LD 2164 
 I.A2 
 
 Copy 1 
 
 STUDENTS' EXPENSES 
 
 A COLLECTION OF LETTERS FROM UNDERGRADUATES, 
 
 GRADUATES, AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL STUDENTS, 
 
 DESCRIBING IN DETAIL THEIR NECESSARY 
 
 EXPENSES AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY; 
 
 WITH AN INTRODUCTION 
 
 By FRANK BOLLES, 
 
 Secretary of Harvard University. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS : 
 
 fl>ubii$beJ> b$ Ibarvarb 'Wmversit^ 
 
 1893. 
 
 / 
 
STUDENTS' EXPENSES. 
 
 A COLLECTION OF LETTERS FROM UNDERGRADUATES, 
 
 GRADUATES, AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL STUDENTS, 
 
 DESCRIBING IN DETAIL THEIR NECESSARY 
 
 EXPENSES AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY; 
 
 WITH AN INTRODUCTION 
 
 By FRANK BOLLES, 
 
 Secretary of Harvard University. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS : 
 
 Ipubliebefc b£ Ibarvarfc Tflnivereit^ 
 
 » » 
 
 1893. 
 
-All 
 
 NEW YOLr r . PUBL. LIBRo 
 IN EXCHANGE, 
 
STUDENTS' EXPENSES. 
 
 Nearly six years have passed since Professor George H. 
 Palmer, on Commencement Day, 1887, delivered his interesting 
 and convincing address on College Expenses at Harvard. 
 Securing his figures from the students themselves, he made 
 plain the fact that the individual expenditure of a quarter part 
 of the members of the class of 1887 had been less than $650 a 
 year ; and that, among those included in the group, several 
 were able to keep their outlays for an academic year down to, 
 or a little below, the modest sum of $450. His presentation of 
 the truth was so attractive to graduates who listened to him 
 that they at once arranged for the publication, not only of the 
 address but of nine octavo pages of extracts from the students' 
 letters upon which his summary was based. 
 
 After many thousands of copies of the address had been 
 distributed to the alumni, successive editions were printed for 
 the use of parents, students, and those wishing to become 
 connected with the University; and, until comparatively re- 
 cently, the " Palmer pamphlet " has been one of the most 
 useful and effective documents sent from the University Office. 
 
 Since 1887 many changes have taken place in College life, 
 and its surroundings. In 1886-87, the year in which Professor 
 Palmer gathered together his statistics, the total number of 
 students in the College was 1077 ; in November, 1892, it was 
 1600. In 1887, the whole University contained 1688 students, 
 exclusive of the 76 persons who took Summer courses ; at the 
 time the appended letters were written the total number of 
 students was 2966, not counting 500 persons who were 
 enrolled in the summer school of 1892. In 1887, only 650 men 
 were accommodated by the Dining Association in Memorial 
 Hall; in 1892, 1085 students found seats there. The average 
 price of board at the Hall in 1886-87 was $4.16| a week; in 
 1891-92, it had fallen to $3.98f a week. The Foxcroft Club 
 did not exist in 1887 ; in fact, it was not organized until 1889, 
 
its doors being opened to about sixty members in September of 
 that year. In December, 1892, it had 221 members, some of 
 whom, thanks to the a la carte system, paid as little as $2.00 a 
 week for their board. The present bill of fare of the Club is 
 as follows : — 
 
 PRICE-LIST OF THE FOXCROFT CLUB. 
 
 Hours for meals: Breakfast, 7.30-8.50; Lunch, 12.30-1.30; Dinner, 5.30-6.30. 
 Sunday: Breakfast, 8-9.30; Lunch, 12.30-1.30; Dinner, 5.30-6.30. 
 
 Tea 3 cts. 
 
 Coffee 3 " 
 
 Cocoa 3 " 
 
 Glass of Milk 2 
 
 Bowl of Milk 4 
 
 Butter 
 Cheese 
 
 1 ct. 
 1 " 
 
 Pies. 
 
 Apricot 5 cts. 
 
 Peach 5 " 
 
 Mince 5 " 
 
 Apple 5 " 
 
 Cranberry 5 " 
 
 White Bread (2 slices) . 
 Graham Bread (2 slices) 
 Corn Bread (1 piece) 
 Rolls (each) .... 
 Graham Gems (each) 
 Crackers (plate) . . . 
 
 Doughnuts 
 
 Gingerbread (1 piece) 
 Cookies (2) 
 
 Fruit. 
 
 Apples . 
 Bananas 
 Preserves 
 
 1 ct. 
 
 1 " 
 
 1 " 
 
 1 " 
 
 1 " 
 
 3 cts. 
 
 1 ct. 
 
 1 " 
 
 1 " 
 
 2 cts. 
 2 " 
 4 » 
 
 Breakfast and Lunch. 
 
 Oatmeal and Milk 4 cts. 
 
 Wheat and Milk 4 " 
 
 Hominy and Milk 4 " 
 
 Rice and Milk 4 " 
 
 Dry Toast 2 " 
 
 Buttered Toast 3 " 
 
 Cold Meats 10 " 
 
 Beefsteak (for breakfast) ... 10 " 
 
 Hot Potatoes 2 
 
 Baked Beans 4 
 
 Eggs (2) boiled (£ order \ price) 8 
 Eggs (2) dropped " " 
 
 Fried Eggs (2) " " 
 
 Eggs (2) on toast " 
 
 Egg Omelette 10 
 
 Soup (for lunch) 4 
 
 cts. 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 Dinner. 
 
 Fish 10 cts. Stew . . . 
 
 Roast Beef 10 " Potatoes . 
 
 " " \ order 7 " Vegetables 
 
 Roast Lamb 10 " Pudding . 
 
 Chicken or Turkey 10 " 
 
 1) cts. 
 
 2 " 
 
 3 " 
 
 4 " 
 
 Other dishes at the discretion of the Steward. 
 
 Fruit. 
 
 Vegetables. 
 
 Pudding. 
 
The "Twenty-One Club," described in several of the follow- 
 ing letters has also been formed recently, and although it does 
 not admit a large number of members, it is one of the active 
 forces in lowering the average of student expenses. The 
 Loan-Furniture Association besran work in 1890. Its ori^i- 
 nators were the same group of officers and students who 
 organized the Foxcroft Club, and in September, 1892, they had 
 succeeded in accumulating stock enough to furnish thirty 
 rooms wholly, and sixteen others in part. The annual charge 
 for a complete set of room furniture, including china, is 
 $5.00. 
 
 Since 1890 the Committee on the Reception of Students has 
 published at the opening of each year a list of rooms to be let 
 in private houses in Cambridge and its environs. The list has 
 described the rooms briefly and stated the exact rent asked. 
 This grouping of facts and figures has not only facilitated the 
 process of letting and hiring rooms, but it has tended to 
 establish uniformity and stability in rates, to the protection of 
 all concerned. By covering a large residence area the list has 
 extended competition and made rates more moderate than they 
 mio'kt otherwise have been. 
 
 At the time that Professor Palmer delivered his address, no 
 systematic help was given by the University officers to students 
 who wished to earn money during vacations or in their spare 
 hours through term-time. A few students, recognized as 
 competent tutors, left their names with the Dean of the 
 College, and were by him occasionally assisted in securing 
 private pupils. 
 
 In 1887—88, an employment bureau was established in the 
 University office, and all needy students, whether in the 
 College or the professional schools, were encouraged to seek 
 through this agency for opportunities to earn money. 
 Usually about two hundred names are carried on the list, 
 and every chance for employment which becomes known to 
 the Office is referred to one or more of the most promising 
 applicants. This system has not only utilized chances for 
 remunerative work, which might otherwise have been lost to 
 those seeking to earn money, but it has stimulated the demand 
 for helpers from among undergraduates. As the bureau ex- 
 
6 
 
 tends its services to those who are about to take decrees in 
 Arts and Sciences, and as it is able to secure permanent posi- 
 tions for the great majority of those who are graduated with 
 good standing, men of small means feel more confidence in 
 their future, and less dread of being unable to repay loans and 
 advances to those who are encouraging them in securing a 
 College education. The services of the bureau are of course 
 given without charge of any kind. 
 
 Not only have necessary expenses of certain kinds been 
 reduced and the earning power of students increased by the 
 agencies named, but the power of the University to apply 
 direct pecuniary aid to poor and worthy scholars of high rank 
 has been remarkably extended. In 1887, the University aid 
 funds yielded an annual sum for distribution of about $50,000 ; 
 now over $89,000 is assigned each year. 
 
 From these statements it appears that since Professor 
 Palmer collected his interesting figures from the class of 1887, 
 the minimum cost of living among strictly economical students 
 has been reduced in some of the most important items, viz : 
 board, lodging and furniture ; and that, on the other side of the 
 account, larger opportunities to earn money, directly by work 
 and indirectly by high scholarship, have been created.- The 
 letters which form the greater part of this pamphlet, fully 
 establish the reality of this change. They show that students 
 of the most intelligent kind are able to meet the expenses 
 of an academic year by a sum appreciably smaller than the 
 $450, which was the normal minimum in 1887. They also 
 show that corresponding changes have been made in the 
 outlay of students who are not as strictly economical as 
 those whose accounts define the present line of lowest 
 expenditure. 
 
 Professor Palmer said : — " Out of the two hundred, and 
 nineteen men who have replied, fifty-six, or about one quarter 
 of the class, have spent between $450 and $650 in each of the 
 four years of residence ; fifty-four, or again about a quarter, 
 have spent between $650 and $975 ; but sixty-one, hardly 
 more than a quarter, have spent a larger sum than $1200. 
 The smallest amount in any one year was $400 ; the largest, 
 $4000." 
 
The Secretary of the Class of 1891 published the following 
 figures in his report which appeared in 1892 : — 
 
 EXPENSES. 
 
 Amount. Men. 
 
 j / Below $500 25 
 
 I Boarded at home 14 
 
 2. $500-$700 49 
 
 3. $700-^1000 58 
 
 Above $1000 83 
 
 " $2000 11 
 
 3 
 
 The smallest amount in any one year was " $300-$400 " ; 
 the largest $4200. Apparently, out of the 243 members of the 
 class of 1891, whose answers are classified above, thirty-six per 
 cent passed through Harvard College upon an annual individual 
 outlay of less than $700. Fifty members of the class either did 
 not answer their secretary's questions, or replied in such a way 
 that their answers could not be clearly grouped. It is certain, 
 however, that between thirty and thirty-three per cent of the 
 entire class of 1891 expended, on an average, less than $700 a 
 year. Of the members of the class of 1887 about fifty per cent 
 lived on less than $1000 a year ; of the members of 1891 fifty- 
 six per cent lived on less than $1000. 
 
