one tie, namely: practical educational work; and great as are the temptations to divert the strength of the Association from its legitimate field, the members have refrained from doing so, and by a concentration of effort, which otherwise might be easily squandered, have secured for the Association an influence which has grown steadily and quietly, and which should be jealously guarded and constantly increased by the faithful, loyal, and personal interest of every woman in its ranks.

It is significant that from the outset, the Association has laid special stress on the necessity for a sound physical basis for mental growth. The first paper presented before it was on Physical Education; and its first practical work was the publication of a circular tabulating the work done in physical education in the nine institutions then represented in the Association, pointing out deficiencies in their systems, and making suggestions: first, to parents; second, to governing bodies which grant degrees to women; and third, to women studying in those institutions.

The investigation made by the Association concerning the effect of college training on the health of women has attracted world-wide notice and all friends of the better education of women have rejoiced that the tendency of the testimony was that systematic mental training helps, not hinders, bodily health. The statistics gathered in this investigation brought out very clearly the significance, from the point of view of health, of the conditions of life during childhood and the years just preceding college life. The result has been that the Association has constantly given time and attention to some of the hindrances to the development of healthy bodies in growing school girls.

The emphasis which has been placed on the subject by the Association has undoubtedly been one of the factors which have led to great improvements both in the practical measures adopted by the institutions to secure a higher standard of health among their women students, and in the attitude of the public toward the problem. The tables prepared for the exhibit of the Association in the Department of Liberal Arts of the World's

Fair showed that many of the defects in the physical education of women which existed at the time at which the Association was organized had been removed; and the progress in this direction has been steadily going on. It is true, however, that only a beginning has been made; the work done by the Association in the past gives very clear evidence of what its duty and responsibility are in the future, in leading public sentiment and in devising practical ways and means of assisting experts who are giving time and thought, in their efforts to better the prevailing conditions.

There should be a standing committee in the Association and in each of its branches which should be charged with the duty of gathering facts and experiences which would be of use in devising better methods, and which should co-operate with the institutions whose efforts to develop physical vigor together with mental strength are progressive and sound. In untold ways the Association, both as a body and through its individual members, can aid in promoting measures which wise educational leaders have commended.

The study given to the conditions of school life have made very clear the fact that hand in hand with it should go a similar study of infancy and childhood. Under the able direction of some of the members, plans were formulated by which alumnæ who are interested could unite in the systematic study of the development of young children, with special reference to securing the best basis for later intellectual and physical life. A special committee having this matter in charge has had the active co-operation of eminent specialists.

It seems very desirable that even if the Association does not take further organized measures to conduct this study, it should keep the matter before the attention of its members and be ready to co-operate to the extent of its power with the separate organizations which have been formed for the purpose of child-study.

The second work which the Association undertook was the encouragement of graduate work and the promotion of higher

ideals of scholarship among women. Its practical efforts in this direction seemed at the outset rather radical; the tide of public opinion had not turned even in favor of collegiate work for women, and the opportunities for advanced study beyond the undergraduate courses were very limited. At the second meeting of the Association an outline of the post-graduate courses open to women in this country and abroad was presented, and, later, this report was distributed widely in print. At a time when the scholastic riches of our greatest universities are freely open to women, it is hardly credible that only fifteen years ago regular courses for the higher degrees and the holding of fellowships were almost impracticable for women. The Association has eagerly watched every new opening in this direction and has taken steps to encourage its members to make use of the new opportunities as they have arisen. A peculiarly important practical work in this direction has been the establishment of fellowships, and members of the Association must all feel great pride and pleasure in the fact that since 1890, they have annually given to two women possibilities for advanced study and research which a few years ago the wildest fancy could not have imagined. The influence of this work, not only upon the women who directly share its privileges, but upon womankind everywhere, is unbounded. It is impossible to make too strong an appeal to every member to see that the work is loyally sustained and enlarged during the years that are to come.

Under the auspices of the Branches, a large number of clubs for graduate study have been formed, and in some of them the quality of the work done has been so high as to receive recognition and be accepted as regular graduate work by some of our leading universities.

In uniting the members of different institutions for practical educational work, the founders of the Association had more or less clearly in mind not merely the possible good which might be accomplished in behalf of the general movement for the better education of women, but they had also the hope that the chance thus afforded for the interchange of views among

women from different institutions might result in increasing the intelligent loyalty and efficient service of each member for her own institution. The papers which have been given before the Association on Women's Gifts to Educational Institutions, Endowments and Needs of Women's Colleges, Work of Alumnæ for their Colleges, The Idea of the College, and Educational Progress in America, have shown members how they could most efficiently work in strengthening individual institutions. Moreover they have corroborated the observation and experience of nearly every member of the Association and have shown the importance of endeavoring to attract public attention to the financial needs of American colleges and universities. A glance at the list of institutions legally termed colleges, which is given in the report of the National Bureau of Education, or a slight knowledge of the statutes which exist in the different states regulating the authority to confer degrees is a sufficient proof that better colleges not more are needed. The committee on Endowment of Colleges has the difficult but important task of representing the Association in its desire to strengthen already existing institutions and to discourage the establishment of new institutions with inadequate endowment and unscholarly ideals. The duty and opportunity of the Association in this direction are very clear. Although the organized work of the committee has been very effective, there should be supplementary committees in the Branches, co-operating with it in the endeavor to prevent pernicious educational legislation, and to direct educational philanthrophy into the most effective channels, and such work, if well organized, needs individual attention from the members and a feeling of personal responsibility.

Another sphere of activity in which the Association has done valuable work has been the making known of new vocations affording useful employment and occupation for women. A long series of papers have been presented to the Association. whose aim has been to show that teaching is not the only occupation for women, which all women must enter regardless of their fitness and ability. The Association has a definite duty

and opportunity in joining in the effort to elevate the profession of teaching, and it can meet its obligation in no more effective manner than by making known to women other means of doing efficient service. The good results which come from the interchange of experience cannot be realized more fully than by extending and developing this phase of the Association's work.

Some years ago the Association established a Bureau of Collegiate Information, whose aim has been to gather material on the various topics allied to the education of women for the use of persons making investigations into the different phases of the subject. There is a great demand for studies which treat this subject from the point of view of fact rather than of theory, and not infrequently the Association has been able to give authentic and valuable information to investigators and writers both in this country and abroad. The co-operation of the members is constantly needed in supplying the Bureau with information of a definite character in order that its usefulness to inquiring correspondents may be increased. It is fitting that this Association should stand more and more as a recognized authority on all matters pertaining to the collegiate education of women, and if its voice is to be heard in these matters, it should certainly have at its command all the facts necessary to a sound judgment.

A valuable contribution by the Association to the sum of knowledge concerning the education of women has been the compilation of a Bibliography, recently published by the Trustrees of the Boston Public Library. Although this work was done chiefly by two or three members of the Association, nevertheless, many individual members contributed freely of their time and labor, towards gathering, recording, and classifying the bibliographical references relating to the education of women. The future usefulness of the volume will depend largely on the efforts put forth toward keeping it accurate and complete, and it seems as though nearly every member could contribute to this end.

Many members of the Association have observed during