68 MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



important event for the colleges and especially to M. A. C., 

 situated as it was three and a half miles from Lansing in a 

 sparsely settled neighborhood. There were no seniors, juniors, 

 or sophomores to introduce the new comers. For a year and 

 a half about one hundred boys were deprived, except at the 

 short vacations, of the companionship of mother, sister, or 

 friends. The visits of the boys to the "Fern Sem" and of the 

 girls to the College were of great benefit. I feel sure that memory 

 serves me right in recalling the improvement in personal appear- 

 ance, the greater attention to dress and address, the more 

 frequent care of rooms and of the college premises, and an 

 elevation of the moral tone. It was the assuming of a normal 

 condition in the mingling of the boys and girls, with mutual 

 advantage to both. 



There was always plenty to do for busy heads and hands 

 in study, reading, farm work, the care of rooms, and the mending 

 and care of our clothes. Our sports were mainly of the country 

 sort, "one-" and "two-old-cat" ball games, running, hop-step- 

 and-jump, "pom-pom pull-away," tag, and leapfrog. Some 

 of them were not very dignified; still there were no smashed 

 noses, cracked heads, maimed limbs, nor any killing. 



The principal event of general interest, and of special interest 

 to those taking part, was a public exhibition at the close of the 

 term, November 16, 1859. Nine students took part, besides 

 a quartet which sang. The exercises were similar to those of 

 the better class of district schools, and consisted of original 

 orations and essays, interspersed with music. The old chapel 

 was crowded to its fullest capacity, the larger portion of the 

 audience coming out from Lansing. 



The College was a typical Michigan pioneer in starting in 

 the woods, in opening up roads, in logging and burning green 

 timber, much of it in the wet season of the year, in the pulling 

 of green stumps, and in ditching where an ax was as important 

 as the spade or shovel. It was hard work for the boys and 