 While some of the statements made by Professor Palmer are 
 less applicable to the present than to 1887, others are as full of 
 force as when first uttered. He gave two pieces of advice, one 
 to parents, one to graduates. To parents with means he said : 
 " Give your son a competent allowance when you send him to 
 Harvard, and oblige him to stick to it. To learn calculation 
 will contribute as much to his equipment for life as any elective 
 study he can pursue ; and calculation he will not learn, unless, 
 after a little experience, you tell him precisely what sum he is 
 to receive. If, in a haphazard w^ay, you pour $2000 into his 
 pocket, then, in an equally haphazard way, $2000 will come out. 
 Whatever extravagance exists at Harvard to-day is the fault of 
 you foolish parents. The College, as a college, cannot stop 
 extravagance. It cannot take away a thousand dollars from 
 your son and tell him — what would be perfectly true — that 
 he will be better off with the remaining thousand ; that you 
 must do yourselves. And if you ask, r What is a competent 
 
8 
 
 allowance ? ' out of what my correspondents say I will frame 
 you five answers. If your son is something of an artist in 
 economy, he may live here on $600, or less ; he will require to 
 be an artist to accomplish it. If he will live closely, carefully, 
 yet with full regard to all that is required, he may do so, with 
 nearly half his class, on not more than $800. If you wish him 
 to live at ease and to obtain the many refinements which 
 money will purchase, give him $1000. Indeed, if I were a 
 very rich man, and had a boy whose character I could trust, so 
 that I could be sure that all he laid out would be laid out 
 wisely, I might add $200 more, for the purchase of books and 
 other appliances of delicate culture. But I should be sure that 
 every dollar I gave him over $1200 would be a dollar of 
 danger." 
 
 To graduates he said, after warning them not to advise 
 needy, dull, and commonplace youth to come here to strive for 
 prizes not within their power to win : " But whenever you 
 encounter a poor boy of eager, aggressive mind, a youth of 
 energy, one capable of feeling the enjoyment of struggling 
 with a multitude and of making his merit known, say to him 
 that Harvard College is expressly constituted for such as he. 
 Here he will find the largest provision for his needs and the 
 clearest field for his talents. Money is a power everywhere. 
 It is a power here ; but a power of far more restricted scope 
 than in the world at large. In this magnificent hall rich and 
 poor dine together daily. At the Union they debate together. 
 At the clubs which foster special interests . . . considerations 
 of money have no place. If the poor man is a man of muscle, 
 the athletic organizations will welcome him ; if a man skilled in 
 words, he will be made an editor of the college papers ; and if 
 he has the powers that fit him for such a place, the whole body 
 of his classmates will elect him Orator, Ivy Orator, Odist, or 
 Poet, without the slighest regard to whether his purse is full 
 or empty. The poor man, it is true, will not be chosen for 
 ornamental offices, for positions which imply an acquaintance 
 with etiquette, and he may be cut off from intimacy with the 
 frequenters of the ball-room and the opera ; but as he will 
 probably have little time or taste for these things, his loss will 
 not be large. In short, if he has anything in him, — has he 
 
9 
 
 scholarship, brains, wit, companionability, stout moral pur- 
 pose, or quiet Christian character, — his qualities will find as 
 prompt a recognition at Harvard as anywhere on earth." 
 
 Each of the forty men whose letters are here published was 
 requested by me to prepare, in his own way, a statement of 
 his necessary expenditures during the time of his residence in 
 Harvard University. I selected men who were well known to 
 me to be very poor, earnest, scholarly, eager to secure remu- 
 nerative work, and likely to be methodical and accurate in 
 money matters. Among them I chose representatives not only 
 of the undergraduate classes, but of the Graduate School and 
 the Divinity, Law and Medical Schools. Nine of the writers 
 attended other colleges before coming to Harvard, and were 
 able to make intelligent comparisons between expenses and 
 chances to earn money here and elsewhere. Although the 
 selection of the men was not influenced by their place of birth 
 or residence, examination of their registration record showed 
 that while nearly half of them have come from the New 
 England States, yet New York, Pennsylvania, the South, the 
 middle and far West, the Pacific Coast, Canada, Japan, and 
 two European nations are represented among them. The 
 fitting schools from which they have come, include most of the 
 large high schools and academies which annually send more 
 than eight or ten pupils to the College, but the majority of the 
 writers have come from small and widely scattered institutions. 
 As a rule, these men have been forced to devote too much time 
 to earning money to attain the very highest grade of academic 
 standing, yet few of them have records below the average. In 
 fact, the number of those having conspicuously high records is 
 greater than the number of those having poor grades, while 
 fully three quarters of the whole have taken, or will take, 
 degrees cum laude. As the letters themselves show, several of 
 these men have taken active part in athletic sports, and have 
 found time to enjoy other forms of undergraduate life. 
 
 As a rule, the letters, like their writers, have a cheerful tone, 
 showing that the student who lives economically is not neces- 
 sarily dreary, though he may have less of pleasure and ease 
 than many of his associates. The writers do not all agree fully 
 as to some necessary items of expense, but this diversity of 
 
10 
 
 opinion is in itself instructive, taken in connection with the 
 evident success of some of the men to economize where others 
 failed. I publish without modification all the letters sent to 
 me, whether they seem to be worthy examples of student- 
 writing and account-keeping, or only serviceable by way of 
 contrast. Their order is determined solely by their length, 
 but the last and longest letter is especially commended to the 
 careful attention of all who receive this pamphlet. It is a 
 simple, straightforward statement of one of the most remark- 
 able student histories of this generation of Harvard men. The 
 man who lived that life did far more than merely help himself. 
 
LETTERS. 
 
 Dee. 14, 1892. 
 
 ►♦- 
 
 Mr. Frank Bolles : 
 
 Dear Sir, — In reply to your request concerning College expenses 
 of last year, I herein give a statement of my own for 1891-92 : — 
 
 Room rent, fuel, etc $ 40.00 
 
 Board (private) 5 weeks 17.50 
 
 Board in Foxcroft Club, 35 weeks 60.27 
 
 Initiation fee in club 6.00 
 
 Clothing and washing 40.00 
 
 Books and stationery 15.00 
 
 Tuition 150.00 
 
 Laboratory fees 10.00 
 
 $338.77 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Cambridge, Nov. 7, 1892. 
 Mr. Bolles : 
 
 Dear Sir, — I trust you will excuse my dela}^ in responding to your 
 request. You will recall the fact that I was a student at the Medical 
 School last 3'ear, and had therefore fifty dollars more for tuition than 
 here in the College. This statement of expenses which* I append is 
 as nearly exact as an}'thing of the kind can be, and may help to dispel 
 some of the vague notions entertained b} 7 " many persons as to the 
 amount actually required to support a man at this College : — 
 
 For 1891-92. 
 
 Room rent, fuel, board and washing $116.00 
 
 Tuition (Medical School) 200.00 
 
 Books and stationery 16.00 
 
 Laboratory fee 5.00 
 
 $337.60 
 
 Though I went through the year on that sum, and will probably 
 not spend any more during the present year, I would not advise any 
 other person to make the attempt at quite so low a figure. From 
 $300 to $350 should, however, make a person quite comfortable. 
 
 Hoping this will be of some service to }'ou I am, 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
12 
 
 Harvard College, Nov. 1, 1892. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 In reply to your request, I am very glad to give an 
 account of my expenses as a student at Harvard. 
 
 I entered college two years ago with but $50. Being a Special 
 Student the first year, I received no assistance from the college, but 
 with $200 which I borrowed, and with what I earned here during the 
 year, I was able to pa}' my expenses. Last 3-ear I received a schol- 
 arship of $150, and with what I earned it was nearly sufficient. My 
 expenses for last year were as follows : — 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Board at Memorial Hall 140.00 
 
 Furnished room 60.00 
 
 Books and stationery 14.00 
 
 Clothes and washing 46.00 
 
 Total $410.00 
 
 I wish to say that with this amount I can live very comfortably 
 
 here. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Dec. 3, 1892. 
 My dear Mr. Bolles : — 
 
 Your kind letter asking me about my last year at 
 college at hand. In reply, I would say that, on looking over my 
 accounts, I find that my expenses, exclusive of travelling expenses 
 and washing, which I sent home, were about $475. For this amount 
 I had all that was requisite for comfort and respectability, but none 
 of those things which are elements only of luxury or waste. 
 
 Perhaps a detailed account would be of interest, and I take the 
 liberty to offer it to you. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Room, fuel and light 80.00 
 
 Board (at Foxcroft Club) 105.00 
 
 " (at restaurants) 16.00 
 
 Theatres and amusements 9.00 
 
 Society fees 9.00 
 
 Books and stationery 20.00 
 
 Clothes 50.00 
 
 Sundries . 36 00 
 
 $475.00 
 Very respectfully yours, 
 
13 
 
 Harvard University, Nov. 5, 1892. 
 Dear Sir, — 
 
 In compliance with your request, I wish to make the 
 following statement. My expenses for the past year (and I have 
 not underestimated any of the items) were : — 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Room rent, fuel, attendance, etc 50.00 
 
 Board (Foxcroft, etc.) . . . . 110.00 
 
 Books, stationery, etc 15.00 
 
 Washing, etc 10.00 
 
 Other expenses 35.00 
 
 Total $370.00 
 
 When I came here a year ago I had altogether only $150. I have 
 now entered on my second year's work, and have a good prospect 
 of meeting my expenses for this year with what assistance I can get 
 here. They will be somewhat higher on account of clothing, as the 
 amount I spent while here last year was insignificant. The past 
 year's experience clearly shows that I can get along here much more 
 
 cheaply than at College ; and I am convinced that any 
 
 good student can live as cheaply here as an} T where, if not more 
 
 cheaply. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Cambridge, Nov. 4, 1892. 
 My Dear Mr. Bolles : — 
 
 I am very glad to comply with your request by send- 
 ing you a table of my average necessary expenses for four years. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Room, fuel, light 75.00 
 
 Board . 190.00 
 
 Books 20.00 
 
 Sundries 30.00 
 
 $465.00 
 Although the annual expenses are a trifle higher at Harvard than at 
 some American colleges, I regard the extraordinarily greater chances 
 for making money here as more than an offset. Our scholarships 
 average much more ; there is better opportunity to get private tutor- 
 ing, newspaper work, etc., and the interest taken by the university 
 officers in needy and deserving students is decidedly warm. This 
 last is a point I would put special emphasis on. 
 
