222 ELIZABETH CARY AGASSIZ 
and meagre surroundings. We had nothing to offer 
you except the education which Harvard provides 
and which by the liberality of her professors was in 
great degree opened to us. There were absolutely no 
temptations outside of this, — no social attractions, 
no amusements, few facilities even for intercourse 
with one another for the reason that we had no room, 
no space. The common ground was simply that of 
study, recitations, lectures. It must be confessed 
that it was a somewhat austere beginning. But I do 
not regret this. It was a crucial test of the sincerity 
and genuineness of your demand for something more 
full and far-reaching in education. 
I rather looked myself to see the Annex dwindle 
under these circumstances — it was so much less 
attractive than many other institutions for women. 
But it grew quietly, steadily: we heard no complaint 
— on the contrary its members were very grateful, 
very appreciative of what was done for them. But 
though they made no complaint, the Committee felt 
that this state of things could not be permanent. Af- 
ter six years of patient waiting this pleasant home, 
the pleasanter because it is an old home, mellowed 
by many associations and to Cambridge people con- 
nected with the hospitalities of past years, came within 
their reach. It was, to be sure, a little too much for 
our purse, and we were loth to cut in upon the Endow- 
ment Fund which we had been husbanding so care- 
fully. But friends were generous — about half the 
purchase money was subscribed, — the other half we 
took from our treasury. It seemed a little extravagant, 
