RADCLIFFE COLLEGE 317 



sharing in our work and aiding the progress of Rad- 

 cliffe by every means in their power. 



On March 24, 1898, Mrs. Agassiz's diary records: 

 "To Radcliffe for Council meeting. Had casting vote on 

 the matter of position of new gymnasium with reference to 

 Fay House. The casting vote seems to me a great respon- 

 sibility but I gave it in favor of retaining the larger space 

 at the James Street end of the gymnasium lot." By the 

 following December the building had been erected and its 

 formal opening, at which Mrs. Agassiz made a brief ad- 

 dress, took place on December 17. This is the last incident 

 to be chronicled for 1898. The following letters speak for 

 themselves of the most important event that befell Rad- 

 cliffe in 1899. 



TO MISS IRWIN 



Castle Hilly Newport, July 31, 1899 

 MY DEAR AGNES: My children agree with me that 

 the time has come when for their peace of mind 

 as well as my own, I must withdraw from my official 

 connection with Radcliffe College. 



Looking back upon the last twenty years I feel 

 as if my share in the work had been as nothing 

 compared with that of the Council, the Academic 

 Board and in a more general though not less im- 

 portant sense the Faculty of Harvard. They have 

 made our college what it is and have turned an ed- 

 ucational experiment into an institution of learn- 

 ing. My feeling is one of deep gratitude to them and 

 I wish I could give it any adequate expression. 



Let me add that your cooperation and sympathy 



