Harvard Co-operative Society.

The purpose of this circular is to give some explanations of the objects and the work of the Co-operative Society.

The Society was organized in March, 1882, being the outgrowth of discussions in the college papers and at public meetings upon the prevailing high prices of students' necessaries. The need of an organization that could furnish many goods at prices only slightly above first cost, and many others at fair retail prices, was so generally felt in college that there was not wanting sufficient enthusiasm to start, at once, a store partially stocked, and managed by directors chosen from the students and instructors, the Directors providing plans for work and a business manager. From a very small beginning the business has grown, so that the average yearly receipts since the Society's organization have been nearly $23,300; those for the past year being $37,000.

This large annual business transacted exclusively with about seven hundred members has been due to the fact that, by means of the Society, students have been buying their books, stationary, men's furnishings, fuel sporting and athletic goods and many sundry other necessaries at very near wholesale cost, and that the Society has furnished its members excellent facilities for conducting their business, without having made any use whatever of money tendered to it gratuitously.

By a recent change in its constitution, the Society's store in Dane Hall (the old Law School Building, opposite the P. O.). will be thrown open at the beginning of the next fiscal year (one week before the beginning of the academic year), to the University public including by special provision all persons connected with the Society for the Collegiate Instruction of Women or with the Episcopal Theological School-without the requirement of a membership fee. One of the chief objects thus attained will be that all students alike may procure their textbooks and books of reference at wholesale cost, the Society charging a very slight profit on such books, by exceptions.

In the other departments the profit charged will be somewhat greater; but the original plan of keeping down the cost of all college necessaries will be adhered to.

The advantages of membership are to be still as great as before, since, while the annual membership fee is reduced from $2.50 to $1.50-payable in advance-for all or a part of the fiscal year, members only are entitled to a share in whatever net profits the Society makes.

To this is added the obvious advantage, which members alone have of securing discounts on cash purchases at leading retail stores in Boston. The experience of the past five years makes it safe to say that the member is very exceptional who cannot save several times his membership fee in transactions with these affiliated retail dealers.

The new reference list indicating in detail the scope of the Society's work, with the names of the affiliated retail dealers, will be mailed on application after September 10.

A strictly cash system is adhered to in the Society's transactions with the students, unless security is given by making cash deposits, or by filing bonds. As monthly bonds are a great convenience to many, accounts are opened if security is offered. All who wish to have accounts are requested to come prepared with bonds filled out in advance. Blank bonds will be sent on application.

The Society's success so far is due in no small measure to the hearty support it has received from the large body of students, and it is hoped that those who are coming for the first time this year will do even more to further the Society's interests, because of the new and more liberal basis on which the business is now to be placed. The greater the patronage the greater the benefit to all-non-members as well as members.

A. A. WATERMAN, Supt.