 If there is anything more I can tell you I should be glad to do so. 
 I am, 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
14 
 
 Cambridge, Dec. 9, 1892. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 This is my fourth }*ear in the College. In the first 
 
 two years I lived in Boston earning my living by teaching a private 
 school. Finding my work too hard, however, I gave up the school, 
 and in the third year I came to live in Cambridge, giving private 
 lessons in German to students in the College. The income, however, 
 not being sufficient to cover all my expenses, I borrowed some money 
 from friends, with the understanding that I should refund it at my 
 earliest convenience. This year I am officiating in a small congre- 
 gation, and am living comfortably. 
 
 My average expenses throughout all the time were $425 for the 
 College year : — 
 
 Koom rent, fuel and light $45.00 
 
 Board, Foxcroft Club (40 weeks) 140.00 
 
 Clothing, including washing 50.00 
 
 Books and stationery 20.00 
 
 Tuition, 150.00 
 
 Sundry expenses 20.00 
 
 $425.00 
 
 If 3 r ou wish to find out anything else of me I shall gladly be at 
 
 your service. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 2, 1892. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 When I came to College last year, a Freshman, I 
 was under the impression, from what people had told me, that it 
 would cost me at least six or seven hundred dollars a }*ear to live. 
 But I have found that I can live as cheaply here as anywhere else. 
 Following are my expenses for the academic }*ear 1891-92 : — 
 
 Room rent (including heat and light) $100.00 
 
 Board at Foxcroft Club 98.76 
 
 Books and stationery 15 00 
 
 Clothing and washing 65.00 
 
 Tuition 150.00 
 
 Laboratory fee 2.50 
 
 Sundry (necessary) expenses 10 00 
 
 Total $441.26 
 
 I might have saved fifty dollars had I chosen to share my room 
 with some other student, thus reducing my total expenses to $391.26. 
 
 I should like to add that with the assistance I am receiving from 
 Harvard, I am enabled to work my way through College without 
 difficulty. 
 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
15 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 1, 1892. 
 Mr. Bolles : 
 
 Dear Sir, — The total expenses of my freshman year, 1891-92, 
 were under $400. The figures given below of necessaiy expenditures 
 are nearh* accurate : — 
 
 Tuition • $150.00 
 
 Board at Foxcroft 70.00 
 
 Room, fuel, etc 30.00 
 
 Books and stationery 15.00 
 
 Car fare 35.00 
 
 Clothing 60.00 
 
 Furniture • ... 15.00 
 
 $375.00 
 
 As I live only eight miles from Cambridge, I went home on an 
 average twice a week. Thus my car-fare is an important item and 
 my board correspondingly less. 
 
 I was fortunate in drawing a good, low-priced college room, and 
 also in having my general laundry work done at home. 
 
 The amount of assistance which I received from the College, 
 together with what I earned during the year and the following 
 summer, would cover my entire expenses. I do not see why this 
 should not prove true in the case of another student, even if he came 
 from a distance. 
 
 Ver3 r truly yours, 
 
 Cambridge, Oct. 31, 1892. 
 Dear Sir, — 
 
 With regard to the subject of expenses at Harvard, 
 perhaps I cannot speak so much to the point as some whose expenses 
 were kept within a less elastic limit than were mine last year. I had 
 borrowed rather more than I needed, and was not quite so economical 
 as I might have been, — possibly less so even than I ought to have 
 been. Roughly, I spent during the }'ear five hundred and fifty 
 dollars, including some clothing, a good many more books than were 
 immediately necessary, board, tuition, room-rent at eighty dollars 
 (covering light, fuel and furniture), street car fares, and all sundries 
 The sundries, by the way, especially the small ones, have a peculiar 
 faculty of making off with money, and need to be watched most 
 sharply. 
 
 With a moderate jealousy of small expenses (everyone looks after 
 the large ones) it is easily possible to live here on five hundred 
 dollars a year, and be comfortably lodged and fed. Further, leaving 
 
16 
 
 out of consideration the many scholarships awarded to good students, 
 I believe that very few men whose work will bear inspection do not 
 have an opportunity to at least help themselves to a considerable 
 extent during the year. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 14, 1892. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 In answer to your inquiry regarding my College 
 expenses during the past year, let me say that the following is an 
 accurate account of all my College expenses for the year 1891-92 : — 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Room rent 25.00 
 
 Board 135.00 
 
 Books and stationery 30.00 
 
 Washing and mending 18.00 
 
 Fuel and light • .... 18.75 
 
 Laboratory fees 7.50 
 
 Clothing . . . - 50.00 
 
 Sundries 25.00 
 
 Furniture 35.00 
 
 Total $494.25 
 
 It remains to be said that I lived very comfortably indeed on this 
 amount, that my room, though very reasonable, is a College *oom, 
 and not a minute's walk from the College yard. 
 
 The total footing would be $26.25 less, or $468, if I had appor- 
 tioned the expense of my furniture in equal amounts for each year ; 
 so that the last figures are more nearly my actual yearly expense. 
 
 I would like to add that I know several men in College who, to my 
 certain knowledge, got through last year considerably less than I did. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Nov. 1, 1892. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 I entered the Divinity School of the University a little 
 
 over two years ago. When I came here then, I had only about a 
 hundred dollars in my possession, and so was not without some 
 misgiving as regards the continuance of my stud}' here, at the School. 
 But with the aid of a scholarship, which was worth three hundred 
 dollars a year, and occasional income from such sources as lecturing, 
 writing for papers, and tutoring, I was enabled to get along without 
 giving much trouble to any one but myself. 
 
17 
 
 The necessary expenses for the past two years were somewhat as 
 
 follows : — 
 
 1890-91. 
 
 Tuition $50.00 
 
 Room rent, fuel, etc 50.00 
 
 Board at Foxcroft 115.00 
 
 Washing 15.00 
 
 Clothing 50.00 
 
 Books and stationery 35.00 
 
 $315.00 
 1891-92. 
 
 Tuition $50.00 
 
 Room rent 50.00 
 
 Fuel and furniture 45.00 
 
 Board at Foxcroft 115.00 
 
 Clothing and washing 25.00 
 
 Books and stationery 35.00 
 
 $320.00 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Cambridge, Nov. 10, 1892. 
 Frank Bolles, Esq., Secretary Harvard University : 
 
 Dear Sir, — Pardon me for neglecting to answer your letter of 
 Oct. 26th, before this. I enclose a statement of my expenses for last 
 year, which I hope will do something to correct the impression which 
 prevails in the West and South. I should be glad to correspond with 
 any persons interested, in regard to a student's necessary expenses 
 in Harvard. 
 
 My College expenses for the year 1891-92 were as follows (I give 
 the exact amounts spent in the different ways specified) : — 
 
 Room rent, furniture, fuel and light $63.65 
 
 Board (Foxcroft Club) • . 105.38 
 
 Clothing and washing 60.53 
 
 Books and stationery 38.83 
 
 Tuition 150.00 
 
 Incidentals 40.30 
 
 Total ■ $458.69 
 
 This includes all the money I paid out from the day I came to 
 
 Cambridge until I left for the summer. I see no reason why any 
 
 student could not live comfortably on the same amount. 
 
 I may add that last j'ear I earned over $150 by typewriting, and 
 
 from my own experience can say that any student who can do work 
 
 of this kind can get all he wants to do, and thus materially reduce 
 
 his expenses. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
18 
 
 Cambridge, Mass, Nov. 10, 1892. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 In reply to your request I would state that my ex- 
 penses for the last three years have been as follows : — 
 
 1889-90. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Room rent and fuel 60.00 
 
 Board at Foxcroft 70.00 
 
 Clothing, books, etc 50.00 
 
 1330.00 
 1890-91 and 1891-92. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Room rent and fuel 35.00 
 
 Board at Foxcroft , 75.00 
 
 Books 15.00 
 
 Clothing, etc 50.00 
 
 $325.00 
 
 I have recorded here only those expenses which were necessary. 
 The figures given for the year 1889-90 however, represent the actual 
 amount spent. I came to Harvard with about $75 in my pocket. I 
 had hardly a friend in the place. At that time I had no expectations 
 of remaining more than one year ; but I soon obtained assistance and 
 work which enabled me to stay. From my own experience I know 
 that a man can live well here on $400 a year. 
 
 I should be very glad to correspond with any one in regard to 
 expenses at Harvard. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 4, 1892. 
 Dear Sir, — 
 
 In response to your inquiry concerning my expenses 
 last year I give the following statement : — 
 
 Board at Memorial Hall and the Foxcroft Club . . $140.00 
 
 Tuition 150.00 
 
 Room rent 120.00 
 
 Clothing and washing 50.00 
 
 Books, stationery, etc 44.00 
 
 Total $504.00 
 
 These are the figures in round numbers. I am quite sure that I did 
 not spend more than $504 for the very simple reason that I did not 
 have more. At the end of the College year I found to my great 
 
19 
 
 surprise that I got out just even, no debts and nothing in my pocket. 
 
 During the summer I went to where I had been preaching 
 
 four years before I came to Harvard, and earned by tutoring in 
 German a little less than my expenses. 
 
 I just wish to make one remark concerning my room last year. I 
 had for a few weeks before College opened a room that cost me $1.50 
 a week. It was a nice little room in the attic and I could have had it 
 for $60 for the academic year. But I wished to have a room on the 
 first floor and rented one in the same house for $120. The room in 
 the attic was immediately let to another student who kept it for the 
 whole year. If I had kept the attic room my expenses would have 
 been less of course by $60. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 Cambridge, 1 November, 1892. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 My expenses during three years at college have been 
 as follows : — 
 
 1889-90. 1890-91. 1891-92. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 $150.00 $150.00 
 
 Laboratory fees 12.21 59.84 67.23 
 
 Rent, fuel and light 36.00 36.00 45.00 
 
 Furniture 28.30 21.00 20.00 
 
 Books and stationery 18.00 25.00 20.00 
 
 Clothes 50.00 50.00 30.00 
 
 Board 133.00 141.00 142.00 
 
 $427.51 $482.84 $474.23 
 
 Deduct laboratory fees .... 12.21 59.84 67.23 
 
 $415.30 $423.00 $407.00 
 
 During 1889-90 I boarded at various places including the Foxcroffc 
 Club and several of the cheaper boarding houses. During the past 
 two years I have boarded at Memorial Hall. About 30 cents per 
 week should be added for board during these years to compensate for 
 Sunday allowance. My washing has been done at home so there is 
 no account for that. The totals given do not appear at first sight to 
 be very uniform but on deducting the amount paid for laboratory fees 
 something approaching uniformity appears. 
 
