Excerpt from The Third Report of the Secretary of the Class of 1862 of Harvard College: June, 1880

I address my apologies to those only who have aided me by a reply to my circular. Those who have taken no notice of this - and they are, as you will see, very few - should apologize to me and to the Class.

I had wished, in view of the changes, so many and so deep, that have passed over our College, to give in this place a sketch, however brief, of the history of the College administration for the past five years, that those of our number who live at a distance from Cambridge, and those as well whose vocations keep their attention at a distance from the College, might, in some measure, understand how much it differs from what it was to us in under-graduate days. I am called away, and cannot do this as it should be done indeed, the task is one that requires great knowledge of the inner life of students, as well as the view, more or less superficial, of the incumbent of the presidential chair: the great body of graduates cannot well appreciate the change, and it would be, perhaps, better for the College if they could be taught by some careful, wise, and impartial hand.

The student-life has changed, as my relations with many of the under graduates for the past ten years enable me to know. The outward ap pearance of the College yard has changed almost as much as the inner life of the institution. This strikes every one who visits Cambridge at each successive Commencement, and this I had hoped to illustrate with several views of the newer buildings. We felt sorry when the Appleton Chapel, which dated from our freshman year, was shut out of the yard by the huge, unsightly, and uncomfortable Thayer. Gray's did its best, in a more polite way, to shut out the old President's House; then Matthews and Weld came almost 'together; old Massachusetts was pulled to pieces, and the standing walls and roof which have covered in so many generations of students in their chambers, and so many college societies in their halls, now look solemnly on three-hour examinations, or the annual voting for overseers. Harvard Hall has been much changed new recitation-rooms have been made in Holyoke, and the college societies removed from the buildings within parietal rule. I need not mention Memorial Hall, which has invaded our Delta, and driven the base-ball and foot-ball to the less known Jarvis and Holmes fields. The new Gymnasium marks an important change in the policy of the College, and, under its professor of hygiene, will make itself felt'in the physique of the children of '62, who return to Harvard. The newest of all is Sever Hall. A recitation-room, with comfortable seats, and provided with ventilation, and means of taking notes, was a luxury we, in our haste to acquire knowledge, knew nothing of: now a curiously-constructed edifice. With carved brick decorations, short but massive chimneys, diminutive doors, and multitudinous windows, a roof of red tile, -that serves as a beacon by day to the gazer from the neighboring heights, contains rooms for recitations and lectures, fitted with every modern luxury of steam-heat, mechanical ventilation, easy-chairs (rocking-chairs will perhaps be added), and retiring-rooms for the professors. The artificial aids or incentives to learning seem to be necessary, and, fortunately, generous people are ready to furnish the necessary funds. Before another Report will be due, a large legacy will be expended in a new building whose purpose is not yet determined.

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