COLLEGE EXPENSES IN THE SEVENTIES
George R. Harlow of the Class of 1878 has submitted to the editor of the MAGAZINE some interesting items of cost for his college course, 1874-1878, and, with his permission, some of these facts are given here for comparative purposes.
In an application for scholarship, some of the expenses for the year, March 1,1876-February 28, 1877 were shown to be as follows:
For board $135.01 For clothing 27.17 For travel 36.10 For room, fuel and lights 7.00
A note accompanying the last item states that the room rent was paid before March 1, $30 being then due for the room 'occupied. In making request for scholarship aid, the applicant also pledges himself to spend nothing for liquors, tobacco, billiards or dancing while receiving aid from the College.
In a letter of explanation, more detail is given regarding the limits of expense by the students of those days. To quote: I expended freshman year, including every article brought from home such as bedding, clothes and furniture, $546.85. Of this I spent $390.43 after arriving here (Hanover). Of this $395.43, $70 was received from my scholarship. I expended sophomore year, which includes the summer vacation between sophomore and junior years, $558.40. Of this, $70 was received from my scholarship. I hope to cut down my expenses this year SIOO. I think some are going through college on $1200 for the four years. Those who teach get from $20 a month and board to $75 a month without board. Some prefer to teach to staying here during the winter. But they lose about eight weeks. This is pretty easily made up but you don't learn much by it. The educational society helps only those who intend to be ministers. The boys now are receiving $75 a year from this source. Some earn by farming from $25 to $50 a month in summer and thus by teaching, scholarship, farming and the educational society pay expenses. Some earn large wages by canvassing. Those who sell their books after they use them don't spend as much as I do as I am saving mine. They buy secondhand and get about as much for them when they sell as they paid. I have just asked two fellows who have spent about as little as any I know and one spent $379, and the other $388 the first year. They say they spent less the second year. There are some helps which pay about $50 a year to those who do not teach, as taking care of recitation rooms, ringing the bell, monitorships, and assistant librarians. I guess one must have $500 beside what he can earn to go through. Some of the fellows are boarding themselves and they live quite well for $1.75 a week. I have paid about $3.25."
The following items from a detailed cash account are of interest as showing the requirements of a freshman in the seventies and the cost of staple articles:
1 sack overcoat, $25; 1 inside frock coat and vest, $12.50; 1 dressing gown, $10; 4 pairs pants, $17; 1 linen duster, 50c; 2 white woolen undershirts and drawers, $2.50; 4 pairs merino stockings, $2.50; 4 pairs woolen stockings, $4; 5 cotton shirts, old, $3.75; 7 pairs cuffs, old, 90c; 1 doz. handkerchiefs, $1.50; 3 bleached nightshirts, $3.50; 2 pairs suspenders, $1.25; 1 trunk, $5; 1 hair brush, $1.25; 1 nail brush, 75c; 1 broom brush, 20c; 1 blacking brush, 75c; 1 little broom, 20c; 1 umbrella, $2.00; 1 straw hat, $1.25; 1 felt hat, $1.25; 1 powder flask horn, 75c; 2 powder flasks tin $1.50; 1 double-barrelled shot gun; 1 package powder, 60c; 2 boxes caps, 10c; 5 lbs. shot, 60c; 1 knife, 70c, 1 watch, gift; 2 doz. brass-headed nails, 34c; 1 pair boots, calf, $8.50; 1 pair shoes, calf, $5; 1 pair shoes, old, $1; 1 pair slippers, $2; 1 pair rubbers, $1; 1 pair gloves, $1; 1 pair winter gloves with fur wrists, $1.50; 1 pair dogskin gloves, 50c; 4 boxes collars, $1; 1 feather bed, $5; 1 large comfortable, old, $3; 1 smaller comfortable, $3; 1 red and white spread, $1; 2 colored blankets, $4; 4 sheets, $3; 4 pillowcases, $1; 4 valances, $2; Muslin and green cambric for box, $1.50; 1 pillow, 50c; 2 red bordered woven towels, 66c; 6 plain crash towels, 84c; 1 red and white tidy; 4 napkins, 33c; 1 napkin ring.
