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vious experience. Was a subscription slow in coming, or difficult to be realized, even though pledged in good faith, it was she who would so often find a way to “turn it," as the saying is, taking labor or some commodity necessary to the work, instead of the money, often so difficult to obtain. The contract for the building was let to good and reliable men, but the circumstances to which I have alluded, and her own absorbing interest in the work, combined to keep her on the ground much of the time as the work progressed. Round after round she watched the bricks go on, to form the walls, till it seemed like actually putting in a part of herself; and it did, indeed, represent an expenditure of nervous and physical strength which was seriously felt in after years.

The building was completed and occupied in the fall of 1858. All the subscription available under the conditions, had been called in for the building. For its furnishing and internal preparations for comfort, the private means of the Misses Rogers were required. With that spirit of friendly cordiality and helpfulness so characteristic of new communities, and of which, at least in its outward manifestations, an increase of wealth and comfort seems so destructive, the ladies of Lansing came together, and by the pleasant lightening of labor made by many hands, fitted and sewed the carpets for all the rooms in the building. From the first, the school was filled to its capacity, and had the purpose of the founders been merely to build up a succesful school for girls, satisfactory pecuniary returns might have rewarded their efforts. But they were always looking forward to the ultimate end they had in view-the building up of an institution which should afford to young women the advantages of a collegiate course. Expenses looking toward this end were constantly increased, that absorbed not only the earnings of the school, but the private means of its founders. Efforts were made at the session of the legislature of 1867 to induce the State to accept the beginning that had been made, as a nucleus for a female college. The effort, though at first somewhat promising, was unsuccessful, and was not again repeated. Miss Rogers did not live to see the accomplishment of the object she had first had in view when she engaged in the agitation of the subject of the higher education for women, viz.: the opening to them of the State University, and had she foreseen how soon this was to follow, it is doubtful whether it would have satisfied her wishes. In the years of thought she had given to the subject, and with her constantly increasing experience of the needs and dangers of those critical, all-important years, her views on the subject of co-education had become modified, and she latterly greatly preferred separate education for the sexes. To the last it was the dream of her life, and her strongest hope, that some man of fortune and liberality might be moved to so bestow his wealth as to make Michigan famous, as Massachusetts and New York are, for their magnificently endowed colleges for women.

During the fourteen years of its existence, the Michigan Female College was to Lansing a recognized social and educational power, whose far reaching influence it is not easy to estimate. In those early years of the history of the town, society was necessarily in a crude condition. The capitol city now so accessible from every part of the State, was separated from the outside world by long, wearisome stage rides, so that amusements or public entertainments were rarely enjoyed. Even the eastern Lyceum lecturers, anxious to impart something from their stores of information to their rude western brethren, were apt to be discouraged after having once encountered the ter

rors of the corduroy roads, or the heavy Michigan clay, and to resolve to postpone further missionary efforts in this direction till railroad facilities could be offered them. There are many still resident in Lansing, and many scattered in widely different directions who will remember how much was done at the college to supply this lack of agreeable and profitable entertainment, and who will acknowledge themselves indebted to the hospitality of those homelike parlors not only for many happy hours, but also for a higher ideal of social pleasures, and for the awakening a taste for intellectual enjoyment, and a desire for improvement that might otherwise have lain dormant. The number of pupils residing in the building was usually about twenty-five with perhaps twice that number of day pupils from different parts of the town. The aims of the school, as I have already suggested, were high, and sometimes beyond attainment. But there was thoroughness, and an honest purpose to accomplish real mental work, rather than to go over a certain amount of ground in text books. No one could become a member of that busy community without feeling the influence of the spirit of industry that pervaded every department. Were it possible to collect such testimony, I doubt not there are living many women who would without hesitation date their first serious views of life, and earnest resolves for its best service, from the beginning of their school life at the Michigan Female College, and especially to the personal influence and example of Miss A. C. Rogers.

What I have been asked to write in regard to the history of this institution was intended to be in the nature of a memorial record of the life and works of Miss A. C. Rogers, but justice would be done neither to the living nor the dead, were all mention omitted of her sister Miss Delia Rogers, who survives her, and was associated with her from the opening of the institution till its close. Her courage and cheerfulness were supplemented by the elder sister's zeal and enthusiasm, and if the one was the inspiration and guiding spirit of their joint work, the other gave the practical direction, the ready helpful hand, equally necessary to its continuance and success.

