University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

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Editorial. UR College life is filled with many duties, each varying X V in the degree of pleasure afforded, and now we come l to that of editing the Index, which task we hope to perform in a manner that will be pleasing to our Col- lege mates and friends, and an honor to our class, at least, so far as our humble genius will permit. To the Students of the College, the object of the Index needs not to be explained, but to our friends into whose hands it may fall, we would say that it has no pretentions to literary merit, but is simply a student ' s catalogue published by, and for, the students, and contains, principally, information valu- able only to them. In this, our editorial, we purpose to avail ourselves of the opportunity presented to us, of commenting upon the differ- ent departments and branches of our institution. Our col- lege is improving; each class that enters it, by reason of a stricter and more difficult examination, is better qualified to undertake the more advanced branches taught here than those that have already entered, and hence the average is being raised. In each class that graduates, a larger number than in the preceding, engage in agricultural occupations, showing that the real object for which the institution was founded is being maintained, and the facilities for teaching this branch increased. Our farm on which is carried on agricultural ex- periments, so instructive to the students, is being gradually improved; the large stretch of uneven, wet land, opposite the college buildings is being drained and graded, and along our principal avenues trees of various kinds have been set out. If this good work continues it will be but a few years before our farm will be the model for all others in New England.

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THE INDEX. In muthematics, flunks are no more numerous than formerly, — perhaps fewer. Our kite professor, a strict and learned man, lias left, and in his place we have an experienced profes- sor, formerly of Marietta College, Ohio, from whom we ex- pect not less than we received from Professor Peabody. In the branch of surveying, especially, we hope that he will continue that most eff ectual method of instruction, field work, for which the college has a numerous assortment of instruments and to which they are constantly adding. In the department of languages conditions are growing beau- tifully less frequent : these languages have always been the rock upon which many otherwise good students split, and perhaps the fault is as much with our course of study as our- selves. It is in the nature of most of us to be thorough in what we undertake, and it is difficult to take any degree of interest in what we know we are to obtain a mere smattering of Perhaps we should do better if we were permitted to de- vote all the time now occupied with French and German to the one or the other of these. The chemical department has but one thing wanting:— more time. We hardly commence in the practical part of our instruction when we are called away to some other study. All other departments manifest decided improvement. The stock at the barn is increasing, and the Plant House is constantly adding to its beautiful collection of exotic plants and flowers. With all these advantages to aid us, and with careful study, may we not trust, that all who graduate from our institution will be able to obtain, whenever they seek them, positions of trust and honor.