 I shall be very glad to correspond with any person you may wish to 
 refer to me. 
 
 Very truly, 
 
20 
 
 Harvard University, Nov. 4, 1892. 
 Dear Sir, — 
 
 I give below an exact estimate, or as nearly exact as 
 
 possible, of my expenses for the past three college 3'ears. 
 
 1889-90. 1890-91. 1891-92. 
 
 Room rent, fuel, etc $85.00 $55.00 $100.00 
 
 Board, private 140.00 
 
 " " and at Foxcroft 141.50 
 
 at Memorial Hall . . . 153.00 
 
 Clothing and washing . : . . . 60.00 80.00 60.00 
 
 Books and stationery 12.00 10.00 7.00 
 
 Tuition 150.00 150.00 150.00 
 
 Total $447.00 $436.50 $470.00 
 
 I have found the above sums to be amply sufficient to pay all my 
 necessary expenses. If I had taken a room in some one of the 
 college buildings, and shared the expense with a room-mate, I might 
 have reduced my expenses by from $30 to $60 a year. I would also 
 state that I am sure that a student of good ability can, with the 
 assistance offered by the College and by private tutoring or other 
 remunerative labor, pass four years at Harvard with little or no 
 expense to himself. In fact I know, personally, a student who, last 
 year (1891-92), earned by private tutoring alone more mone}^ than I 
 have spent in any one of my college years. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Cambridge, Dec. 17, 1892. 
 Mr. Frank Bolles : — 
 
 Dear Sir, — In reply to your request, I give below a statement of 
 my College expenses for the College year 1891-92 : — 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Board 91.00 
 
 Room (including heat only) 50.00 
 
 Furniture 60.00 
 
 Clothing 35.00 
 
 Books and stationery 16.00 
 
 Laundry 10.00 
 
 Sundries 30.00 
 
 Total $442.00 
 
 My expenses this year will be considerably less for two reasons : 
 first, because I had to spend $60 in furnishing my room last year, 
 and the furniture will last me until I graduate ; and secondly, because 
 I am sharing the expense of a college room with a roommate. 
 
21 
 
 I boarded at the Twenty-One Club last year, and got first rate board 
 for $2.50 per week. I was so well pleased with the board that I am 
 boarding at the same club this year. 
 
 Trusting that this letter will give you the desired information, I 
 
 remain, 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Cambridge, Nov. 17, 1892. 
 Mr. Bolles : 
 
 Dear Sir, — Below I give you an account of my expenses during 
 the two years I have been at college. 
 
 1890-91. 1891-92. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 $150.00 
 
 Books and stationery 17.00 18.00 
 
 Board (at Foxcroft Club) 70.00 72.00 
 
 Furniture 20.00 
 
 Fuel and light 11.00 13.00 
 
 Rent and care of room (College building) . . 30.00 30.00 
 
 Clothing and washing (about) 50.00 50.00 
 
 Total $348.00 $333.00 
 
 The above is a fairly accurate statement, certainly not an under 
 statement. It includes only necessary expenses. 
 
 On entering college, I had about $100. All the rest which I have 
 spent, with the exception of $90, I have either earned since that time 
 or received from the College. 
 
 Judging from my experience and from the experience of friends, I 
 
 think I can truly say that no man with fair ability and willingness to 
 
 work is ever compelled to leave Harvard College on account of lack 
 
 of means. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Dec. 11, 1892. 
 Dear Mr. Bolles : — 
 
 Before I came to Cambridge, I had been 
 promised $200 Price Greenleaf aid. When I entered, in September, 
 1889, I had less than $20. During the course of my first }"ear, I 
 found that I could not pay my expenses, and consequently the 
 Facutty raised my grant of Price Greenleaf Aid to $250. In my 
 Sophomore, Junior, and this (my Senior) 3'ear, I have been awarded 
 scholarships of $300 each. My teachers and the College officers have 
 kindl}' thrown into my hands manj r opportunities for making money, 
 and I have found not a few chances for professional (chemical) 
 work. 
 
22 
 
 I have no exact record of my expenses during my first year, those 
 of my Sophomore and Junior classes being given below : — 
 
 College Expenses. 
 
 1890-91. 1891-91. 
 
 Rent $50.00 $50.00 
 
 Board 59.00 61.99 
 
 Tuition and laboratory fees 223.00 196.62 
 
 Washing and lights 14.00 8.04 
 
 Books .... 12.00 4.50 
 
 Stationery and postage 4.00 3.81 
 
 Clothing, shoes, sundries, etc 28.00 6.20 
 
 Theatre tickets, tobacco, confectionery, etc. . 15.00 2.43 
 
 Scientific apparatus 20.00 17.35 
 
 Religious and charitable 17.00 5.00 
 
 $442.00 $355.94 
 
 I have included what was actually spent while irvCambridge (e. g. r 
 board during recesses), but have omitted such items as travelling 
 expenses and clothing purchased during the summer vacation. My 
 expenses would have been less if I had not elected courses in 
 which the laboratory fees are large. 
 
 A poor student's berth is not exactly a bed of roses, but I know 
 that a sober-minded, industrious man can study in Harvard College, 
 and not only exist, but have an enjoyable time, on $400 a year. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 1, 1892. 
 Mr. Frank Bolles : 
 
 Dear Sir, — In reply to your circular, I have prepared the following 
 statement taken from my expense account for the term 1891-92. 
 
 Room, light and fuel $105.00 
 
 Tuition 150.00 
 
 Laboratory fees 56.18 
 
 Board (Foxcroft) 69.26 
 
 Clothing 53.55 
 
 Books and stationery 12.75 
 
 Car fare . 7.85 
 
 Furniture 48.70 
 
 Miscellaneous 15.22 
 
 $518.51 
 
 The reason my board bill is so low is partly due to the fact that I 
 would go to my home in Boston for my meals whenever I could spare 
 the time. 
 
23 
 
 I room alone, and so my rent and furniture items are a good deal 
 higher than what they would otherwise be. I think, though, that it 
 is very difficult for a stranger to get a habitable room in the near 
 vicinity of Harvard College for less than $100. I know I tried nry 
 first two years to get one and did not succeed. It was no uncommon 
 occurrence for a landlord to ask $150 for a room which was little 
 more than a good-sized bed room. This matter of a cheap room is, 
 in my opinion, the only statement in the Catalogue which is wide of 
 the truth. With a cheap room, a student can get along on $500. If 
 he is not of a saving disposition, he had better count on $600 for his 
 annual expenditure. That sum is sufficient for any one who comes 
 to Harvard with an honest desire to study. 
 
 I shall gladly answer any further questions you ma} r care to ask me 
 in regard to my expenses for the past year, my first one away from 
 home. 
 
 Very truly }'ours, 
 
 Harvard University, Cambridge, Dec. 17, 1892. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 In answer to your request for statements regarding 
 my College expenses I have made out tables showing my College 
 expenses for the past two years. I have not included clothing, 
 washing, or travelling expenses. I was not able in some few items 
 to give exact figures, but have made a liberal estimate in such 
 cases : — 
 
 1890-91. 1891-92. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 $150,00 
 
 Board (38 weeks) 89.50 
 
 (39 weeks) . . • 94.00 
 
 Fuel and light 12.33 10.50 
 
 Room 37.50 50.00 
 
 Books and stationery 19.00 11.50 
 
 Gymnasium, suit, locker, etc 4.75 
 
 Laboratory fee 5.00 
 
 Furniture (annual average) 7.75 7.75 
 
 Incidentals 8.00 12.00 
 
 $328.83 $340.75 
 
 During my first year I received $225 from sources outside the 
 College ; during my second about $50. All my other expenses were 
 met by aid from the College, and by my own efforts. 
 
24 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Dec. 3, 1892. 
 Mr. Frank Bolles : 
 
 Dear Sir, — Here is a correct account of what I have spent on 
 necessities during the College year of 1891-92 : — 
 
 Room rent (for a furnished room) and fuel at $8.00 
 
 per month $70.00 
 
 Board at $3.50 per week 122.50 
 
 Clothing and washing 35.00 
 
 Books and stationery . . • 15.00 
 
 Locker in Gymnasium 2.00 
 
 Laboratory fees 12.00 
 
 Tuition 150.00 
 
 $406.50 
 
 Let me add also the following : I am entirely self-supporting, and 
 receive no pecuniary aid either from parents or relatives. On account 
 of my good work at the preparatory school, the Principal had recom- 
 mended me to the Faculty of Harvard College as a deserving young 
 man. In consequence, the Faculty gave me, during my first College 
 year, a Price Greenleaf aid of $250 ; during the second year I had a 
 scholarship of $200, and now, in my third } T ear, I have one of $300. 
 Besides this help, the Instructors have put in my way so much 
 remunerative teaching and tutoring that I easily pay all my expenses 
 and allow myself many a luxury. I can therefore make the true 
 statement that for a 3'oung man of average abilities, but with 
 determination, Harvard College is a very good place to get a liberal 
 education at a very small expense. 
 
