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The home of Radcliffe College.
Within the shadow of the historic Shepard church and the
Washington Elm on Garden street, stands Fay House, the home of Radcliffe College.
Although the original dwelling has several times been enlarged, its rounding, antique front has been preserved and it forms one of the noticeable features of the present stately and dignified building.
The entrance, approached by a broad driveway, is on the south side, and a glance back from the portico shows us the tennis courts and the smaller buildings of the college which contain the chemical and physical laboratories and a gymnasium.
The door opens into a passage leading to the main hall, and just within, on the right, we notice a picture of the late
Professor Josiah P. Cooke, a gift from
Mrs. Cooke who, with her husband, has always been deeply interested in the growth and progress of
Radcliffe.
The offices are found at either side of the main entrance, and the regent and secretary are accommodated in rooms well adapted to their uses, with their fire-proof safes, and commodious shelves for the keeping of the many valuable records of the college.
The good light and ventilation so marked in these rooms are noticeable throughout the building.
Entering the main hall we open the last door on the right and find ourselves in the
Dean's room,
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face to face with a fine portrait of the honored president of the college,
Mrs. Louis Agassiz.
This room was once the parlor and as such it will always be remembered by the older students, for here they gathered about the open fire, chatting merrily, at
Mrs. Agassiz's social afternoon teas.
Crossing the hall we enter the conversation room, once used for recitations.
Here on the tables are the latest magazines, the daily papers, and, as a matter of course, all the publications of our brother university, Harvard.
Back of this room is another leading to the auditorium which is used for the entertainments of the different clubs, and until the present year, for Commencement.
The stage is the amazement and envy of the former graduates when they remember the makeshifts they used in days past-but those were happy days.
In the rear is the housekeeper's suite, but this we will not invade: sufficient to say that it is commodious and comfortable and that much of it is freely opened to the girls whenever needed.
The broad stairway in the main hall divides at the first landing into two parts and here, facing one another, hang the portraits of Charles First of
England and his wife.
The second floor is wholly given up to recitation rooms which, with their cherry desks, comfortable chairs, and picture-hung walls are pleasant working rooms for the students.
The one at the front on the left contains a treasure, the picture of
Dr. Samuel Gilman and the original manuscript of “Fair Harvard,” which was composed and written in this room for the two hundredth anniversary of Harvard College.
Another broad staircase leads to the third story, and here we find more recitation rooms.
At the head of the stairs hangs a lifelike portrait of
Prof.
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Louis Agassiz which was made for the
Columbian Fair.
At the left is the botanical laboratory, a bright and cheery room containing collections interesting even to the uninitiated.
Let us draw aside the portiere and pass between these stately Corinthian columns.
Here we are in the midst of
Radcliffe's pride and glory-the library.
The light coming not only from windows at the side but from above as well, the softly-tinted walls, the well-filled shelves and the girls always to be found about the tables or in the comfortable window seats, give the crowning touch to this unique college building.
Adjoining rooms contain reserved books and the librarian's office.
A busy woman is the librarian, caring for the nearly eight thousand volumes already here and adding almost daily new and valuable books to the catalogue.
By the way, have you noticed this steep and narrow staircase?
It leads to a platform on the roof where the girls who are inclined toward astronomy mayor make their observations.
As we pass out we realize that we have seen nothing of the real life of
Radcliffe, but if environment counts for anything the student here must be uplifted daily and refined by her surroundings.
Radcliffe is fast outgrowing its present home.
When the new one appears may it be as cheery and homelike as this, so dear to the hearts of its many students, past and present.
