THE HARVARD ANNEX 223 



but a daring expenditure is sometimes a wise economy 

 and so I think it will prove in this case. 



And so it seems to me a memorable fact that we 

 meet here today, — that for the first time our cer- 

 tificates for graduation and for honors are given under 

 our own roof. 



Within the next four years such had been the growth 

 of the Annex that the limits of the Fay House had become 

 all too restricted, and in February, 1890, the lExecutive 

 Committee began to consider ways and means for enlarg- 

 ing its walls. The ways presented less of a problem than 

 the means. In the late spring a meeting was held in Boston 

 for such good Bostonians as might be interested, at which 

 Mrs. Agassiz reported on the success of the Society and the 

 disadvantages of its narrow habitat. The following por- 

 tions of her address describe the conditions of the four years 

 after the purchase of the Fay House and again illustrate 

 her powers of persuasion. Her only references to the sub- 

 scriptions for which she hoped are quoted below: 



... In order to state the object of this meeting fairly 

 from the beginning I would add that if we succeed 

 in winning your sympathy for the work in which we 

 are engaged and which we hope to carry on hereafter, 

 we will ask you to help us in raising a certain sum to- 

 ward the enlargement of our building which has been 

 insuflicient for our increased numbers and beside want 

 of room lacks many conveniences for the work carried 

 on there. 



I have often been told that as President of our So- 

 ciety I should call attention from time to time in a 