 I shall be glad to give a more detailed statement to any person 
 
 that may desire it. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Cambridge, Nov. 10, 1892. 
 Dear Sir, — - 
 
 I entered Harvard two years ago. I have been 
 enabled to get along cheaply for several reasons : I send my washing 
 home every week ; I have boarded at the Foxcroft Club and my 
 board-bill has averaged $2.50 a week ever since I have been in 
 Cambridge ; I have burned kerosene and astral oil instead of gas ; I 
 have used a stove instead of an open-grate, thereby saving over one- 
 half the cost of keeping a grate ; a friend shared a $50 room with me ; 
 and I have bought only such books as I absolutely needed, making 
 use of the College library for the rest. I cannot tell exactly what 
 my clothes have cost me, but I am confident that I have spent no 
 
25 
 
 more upon them than any young man who dresses respectably and 
 works in an office or business house. My actual necessary expenses 
 have been as follows : — 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Board 90.00 
 
 Books and stationery 15.00 
 
 Coal and wood 6.00 
 
 Oil 3.00 
 
 Room rent 25.00 
 
 Stove 5.00 
 
 Carpet 6.00 
 
 Furniture, bedding, etc 8.00 
 
 $308.00 
 
 In 1891-92 nry expenses were inside of $300. It may perhaps be 
 well to add that during the past two summers I have earned enough 
 to pay the third term bill of each college year, and have been obliged 
 to borrow only about $350. I have been able to earn considerable 
 ready mone} r during the college year by doing office work. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Harvard College, Dec. 17, 1892. 
 My Dear Me. Bolles, — 
 
 It gives me great pleasure to answer your inquiry as 
 to my expenses at Harvard College, and also to correct the false 
 impression, which commonly prevails, that expenses are high. I 
 have roomed at a private house since I have been here and find that 
 it is very pleasant. 
 
 I have tried boarding in several ways and find the best way is to 
 have a club, managed by the students. This not only reduces the 
 cost of living but also brings the students together in a more friendly 
 way than could otherwise be obtained. The food is good and health- 
 ful, there is plenty of it and the price of board is very moderate, being 
 only two dollars and fifty cents per week. 
 
 During the 3 T ear 1890-91 my necessary expenses were as follows : — 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Rent of room, fuel, etc 40.00 
 
 Books, stationery, etc • 25.00 
 
 Washing, clothing, etc 35.00 
 
 Board at Foxcroft Club (10 weeks) 25.00 
 
 " private 15.00 
 
 " at club 60.00 
 
 Total $350.00 
 
26 
 
 During the year 1891-82 my necessary expenses were as follows : — 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Rent of room, fuel, etc 60.00 
 
 Washing, clothing, etc 25.00 
 
 Books, stationery, etc 20.00 
 
 Board at club 100.00 
 
 Total expenses $355.00 
 
 My expenses I had to estimate as I have lost my account book, 
 but as I know how much money I spent each year, I estimated my 
 expenses very liberally and somewhat above what I had actually 
 spent. I shall be glad to correspond with anyone desiring to know 
 more about it. I am, 
 
 Very truly, 
 
 •> 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Dec. 12, 1892. 
 Mr. Bolles, Secretary Harvard University : 
 
 Dear Sir, — My expenses for the Freshman and Sophomore years 
 were as follows : — 
 
 Freshman year. Sophomore year. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 $150.00 
 
 Board (first year earned by waiting on table) 84.00 
 
 Room 45.00 55.00 
 
 Fuel . 7.00 10.00 
 
 Other expenses 80.00 82.00 
 
 Total $282.00 $381.00 
 
 During my Junior year, my family lived in Cambridge, so that it 
 would be impossible to separate my own expenses. 
 
 Harvard is the best place for the poor student to come to. I have 
 had considerable acquaintance with other colleges, and do not believe 
 that at the so-called cheap colleges a man can get through with less 
 money than here. Board is cheaper here and room rent but little 
 higher. 
 
 The chief advantage to the poor man is not that expenses are so 
 low, but that there are such varied ways to pay those expenses. I 
 feel no hesitation in saying that a bright scholar or a shrewd business 
 fellow can entirely pay his expenses at Harvard ; but it is no place 
 for a poor scholar or a lazy man. I have made money by waiting on 
 table, teaching night-school, tutoring, singing, and by at least a 
 dozen other business schemes. The College has also granted me 
 scholarships and other aids. A good scholar can nearly always get 
 sufficient from the College to at least pay his tuition. With a fairly 
 
27 
 
 wide acquaintance among college men, I know of only one able 
 student who has left college for lack of means. 
 
 Neither do I believe that mine is an isolated experience. I know 
 a large number of men whose expenses are less than $400 per year, 
 and who are paying that in part or entirely by their own efforts and 
 College help. 
 
 In regard to expenses as well as in many other matters, I think 
 
 that Harvard has been subject to the most unfair misrepresentation, 
 
 especially in the West and South. I feel that it is a duty to Alma 
 
 Mater and to those seeking a higher education to correct these false 
 
 ideas. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 Harvard College, Dec. 8, 1892. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 In reply to your letter asking for a statement of my 
 college expenses, I would state that m} r expenses for the past two 
 college years have been as follows. I record all expenses except 
 washing. 
 
 Expenses. 1890-1891. Receipts. 
 
 Tuition . . $150.00 From Price Greenleaf Aid . $250.00 
 
 Board at Memorial 137.00 For services rendered in Bo- 
 Room 30.00 tanical Department . . . 70.00 
 
 Fuel, light, etc 8.38 $320.00 
 
 Furniture 14.42 
 
 Books, stationery 11.18 
 
 Clothing 42.85 
 
 Car fares 11.17 
 
 Sundries 8.00 
 
 Laboratory fees 16.33 
 
 $429.33 
 
 Expenses. 1891-1892. Receipts. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 From College $50.00 
 
 Board at Memorial 156.21 " Harvard Dining Asso- 
 
 Room ...- 30.00 ciation for clerical services 141.27 
 
 Fuel and light 3.10 $191.27 
 
 Furniture 9.30 
 
 Books and stationery . . . . 14.70 
 
 Clothing 37.35 
 
 Carfares 9.80 
 
 Sundries 4.26 
 
 Laboratory fees 7.00 
 
 $421.72 
 
28 
 
 These figures show that I had to raise outside of college $109.33 in 
 
 my first }*ear, $230.45 in my second year, a total of $339.78 for two 
 
 years. Of this $339.78, I was able to pay $185 with money earned 
 
 during the two summers ; was thus in debt $254.78 for two years' life 
 
 at Harvard. 
 
 I am yours truly, 
 
 Cambridge, Dec. 3, 1892. 
 Frank Bolles, Esq., Secretary of Harvard University : 
 
 Dear Sir. — In answer to your request, I would state that my 
 expenses during the past two College years have been as below. I 
 include, of course, only the necessary outlays : — 
 
 1890-91. 1891-92. 
 
 Room rent, fuel, light, etc $55.00 $45.00 
 
 Board (7i months at Foxcroft Club) .... 87.03 
 
 " at Memorial (5 weeks) 20 50 
 
 " at Memorial (all year) 134.81 
 
 Clothing, etc 40.00 60.00 
 
 Books and stationery 15.00 10.00 
 
 Tuition 150.00 150.00 
 
 $367.53 $399.81 
 
 During the year 1890-91 I received from the College a scholarship 
 of $250. 
 
 My washing was done at home, and I saved $18 in board by 
 going home Sundays. Last year also I received a scholarship of 
 $250. 
 
 I entered College to take my chances, feeling sure if I did not make 
 a start nrvself, no one would give it to me. A kind friend encour- 
 aged me to go on, for my father was unable to help me materially. 
 The first } T ear I thoroughly enjoyed my College life in a moderate 
 wa}^, and yet the money I actually paid out was $367.53 less $250, 
 i. e. $117.53. During the summer I earned $62 on little things, and 
 had a good time to boot. 
 
 During the fall of 1891, I worked for the Boston Gas Co. as 
 meter reader about three days every month, and for those three 
 days made on an average $9, which kept me in money for incidental 
 expenses. 
 
 As besides this, I took six courses and the prescribed English, I 
 had no time for other work. I think I have enjoyed College life as 
 well as the average man in College for ve^ little money, and see no 
 reason why any sturdj', active .young man can not only " get along" 
 but "get along" well at College, provided he faithfully applies 
 
29 
 
 himself so as to receive aid from the College, and besides makes use 
 of the opportunities that thrust themselves in his way. 
 
 This year I intend to tutor somewhat, and expect to make money 
 enough to supply all my wants with slight assistance from home. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Harvard University, December 14, 1892. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 With seven hundred and fifty odd dollars in pocket 
 I began my College course of four years. During my first year I 
 lived in one of the rural districts near Cambridge, in order to live 
 more cheaply. At the same time I offset part of my expenses by 
 looking after the furnace in the house morning and evening. My 
 expenses for the year were as follows : — 
 
 Car fares #24.00 
 
 Board, room, washing, etc 97.00 
 
 Books and stationery 15.00 
 
 Tuition 150.00 
 
 Laboratory fees and breakage 17.36 
 
 Clothing 40.00 
 
 $313.36 
 
 The amounts given for books, stationery-, clothing and car fare 
 are not exact, but are not below amounts expended. 
 
 The following summer, in order to get refreshed and to strengthen 
 my physical condition for another year's work, I worked at gardening. 
 
 Fresh for another year's work, I took rooms in Cambridge. Again, 
 as the year before, I tended the furnace in the house where I roomed 
 for my board, room and fuel. My other expenses were nearly the 
 same as the } T ear before. 
 
 Washing and clothing $55.50 
 
 Books and stationery 10.00 
 
 Tuition 150.00 
 
 Laboratory fees and breakage 24.49 
 
 $239.99 
 
 Here again, the amounts given for washing and clothing, books, 
 and stationery, are not exact. The following summer I followed the 
 same line of work as the year before — earning each summer more 
 than enough to pay one-half of my tuition for that year. 
 
 This year I intend to work on a new plan — tutoring — in order to 
 make my way. 
 
30 
 
 From my statements anyone can see that a student, faithful and 
 willing to work, can get along at Harvard on less than four hundred 
 dollars a year, and that a student with moderate means can get along 
 comfortably on, say, four hundred and fifty to five hundred dollars,. 
 But one may say " he has the inside track, — acquainted with the 
 place and ways by which to get something to do." Be that as it 
 may, I can assure any student that, with the present arrangement at 
 Harvard University, he can get work of some form or other to do. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Cambridge, Oct. 31, 1892. 
 
 My dear Mr. Bolles : — 
 
 I shall be very glad to give you such facts 
 as I can about my expenses here. 
 
 I came to Harvard College in the fall of. 1888, but during that 
 college year I lived with my parents out of town, so that I can hardly 
 give any estimates that will be of any value for that } r ear. 
 
 The next year I lived in Cambridge. I had about $200 with which 
 to begin the year. I was assigned a scholarship of $250, and that 
 with about $150, which I received from other sources, paid all my 
 expenses for the college year, including clothes, and the special 
 expenses of Commencement and Class Day. 
 