The external facts, even of the busiest lives, are soon told. Miss Abigail C. Rogers was born at Avon, N. Y., in 1818. The perseverance and energy which distinguished her through life, enabled her in spite of many disadvantages, to attain proficiency in her studies rare in those days of limited opportunities, and when scholarship was scarcely thought desirable for women. At the age of nineteen she took charge of a young ladies' seminary at Coburg, Canada, and two or three years later accepted a situation as preceptress of White Plains Seminary in Westchester county, N. Y. After leav ing this position she was for several years at the head of the female department of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y., for many years the largest and most prominent institution of the kind in the country. About the year 1847 she came to Albion, Mich., to take a similar position, and from there went to Ypsilanti as Preceptress of the State Normal School. In each of these positions her zeal and earnestness made her influence deeply felt. Her personal interest and care for the individual welfare of those under her charge made the relation of teacher and pupil close and affectionate, and won not only respect, but life-long love and esteem.

From Ypsilanti Miss Rogers came to Lansing in 1855. The years she spent here were in many respects, satisfying but also constantly full of anxieties, cares, and hard struggles which seriously affected her health. Her fine physique should have indicated perfect health, and promised length of days;

but her strength, especially her nervous strength long overtaxed, yielded to a sudden attack of congestion of the brain, and without regret or acknowledging pain she passed from this life of disappointments to that state of higher activities where doubtless are full compensations for the brave souls who have painfully toiled here, without seeing the fulfillment of their hopes.

From the appreciative notice that appeared in the Lansing Republican at the time of her death, I quote the following as showing the affection with which she was regarded in her own home: "Her intimate friends well know how she has labored for the success of the Michigan Female College against many disadvantages. She has met financial difficulties, the opposition of those opposed to the higher education of women, and the disadvantages of a location too distant from the center of the town for the accommodation of those who would otherwise have become pupils, with a devotion and constancy worthy of the cause which she made a life work. She was the acknowledged and leading champion of the higher education of women in Michigan. To her more than to any other, or perhaps all other women of the State is due the present elevation of sentiment in regard to the higher education of women, and her work shall follow her through all coming years."

The last work of her pen was an address to the graduating class of 1869, in which she held up to them as worthy of imitation the beautiful sketch of the "Perfect Woman" in the book of Proverbs. To those who knew her best, it seemed that this might well have been drawn from her own character. In trying to fix upon a central point as the controlling trait around which other virtues clustered, it has seemed to me that her absolute truthfulness and sincerity shine out with brightest light. A false pretense of any kind was abhorrent to her. She would not assume an interest or regard she did not feel, nor did she ever wish to secure such expressions from others. No one of the many who have been under her care, can ever forget the searching look of the mild, clear eyes that seemed to pierce the inmost secrets of the soul, and to make subterfuge or evasion impossible. By precept as well as example, the surpassing value of genuineness in character and life, over all seeming was constantly impressed. She did not however practice or encourage that miscalled frankness that insists upon telling the whole truth, even when it may be both useless and harmful. When reproof or correction were necessary, her words were like the firm, unflinching touch of the surgeon, who hurts to heal; but with this trait were united a deep sympathy for those who had erred either through misfortune or fault, a wise patience, and a charity that could overlook many shortcomings and forgive all personal injuries.

Her standard for conscientious right living was so high, that like the best of those who have lived looking toward such an ideal, she often lamented falling far below it; but to those who looked up to her from a lower level, the path she trod seemed illumined with the light of christian deeds of charity and benevolence.

Hers was not that easy spirit of fellowship that contents itself with saying to the needy, "Be thou clothed, or fed, or warmed." Her quick and generous impulses took active forms of helpfulness wherever a worthy occasion offered itself. No young woman anxious for improvement, but lacking means to meet the expenses of tuition, ever stated her case in vain to this true, earnest friend of all who wished to help themselves. "Some way," she would say, "it must be done-you shall have the chance;" and during all

the years of its existence the school constantly had among its members those who without any prospect of paying for their privileges except the hope of earning something by their own efforts in the future, were enjoying all the advantages of the most favored pupils. Gratitude and appreciation do not always follow such benefits, but those who do generous deeds find their best reward in their own consciousness of having carried out the idea of the human brotherhood; and there are many who, having repaid the pecuniary debt, will still acknowledge a life long obligation for the help received just at the right time, and for the bent which turned their lives toward higher and better purposes. How far reaching beyond all our powers of estimating is such an influence. Hundreds of young women coming at various times under the guidance of this great hearted, liberal minded woman, date from that influence a turning point; an awakening in their lives; and they in turn reflect upon their circle, wide or limited as the case may be, all the cheer, and light, and blessing that flow from a gracious enlightened womanhood. And this suggests what seems to me the crowning grace of Miss Rogers' character-her true and perfect womanliness. Some one has said that we especially admire in either sex, what is usually thought to be the predominant trait of the other-the tender heart in great men, the imperial intellect in great women.

