The Harvard Annex.

The society for the Collegiate Instruction of Women has entered upon its thirteenth year without any sign of the disadvantages popularly supposed to be connected with that number. The institution was never in a more flourishing condition than now. The number of its members is constantly increasing, and this increase is met by a corresponding gain in the number of the teaching corps, and in the efficiency of the apparatus for instruction. No new gifts were made to the Annex during the past year, but the interest on invested capital remained untouched, and has been added to the society's funds.

The students at the Annex are divided into the two classes of regulars and specials, as in the college. But the word "special" at the Annex is not synonymous with the term as we use it. Many of the Annex "specials" are graduates of that or some other institution, who wish to undertake special research of some sort, and hence would be included among the members of the graduate school at the college. The total number of students at the Annex this year is 215, a gain of 41 over the 174 of 1890 '91. The gain for the year will doubtless be still larger, as several more students are expected. A detailed statement by classes of the numbers for this year and last follows:

1890-'91. 1891-'92.

Seniors, 7 11

Juniors, 8 11

Sophomores, 10 20

Freshmen, 20 15

Special Students, 129 149

- -

Total, 174 215

Last year 133 out of 174 students came from Massachusetts. It is gratifying 10 find that this year a larger proportion come from outside the State; the exact figures are at this time unattainable. Of this year's "special" students, nine are graduates of the Annex, two are graduates of Smith, three of the University of Wisconsin, two of the University of Kansas, and one of Wellesley. Many others are graduates of normal and high schools too numerous to mention. In the regular course are two undergraduates of Bryn Mawr, and one of Oberlin.

The list of teachers for the current year includes about seventy names, more than ever before. More courses are offered than last year, and more of those offered are taken. In fact, few opportunities for study are given that are not taken advantage of. In the German and French departments especially fuller provision for advanced study has been made. A course in Early English has been added to that given last year in Anglo Saxon. The historical department at the Annex is probably better equipped than that at any of the other colleges for women in this country, or, indeed in Europe. In one department the Annex is far ahead of the college: viz. in astronomy. Two courses are annually offered, one in the theory of the science. and the other in practical research.

The members of the graduating class in the regular course at the Annex are on the average two years younger than the members of the graduating class in the college. The "specials" are on the average decidedly older than the regulars. The popular opinion that most of the graduates of the Annex intend to devote themselves to teaching as a profession is erroneous, though there are many teachers among them. Of the seven members of the class which graduated last year four have returned to the Annex as special students, and three are teaching.

Considerable additions have been made to the library at Tay House during the year, and it now numbers over 4000 volumes. These are largely books of reference. Of course the college library is open to Annex students, and the use they make of it is great each year.

To the old Tay House Building itself no additions have been made during the year. The weight of the building was considerably increased by the addition of an extra story in 1890. This has necessitated strengthening the foundations, and work towards that end is now in progress.