the institutions — "the whole college, officers and students" 

 being subjects of invitation. 



Then there was a splendid meteor in May, 1857, exploding and shaking 

 houses; a splendid comet in September, 1858, rising before the sun, and 

 lingering after sunset ; and a grand illumination with bonfires, and speeches 

 by officers and students, September 1, 1858, for the laying of the Atlantic 

 cable. There was always something for the busy heads and hands. 



An occasional public exercise gave some variety to life. 



The first public exhibition was November 16, 1859. There was music by a 

 quartette and the following original pieces: 



On chemistry and its practical applications — Essay, Edgar J. Abbott. 



Midas — Oration, Wm. M. Greene. 



Stems of Trees — Essay, Gilbert A. Dickey. 



Mathematics — Essay, Charles J. Monroe. 



Sources of Error in Investigation of Truth — Oration, Charles E. Hollister. 



Whisky — Essay, Allen Benton Morse. 



The Anglo Saxon Race — Oration, W". Wallace Preston. 



Iron — Essay, Albert N. Prentiss. 



Patriotism — Oration, Seneca N. Taylor. 



Of these speakers Messrs. Dickey, Hollister, and Prentiss afterwards gradu- 

 ated. Mr. Dickey was killed in battle. (See report for 1881-3, page 29). 

 Mr. Morse gave an arm in the service, and in 1875 was State Senator from 

 Ionia, where he still resides, a lawyer. Mr. Charles J. Monroe was in the 

 State Senate from South Haven in 1883. Both as Senators were of great 

 service to the college. Mr. Wm. M. Greene entered the army in August, 1863, 

 and was killed, as second lieutenant, January 29, 1863, near Cumberland 

 Eiver. He was one of the most excellent of students and of young men. 

 Seneca Taylor became a lawyer but is not living. Mr. Hollister is a farmer in 

 this State. Mr. Prentiss is Professor of Botany in Cornell University. 



During the second year of the college Mr. W. W. Cochrane was instrucor 

 in book-keeping from June 17 until his death at his home in Detroit, Septem- 

 ber 29. Mr. Cochrane was from Cora Linn, near Scotland, and was much 

 beloved. 