The conjunction of the two is, fortunately, not so rare as it once was, and it does not now awaken our repugnance to a woman to hear that she has a masculine mind. Should this intellect, however, be subjected to an exclusively masculine training, and all the feminine graces of character and manner be neglected; the gift of helpfulness, and the beautifying touch ignored, that should rightfully be educated in every girl's hands as conscientiously as her mind is trained, we must own that society, the family, and woman herself are defrauded, and the vaunted higher education for women but a doubtful benefit.

Miss Rogers in her own person exemplified the combination of refined womanly tastes and occupations with more active and public pursuits, and found pleasure in a life of study and thought attractive to an earnest mind irrespective of sex. The work of her needle was as fine as her beautiful penmanship, and her love of order and tasteful arrangement of her home were as noticeable as the thoroughness in her teaching and school discipline. It was not enough that the young ladies under her care should be proficient in mathematics-they must learn the use of the needle if hitherto neglected; not enough that their exercises in French and German were well preparedtheir own rooms must be in a condition of order and neatness to make them fearless of inspection. Conversation they were taught to regard not merely as idle talk, but as a gift especially desirable for women, to be cultivated, and carefully improved. In a word, she aimed to develop her girls in the manysided way which a woman's after life is sure to make necessary.

Of her religious life it would be impossible to speak apart from her regular daily life and work, since it was all permeated with the same deep and abiding principle of love for God the Father, and for men his children. Herself from early life a member of the Methodist church, she inquired after no one's creed, or inward convictions. In her view all the roads tended toward the same end, and the weariness and hardness of the way demanded of each traveler all possible forbearance and helpfulness, with no small suspicions or cavilings.

The summons to that unseen world which in hours of suffering had often seemed to draw very near came at last suddenly, and without warning.

Few indeed may hope to find there such a record of good deeds done without ostentation, or self righteousness, or hope of reward-and of no one could it ever have been more truthfully said, in regard to the employment of talents, means, and opportunities for usefulness, "She has done what she could."

MICHIGAN'S OLD STATE CAPITOL SUCCUMBS TO THE FLAMES AFTER
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE

From the Lansing Republican, Dec. 19, 1882

On Saturday, December 16, at about 2 P. M., fire was discovered in the second story of the old capitol building, in close proximity to a chimney on the north side of the cupola. An alarm was sounded, and both steamers and the hook-and-ladder company were soon on the ground, but for some reason a stream could not be obtained until the building, which was dry as tinder, was so enveloped in flames that its destruction was inevitable. Soon after the alarm was given smoke began to issue from all the crevices in the roof and upper stories, and in a few moments afterwards a dense black cloud rolled away to the eastward, which showed that the flames were rapidly spreading throughout the interior. Within ten minutes afterward the bright flames were seen through upper windows on the west and north sides of the building, and it was not long before the roof and dome were ablaze. The destruction was witnessed by thousands of our citizens.

The building had recently been purchased by Piatt Brothers, who had fitted it up for the manufacture of handles and bent work, and had just commenced work. They lose a part of their manufactured stock, but save their machines, safe, saw-mill, and boiler, with the new buildings in which the latter were placed, and the engine, which was in the basement at the southwest corner of the old structure, was not injured. The old senate chamber was occupied by Foster Post, G. A. R. All of the movable property of the society was saved, but the desk, and the canopy beneath which every president of the senate had sat from 1848 to 1879 fell a prey to the flames.

Messrs. Piatt estimate their loss at not less than $10,000. They were insured for about $10,250 in the following companies: Westchester of New York, $1,000; St. Paul, Minn., $1,000; Union of California, $1,750; Commercial Union of England, $500, Miller & Davis, agents. E. R. Merrifield had $3,000, divided between the Niagara of New York and the Northern of London. S. W. Wright had $3,000 on the building as follows: Rhode Island Underwriters' Association of Providence, American Fire Insurance · Company of Philadelphia, Fire Association of Philadelphia. $1,000 each. Thus have the devouring flames destroyed another and perhaps the most interesting ancient landmark of the capital city. Located by act of legislature in an unbroken wilderness, in 1847, in the hope that the very absurdity of the act establishing the capitol in such a place would bring the legislature, which had been for months quarreling over a location, to select some eligible site, the action was taken in dead earnest by the commissioners appointed to locate and construct it. They were heartily seconded by the pioneers in this section, and in the face of obstacles which most men would have deemed insuperable, they cut roads, cleaned squares, hauled lumber for finishing

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