 The next year I came back to Cambridge for graduate work. I 
 had a scholarship of $200 assigned me and had in addition about $30 
 saved from monej' earned during the summer. This was all I had on 
 which I could count definitely. After the term had begun, I was 
 given a College position (an assistantship in history) with a salary of 
 $200. This work occupied nearly all my spare time, but I was able 
 to earn about $35 by tutoring, and about $30 by index making. I 
 also made about $30 in proctors fees. I received some money in 
 other ways, just how much I do not now remember — probably 
 enough to bring the total up to about $600. 
 
 My income during the last college year was somewhat less than 
 $600. I cannot now give very exact figures as to the items of my 
 expense account. During my first year here, I paid $90 for two 
 furnished rooms. The next year I shared two rooms with a room- 
 mate and paid $75. Last year my room-mate and I paid together 
 less than $90 for two unfurnished rooms. I paid for board last year 
 something like $125. 
 
31 
 
 While I have lived economicall}', I have alwa} T s been able to live 
 comfortably, to get very pleasant rooms, and have always had a good 
 margin for books, papers, and other things which I could, if neces- 
 sary, have got along without. I could easily have reduced my 
 expenses each j T ear by $100. During the last three years I have 
 been almost entirely dependent upon my own resources, and have not 
 had, as many men have, a base of supplies at home. A good many 
 items, such, as clothes, are not usually reckoned among college 
 expenses. 
 
 I should like to say, too, that I am constantly meeting men who 
 live comfortably for a very much smaller sum than I have men- 
 tioned. I know several cases where the annual expense was less 
 than $500. 
 
 I ought also to say that if I had felt that I could afford the time, I 
 could have made much more money by tutoring. I have often passed 
 by opportunities of this sort because I wanted the time for my own 
 studies. 
 
 I am afraid that this letter is hardly exact and definite enough to 
 meet your want, but you are entirely welcome to make such use of it 
 as you can. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Harvard College, Dec. 22, 1892. 
 
 My Dear Mr. Bolles : — 
 
 In response to your recent letter, I 
 gladly submit to you the following statement of my expenses here at 
 College for the past two years, as shown by my memorandum : — 
 
 Year 1890-91. 
 Necessary Expenses : 
 
 For Tuition $150.00 
 
 Room, fuel and light (private house) 58.50 
 
 Board (private family) 15 weeks 60.00 
 
 " Board in Club, 24 weeks 61.75 
 
 Books and stationery 21.32 
 
 Washing and laundry 12.87 
 
 Total necessary expenses $364.44 
 
 Additional Expenses : 
 
 For clothing $ 38.00 
 
 " sundries 50.23 
 
 Total expenses $452.67 
 
37.50 
 
 97.50 
 
 20.50 
 
 13.32 
 
 8.32 
 
 32 
 
 Year 1891-92. 
 Necessary Expenses : 
 
 For tuition $150.00 
 
 room (college room) 
 
 board (in club) 
 
 books and stationery 
 
 washing and laundry 
 
 fuel and light 
 
 Total necessary expenses $327.14 
 
 Additional Expenses : 
 
 For clothes $ 35.50 
 
 " sundries 71.40 
 
 Total expenditure $434.04 
 
 My course here, in regard to financial matters, has been one of 
 economy but not of penury. I have frequently enjo} T ed the excellent 
 advantages which Boston offers in the theatre, in music, and in art. 
 And, furthermore, I have not denied myself the pleasure of making 
 numerous short trips, during the short recesses and odd times, to 
 neighboring towns and cities, visiting scenes and places famous in 
 history and literature. 
 
 It is possible that you may think, judging from the moderate sum 
 paid for board, that I am depriving and injuring myself along this 
 line, but I wish to state that such is not the case. This boarding 
 club was organized two years ago, wholly by students, and its bill of 
 fare can therefore be changed any time at their pleasure. During its 
 existence I have been a member of the club and connected with the 
 oversight of its welfare. General satisfaction has always been ex- 
 pressed and good health prevailed among its members. 
 
 During the coming year, I have every reason to believe that my 
 expenses will be still lower, as I am spared the necessity of helping 
 to furnish a room, which makes itself apparent in the " sundries" of 
 1891-92. 
 
 Hoping that these statements, which I have made with care and 
 frankness, may fulfill your request, 
 
 I am very truly, 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 6, 1892. 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 My expenditures averaged about $200 per annum 
 
 during a four years course in one of the smaller western colleges. 
 
 I spent less than $325 for all purposes during my first year at 
 
 Harvard. It should be noted, however, that I boarded myself and 
 
 lived economically. 
 
33 
 
 Men from small western colleges ought to expect to find the 
 necessary annual expenses from $175 to $200 greater in Cambridge 
 than thejr have been accustomed to. 
 
 From my western course already referred to and exceeding two 
 years of connection with Harvard University I extract the following 
 data for comparative expenses west and east : — 
 
 Western college fees $30.00 
 
 Western board and room (at $3.00 per week) . . . 114.00 
 
 $144.00 
 
 Eastern college fees $150.00 
 
 Eastern board and room (of equal qual- 
 ity) from $4.50 per week $171.00 171.00 
 
 to $5.00 per week 190.00 
 
 $321.00 
 
 144.00 
 
 Minimum difference $177.00 
 
 $150.00 
 190.00 
 
 $340.00 
 144.00 
 
 Maximum difference $196.00 
 
 I have not found it necessary to spend more than would be the 
 case in a western college for books, clothes, athletics, amusements, or 
 incidentals, so that the necessary difference of cost between Harvard 
 and other colleges may be dismissed for the student of moderate 
 means except as here outlined, viz. : for board, room, and tuition. 
 
 If I am correct in thinking that $200 is a moderate expenditure 
 even in one of the lesser western colleges, it follows that about $200 
 more, or $400, is necessary to a maintenance of a similar scale of 
 living in Cambridge. 
 
 This does not take into account the fact that the man, zealous of 
 all-round development, will find much in the many-sided life of 
 Harvard and Boston, which the small college and provincial society 
 do not offer, of privilege, much too that is necessarily expensive, but 
 it remains a privilege and not a burden. I am inclined to think that 
 the unconscious drift of men away from the immature and provincial 
 standards of living which had satisfied them in the small college is 
 illustrated by my own expenditure of less than $325 when first here, 
 and contemplated expenditure of nearly $500 per annum in this and 
 subsequent years of residence at Harvard. I am, 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
34 
 
 Cambridge, Nov. 11, 1893. 
 Dear Sir, — 
 
 I have prepared a statement of my expenses of the 
 past two 3 r ears, and hope it will be of some service to }*ou. It will 
 give me pleasure to correspond through you with any one seeking 
 information in regard to College expenses. 
 
 The following is a statement of my expenses for the College year 
 1891-92: — 
 
 Room rent, fuel and lights $57.25 
 
 Board at Foxcroft Club 95.00 
 
 Clothing and washing 36.36 
 
 Books and stationery 41.66 
 
 Sundries 40.73 
 
 Tuition 150.00 
 
 Laboratory fees 25.68 
 
 $446.68 
 
 My expenses for 1892-93 can only be approximately given at this 
 time, but they will not exceed these amounts : — 
 
 Room rent, fuel and lights $ 65.00 
 
 Board at Foxcroft Club 100.00 
 
 Clothing and washing 50.00 
 
 Books and stationery 30.00 
 
 Sundries 40.00 
 
 Tuition 150.00, 
 
 Laboratory fees 15.00 
 
 $450.00 
 
 These statements include not only my necessary expenses, but the 
 unnecessary ones as well. All the latter go to make up the major 
 part of the amount under Sundries. Every item of a well-kept 
 expense account-book is included somewhere in these statements. 
 
 At the beginning of the College year of 1891-92 I came from a 
 college in the Middle West and entered the Junior Class of Harvard. 
 I brought with me but $90 from home, and received no more from 
 there during the year. This amount, with $200 of Price Greenleaf 
 Aid, and $160 which I earned by tutoring and other work during the 
 year, paid all my expenses. This work was done principally during 
 holidays and at various short times of leisure, and interfered not a 
 great deal with my college work. The latter consisted of six courses, 
 and in these at the close of the year my standing justified the 
 anthorities in granting me for this year one of the highest under- 
 graduate scholarships. In addition I was made a Laboratory 
 assistant for the year in one of the departments, for which I receive 
 $200. But the latter takes only ten hours per week, and leaves me 
 
35 
 
 ample time to do the work of five courses. It is sufficient to say that 
 at the end of this year, I shall have done two full years of college 
 work, and with the aid mentioned which I have received from the 
 College, plus what I have earned in the two years and the interven- 
 ing summer, I shall have more than paid all my expenses for the 
 two years. It is my belief, based upon observation and experience, 
 that any man gifted with good health can enter an upper class or the 
 Graduate School of Harvard, and pa} T all his expenses for two years 
 or longer. Not only can he have good fare and a good room, but he 
 can attend many of the evening lectures and concerts given in 
 Cambridge, and some of the best plays, concerts, and entertainments 
 given in Boston. 
 
 Most Respectfully, 
 
 Cambridge, Dec. 21, 1892. 
 My dear Mr. Bolles : — 
 
 I take pleasure in answering }our inquiry concerning 
 my college expenses, with a view to correcting some of the prevailing 
 erroneous ideas of expenses at Harvard. I had thought that a man 
 not rolling in money had no place at Harvard, but I find by 
 experience, that my conception was entirely erroneous. 
 
 I have during the past two 3'ears kept a cash account which 
 balanced every month so am able to not only make statements, but to 
 back them up. I roomed my first year, at a private house, and my 
 second in a college room, which I have myself furnished comfortably 
 at a cost which is included in the appended account. 
 
 I have tried boarding in several ways and find the most pleasant 
 and economical as well as healthful to be a club of about twenty-five 
 men, which we manage ourselves. Perhaps a description of its 
 workings ma}' be interesting. We have an organization under the 
 management of a board of three Directors, who oversee matters, 
 recommend members and decide other questions. We hire a lady 
 who furnishes dining room and everything, except dishes, and 
 prepares the food. A Steward collects the board, buys provisions, 
 and manages the finances for his board. Monthly statements show 
 the financial standing and we live as well as possible upon $2.50 per 
 week. We have good food and plenty as attested by the fact that 
 each of our men have gained in weight each year. Many wiser heads 
 have predicted our failure, but by close economy and a general feeling 
 of co-operation, we are this year more prosperous than ever. I can 
 see no reason whatever why several such clubs might not be 
 
36 
 
 patronized, making the cost of living what seemed most desirable. 
 Any of our experience will be most gladly given to help others. 
 
