No. 4.] AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 321 



that stairc in which it is needful to vindicate the wisdom of 

 its establishment or demonstrate its utility. Not to speak 

 of its incidental benefits, manifest in every department as 

 well as in the personal bearing of the students, certainly the 

 field exercises of 1894 were well calculated to remove any 

 scepticism on these points, and, by their suggestive exhibi- 

 tion of trained and intelligent power available in possible 

 emergencies, to challenge admiration for the foresight of 

 Congress in making military tactics an essential feature. 



The twenty-fourth annual Commencement, with its theses 

 and orations grappling intelligently and hopefully with 

 themes most vital to the material and social interests of the 

 Commonwealth, was a fitting conclusion to another year of 

 successful achievement. The eloquent words of commenda- 

 tion, so happily phrased in the address of His Excellency the 

 Governor, for the idea which here finds embodiment and the 

 faithful workers who are so industriously developing this 

 idea, found a hearty response in every listener. 



The limited opportunities, during the first visit of the 

 committee, for observing the ordinary workings of the 

 college, were supplemented by more favorable conditions in 

 October ; and, while much more time might with profit have 

 been employed, enough was seen to leave definite impressions. 



It is a fact of interest and not without significance that 

 upwards of fifty per cent of the instructors are grad- 

 uates of the Massachusetts A2:ricultural Colle2:e, — a suo^g-es- 

 tive commentary upon its past history and a prophecy for 

 its future. We learn also that the record and standing of 

 those who have sought other fields tell a similar story of 

 competence and responsil)ility. Even a hurried visit to the 

 class rooms reveals the cause. Youns; men come here with a 

 purpose ; it prompts to industry, earnestness and enthusi- 

 asm, which are met in turn by a kindred enthusiasm, in a 

 spirit of helpfulness, and this seems to inspire every mem- 

 ber and pervade all activities. 



It is a pleasure to observe that in an institution where 

 special training necessarily holds so prominent a place, those 

 branches usually regarded as appertaining especially to 

 liberal culture are not neglected. In the department of 

 English we listened to the delivery of original productions 