 I herewith annex my full account for the past two years, the totals 
 are correct, perhaps some individual items may vary slightly. I also 
 bring forward what I have received during the college }'ear, not 
 reckoning vacations. 
 
 Expenses for Year 1890-91. 
 
 Tuition $165.56 
 
 Board 65.00 
 
 Books and stationery 25.00 
 
 Room (including light and heat) 39.00 
 
 Furniture 7.50 
 
 Clothes 25.00 
 
 Travelling . . 20.00 
 
 Sundries 22.94 
 
 $370.00 
 
 Total expense for year $370.00 
 
 Amount received from College 111.19 
 
 Cash $258.81 
 
 Expenses for Year 1891-92. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Board 90.00 
 
 Books 20.00 
 
 Room 37.50 
 
 Furniture 30.00 
 
 Clothes 51.50 
 
 Travel 20.00 
 
 Fuel and light 10.00 
 
 Sundries 31.00 
 
 Total expense for year $440.00 
 
 Amount received from College $150.00 
 
 Amount earned during year 95.00 
 
 $245.00 
 
 Cash $195.00 
 
 It is needless to remark that I did not " sport" very much, but did 
 live comfortably and very pleasantly. In fact, I should think any 
 man might easily do as well if he chose, and these figures might 
 be beaten. Hoping that some young man who desires the best 
 instruction, but falters on account of expense, may put aside such 
 fears and come to Harvard, I am, 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
37 
 
 Cambridge, Nov. 20, 1892. 
 Mr. Frank Bolles, Secretary: 
 
 Dear Sir, — I am very glad to give you a table of my expenses for 
 the first two 3^ears of my course. The figures below are within two 
 or three dollars of what I actually spent. I have included not 
 necessary expenses merely, but all my expenditures. Perhaps it 
 would be well to explain the different items in my list. The item of 
 board needs no comment, I think. My room was furnished, lighted, 
 and heated, and my expenses w T ere reduced b} r having a room-mate. 
 The item of clothes includes everything bought during the academic 
 } T ear. I have not included the summer vacation, because the 
 expenses then differ greatly with different fellows. Under books I 
 include also stationery. Tuition includes laboratory fees. Under 
 athletics, I include whatever I spent for admission to games and for 
 active participation and the necessary equipments. This is, perhaps, 
 an extravagant item, but I consider athletics as part of a college 
 education, and money spent in athletics as well spent. Moreover, I 
 think that the athlete has so much training and so little chance for 
 any needless spending that he realty saves in the end. Under 
 sundries are bunched all expenditures not included under the above 
 heads. My account is as follows : — 
 
 1890-91. 1891-92. 
 
 Board (private family) $137.00 
 
 " at Memorial Hall • . . $150.00 
 
 Room (not in College building) ....... 35.00 55.00 
 
 Clothing and washing 68.00 70.00 
 
 Books and stationery 28.00 22.00 
 
 Athletics 37.00 30.00 
 
 Tuition 150.00 
 
 " and laboratory fees . • 163.00 
 
 Sundries 45.00 40.00 
 
 Total $500.00 $530.00 
 
 By this table it will be seen that I spent in all about $1030. I 
 lived as well as most fellows, and had as good a time as anybody. I 
 received during the two years $550 in scholarships. This, deducted 
 from the expenditures, leaves the net expenses $480, or $240 a year. 
 I have done no tutoring, except in summer, but have had plenty of 
 chances, at from one to two dollars an hour. I have preferred to 
 give my spare time to athletics. 
 
 If I may, I should like to defend a claim made by Professor 
 Palmer, who has said that, contrary to the general opinion, a poor 
 fellow's ability is recognized at Harvard, for all Harvard has so many 
 wealthy students. This fact is very plain in athletics, but to show 
 its truth everywhere, I will give my own history, which will not be 
 
38 
 
 improper, I think, as nry name will not be known. When I entered, 
 I had only my scholarship to recommend me. I had $200 of my 
 own, and realized that I must earn or borrow the rest. But I 
 wished to be a representative college student, and resolved to enter 
 the different phases of college life if possible. My work in the line 
 of study brought me a scholarship of $250 the first year, and one of 
 $300 the second year, while I have one of $300 the present year. In 
 athletics I was enabled to become a member of the Track Athletic or 
 Mott-Haven team, which contests in New York every spring against 
 teams from the other colleges. I also was made a regular editor 
 of the Harvard Crimson, the College daily newspaper, for which rich 
 and poor alike compete. I am an honorary member of the Institute 
 of 1770, and a regular member of the Signet, the former a social, the 
 latter a literary, organization. As I said, I give this history, personal 
 though it is, to prove that the poor boy who wills can obtain recog- 
 nition and appreciation for his endeavors at Harvard. 
 
 Very respectful!}', 
 
 P. S. I shall be glad to correspond with anybody who intends to 
 come to Harvard, if you so wish it. As to this bit of personal 
 history, j t ou will use your own discretion as to publishing it. I 
 merely wish to correct a wrong impression with regard to that 
 important question of Harvard's pxclusiveness 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Dec. 15, 1892. 
 My dear Mr. Bolles : — 
 
 I reply to your letter asking for a few 
 words concerning my accounts while at college. 
 
 The accompanying statements maj^ need a little explanation. 
 
 In my Freshman year, accounts were rather loosely kept. I 
 received aid from two sources — home and college. All that I 
 received was spent. During the next two years, I kept account of 
 everything. At first glance, it would seem that I had been very 
 extravagant in my Junior year. But when a Sophomore, I paid only 
 two term bills. While a Junior, I paid three. In my Junior year, I 
 bought several things which will not have to be replaced for a long 
 time. Still, although I admit my expenses might have been lessened, 
 I think I gained more than enough of general knowledge to balance 
 the necessary expenditure. 
 
39 
 
 I have spoken of my Sophomore and Junior years. I do not mean 
 just the seven or eight months of college. All my accounts cover a 
 period of twelve months. 
 
 Through your kindness, I secured a position as clerk in a summer 
 hotel. You also gave me work of a clerical nature in the College 
 office, and proposed my name to the President of the Harvard Dining 
 Association as one eligible as clerk in the office at Memorial Hall. 
 I have been in Memorial Hall a part of this 3'ear and part of last. 
 The work is continuous. For payment, I receive my board, which 
 amounts to about $4 per week. 
 
 There are very man}' other ways by which a student can earn 
 considerable, if he only keeps his eyes open. 
 
 I came to Harvard because I thought the College offered more 
 chances to the man who must depend considerably on his own efforts. 
 I am not sorry for my choice. The officers have alwa} T s been 
 willing and ready to help me, and I know of many others who 
 have been assisted in the same way. 
 
 Freshman Year. 
 Expenses. Receipts. 
 Total 536.58 Homo 
 
 .-$536.58 Price Greenleaf Aid . . . 
 
 $286.58 
 250.00 
 
 $536.58 
 
 Expenses. 
 
 Books 
 
 Fares, railroad, horse car, etc. 
 Subscriptions and papers . . 
 
 Sundries 
 
 Clothing, shoes, etc 
 
 Stationery 
 
 Room rent and furnishings . 
 
 Postage 
 
 Board 
 
 Lunches, soda, etc 
 
 Laboratory fees and supplies 
 
 Medicine 
 
 Theatres, Concerts, Dances . 
 
 Gifts 
 
 Fuel 
 
 Tuition 
 
 Balance 
 
 Sophomore Year. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 $15.28 Home $175.02 
 
 38.65 Loan fund 50.00 
 
 11.46 Beneficiary fund 25.00 
 
 41.98 Private loan 75.00 
 
 66.88 " " 38.00 
 
 4.66 Work during term 41.28 
 
 36.80 Summer work - . 148.00 
 
 5.00 $552.30 
 
 87.02 
 
 ( .).65 
 25.90 
 
 4.23 
 16.70 
 
 3.71 
 
 4.48 
 100.00 
 
 $472.40 
 79.90 
 
40 
 
 Expenses. 
 
 Books ....*. 
 
 Fares 
 
 Subscriptions and papers . . 
 
 Sundries 
 
 Clothing, etc 
 
 Stationery 
 
 Eoom rent and furnishings . 
 
 Postage 
 
 Board 
 
 Lunch, soda, etc 
 
 Laboratory fees and supplies 
 
 Medicine 
 
 Theatres, etc 
 
 Gifts 
 
 Fuel 
 
 Tuition 
 
 Balance 
 
 Junior Year. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Balance on hand $79.90 
 
 Home 327.68 
 
 Loan fund 50.00 
 
 Private loan 130.00 
 
 Work during term 8.00 
 
 Tutoring 10.66 
 
 Summer work 132.04 
 
 Private loan 46.00 
 
 $15.44 
 
 62.20 
 
 8.73 
 
 123.52 
 
 173.83 
 
 5.76 
 
 66.31 
 
 5.98 
 
 91.42 
 
 11.63 
 
 18.62 
 
 8.31 
 
 2.35 
 
 16.65 
 
 9.38 
 
 150.00 
 
 $770.13 
 14.15 
 
 $784.28 
 
 I shall be very glad to correspond with any one who may wish to 
 
 ask about my accounts, or anything else concerning my life in 
 
 Cambridge. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 29, 1892. 
 Dear Sir, — 
 
 I reply to your note relating to College expenses. I 
 
 am able to give an account of both my income and expenditures for 
 eveiything within a few dollars. . 
 
 I came to Harvard well clothed for a year and with three dollars 
 and seventy-five cents, besides most of the Greek books in the course 
 I had elected. I came also with the promise of $250 " Price Green- 
 leaf Aid." That was more than double the assistance I have received 
 since, from the College in any one year. Yet I had harder times, the 
 first year, than afterwards. That year, I earned almost nothing. 
 Since then I have made about three hundred dollars a } 7 ear outside of 
 my study hours. Not being an exceptionally good business manager, 
 I have been more of a plodder than most of my associates who have 
 entered Harvard similarly circumstanced. I am pursuaded therefore 
 that any fellow who comes to Harvard with a will to work will find 
 no insurmountable difficult}', whether he excels in scholarship, in 
 business ability, or in simple energy and persistency. I find it a 
 prevailing notion among men who think of going to college, on a 
 small income, that tutoring is about the only means of adding to it, 
 
41 
 
 and that few men are adapted to that work. For myself, I have 
 made less than fifty dollars tutoring, during my three years at Har- 
 vard. And my knowledge of the employment of other men enables 
 me to say with absolute certainty, that the ways for a fellow to 
 raise his own income here are almost innumerable. If I were to give 
 advice to such a fellow, about to enter Harvard, I should say : Come 
 with enough to keep you from the fear of want till you get well started 
 in your courses, and have had leisure to look about to find what there 
 is to do ; and don't be afraid to solicit information from old men who 
 have been through the mill. 
 
 Harvard education, furthermore, though the best, is not expensive 
 for those men who enter college upon an income limited but sufficient 
 to maintain them at other colleges. Although my schudule of 
 expenses will be particular^ a guide to self-supporting men, I think 
 it will suggest something to men of the other class ; for though I have 
 been very economical in some items in others I have thought it wise 
 to be somewhat liberal, viz. : in board and in books. 
 
 Following is a very close approximation of my income and expense 
 accounts : — 
 
 Expenses. 
 
 1889-90. 
 
 Income. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Board and room (private fam- 
 ily) first third 61.00 
 
 Board, rest of the year (Fox- 
 croft Club) 55.00 
 
 Room, rest of the year (col- 
 lege building) 20.00 
 
 Furniture 35.00 
 
 Fuel and light 5.00 
 
 Laboratory fee 5.00 
 
 Washing, etc 11.00 
 
 Books and stationery .... 15.00 
 Car fares, clothing and sundries 67.00 
 
 $424.00 
 
 Cash on hand .... 
 Price Greenleaf Aid . 
 Private loans .... 
 Miscellaneous earnings 
 
 $3.75 
 250.00 
 150.00 
 
 25.00 
 
 Expenses. 
 
 1890-91. 
 
 Income. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Board (Foxcroft Club) 
 
 Furniture 
 
 Fuel and lights . . . 
 
 "Washing, etc 
 
 Clothing 
 
 Books and stationery . 
 Car fares and sundries 
 Laboratory fee . . . 
 Boom 
 
 100.00 
 10.00 
 12.00 
 13.00 
 30.00 
 25.00 
 25.00 
 10.00 
 30.00 
 
 $405.00 
 
 Summer earnings . . . 
 Miscellaneous earnings 
 "Loan fund" .... 
 " Beneficiary fund " . 
 Private loans .... 
 
 $60.00 
 
 175.00 
 
 50.00 
 
 40.00 
 
 40.00 
 
42 
 
 Expenses. 
 
 Tuition 
 
 Board (Foxcroft Club) 
 Furniture . . . 
 Fuel and lights 
 Washing . . , 
 Clothing . . , 
 Room .... 
 Books and stationery 
 Car fares and sundries 
 
 1891-92. 
 
 Income. 
 
 $150.00 
 87.51 
 5.00 
 8.00 
 12.00 
 55.00 
 30.00 
 50.00 
 40.00 
 
 $437.51 
 
 ' ' Loan fund " . . . . 
 " Beneficiary fund " . 
 Night school .... 
 
 Tutoring 
 
 Miscellaneous earnings 
 
 $50.00 
 60.00 
 
 160.00 
 15.00 
 
 150.00 
 
 Summary. 
 
 Received from University (in three years) $450.00 
 
 Received from private loans (in three years) .... 190.00 
 
 Earned (in three years) 585.00 
 
 Yours very respectfully, 
 
 December 21, 1892. 
 Dear Mr. Bolles : — 
 
 I entered Harvard College with so poor a record that 
 I received the maximum number of conditions. Professor Briggs 
 afterwards told me that I passed so poor an examination in nearly 
 everything that I was admitted because I came from a new .school 
 and was recommended as a faithful student. I had to take extra 
 work, and I found the regular course was quite sufficient. 
 
 I had to rely wholly on myself to meet the expenses of my course 
 in what many told me, was " the rich man's college." 
 
 I was $116 in debt. When I left Boston for Cambridge I had 
 fourty-four (0.44) cents, so that my actual debt was $115.56. I was 
 a stranger in Cambridge. The first day I spent all but nine cents. 
 I had one great help in this year, — $250 from the Price Greenleaf 
 Aid had been awarded me. This, however, I could not draw till 
 Christmas. In order to buy books to begin my work, I pawned my 
 watch and a few other things, receiving for the same $15.50. 
 
 During my Freshman year my receipts were : — 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Price Greenleaf Aid . . 
 Pawned watch, etc. . . 
 
 Type writing 
 
 Books sold 
 
 Tutoring 
 
 $250.00 
 
 15.50 
 
 71.40 
 
 7.50 
 
 1.60 
 
 $346.00 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Room (heated and furnished) 50.00 
 
 Lighting above 5.10 
 
 Books 21.21 
 
 Clothes 15.00 
 
 Board 140.00 
 
 $381.31 
 
43 
 
 This includes only necessary expenses. In addition I spent 
 $58.90, making my debt for the year $94.21. Part of this year I 
 was very poor. My washing I did myself. About mid-year I was 
 so short of money that for nearly two months I ate but one or two 
 meals a day. This was the hardest period of my course, but rather 
 incited than discouraged me. 
 
 During the summer I worked as porter in a summer hotel. I 
 strained myself quite badly, but I cleared $118. I entered my 
 Sophomore year $91.77 in debt. 
 
 During my Sophomore year my receipts were : — 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Loan fund $75.00 
 
 Beneficiary funds 
 
 Work for Prof. James* . . 
 
 Publishing notes 
 
 Waiting on table 
 
 Type writing 
 
 Outside jobs as posting bills, 
 copying, etc 
 
 $345.48 
 
 80.00 
 
 4.50 
 
 25.50 
 
 38.33 
 
 70.00 
 
 52.15 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Room, heating and lighting- . 45.50 
 
 Board at Foxcroft f93.43 
 
 Clothes and washing .... 29.20 
 
 Furniture 24.25 
 
 Books 19.16 
 
 $361.54 
 
 My expenses this }'ear were higher than necessary. I bought many 
 books I did not need. I might have saved $20 by hiring my furniture 
 from the Loan Furniture Association. 
 
 In addition to the necessary expense I spent $151.60 on athletics, 
 theatre, unnecessary books, subscription to College sports, charity, 
 and other interests. So nry total expeuse was $513.14. During the 
 summer I earned above my expenses (as clerk in summer hotel) 
 $158.04. Thus during my Sophomore year I increased my debt $9.62. 
 
 I entered nry Junior }^ear $101.31 in debt. During my Junior year 
 my receipts were : — 
 
 Receipts. 
 Scholarship $150.00 
 
 Loan fund 75.00 
 
 Beneficiary fund 15.00 
 
 Odd jobs 7.13 
 
 Publishing placards .... 18.10 
 
 Advertising scheme .... 106.05 
 
 Tutoring 267.50 
 
 Typewriting 32.19 
 
 Prof. James' work 2.45 
 
 Waiting on table 16.11 
 
 $689.53 
 
 * My work for Professor James was peculiar, 
 from skulls for experiments in psychology, 
 f I was away from College five weeks. 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 . . 49.50 
 
 . . 119.53 
 
 . . 51.73 
 
 . . 24.38 
 
 Room, etc 
 
 Board at Foxcroft . 
 Clothes and washing 
 Books 
 
 $395.14 
 
 It was taking sheep's brains 
 
44 
 
 During the year I bought a type- writer for which I paid $100. I 
 also contributed towards the expense of some other fellows poorer 
 than I, $100. For incidentals I spent $85.60. Then my actual 
 expenditure this year was $680.74. During the summer I clerked 
 and earned above my expenses, $100.50. I bought a good many 
 books and so saved less than previously. 
 
 I entered my Senior year out of debt and with $7.90 on hand. 
 This year my receipts were : — 
 
 Expenditures. 
 Tuition $150.00 
 
 Room, etc 
 
 Board 
 
 Clothes and washing 
 
 Books 
 
 Furniture 
 
 56.40 
 160.00 
 43.32 
 21.08 
 32.00 
 
 $462.80 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Loan fund $75.00 
 
 Beneficiary fund 20.00 
 
 Odd jobs 18.99 
 
 Copying 24.50 
 
 Tutoring 439.90 
 
 Advertising scheme .... 72.39 
 Teaching school * ..... 14.00 
 
 Publishing notes 24.00 
 
 Type writing 107.43 
 
 Publishing books 225.00 
 
 $1021.21 
 
 I spread Class-Day at an expense of $100. I gave $150 towards 
 other students expenses. I hired a piano during the }'ear, and added 
 many books to my library, so that my " incidentals" amounted to 
 $149.60, making my expenses for the year $612.40. Thus I saved 
 during the year $258.80, and graduated from College with $266.70. 
 I owed the College $225 from Loan Fund, so that I was more than 
 out of debt, or $41.70 ahead. 
 
 I had bought a tj^pe-writer ; increased my library by over 300 
 volumes ; bought many useful articles ; taken part in many branches 
 of College life and work, — social, moral, athletic, literary, and 
 religious. I played on one 'Varsity team, and on my class team in 
 another sport. I found man} 7 openings for work for other fellows. 
 Had I been able to do all I found to do, I should have made a good 
 salar} 7 . I only tried to earn enough " to get through." 
 
 I graduated with my class cum laude and with courses to spare : 
 also got Honorable Mention in one study. My health when I entered 
 was very poor. I left College strong in body, better than at any 
 time for ten years. To sum up my four 3 T ears expenses : — 
 
 Freshman year $381.31 
 
 Sophomore year 361.54 
 
 Junior year 395.14 
 
 Senior year 462.80 
 
 For course $1600.79 
 
 * My teaching school was substituting in an East Cambridge school for a friend. 
 
 LofC. 
 
45 
 
 My Sophomore year is a fair estimate of what* actually necessary. 
 I think if any fellow wished, he could save $20 on furniture, and $10 
 on books. Morever, I paid more for my room than was necessary. 
 I have no hesitation in saying that an economical student, taking 
 advantage of the College helps (Library, Loan Furniture Association, 
 Foxcroft Club, and the Young Men's Christian Association aid in 
 receiving cheap and desirable rooms) can get through honorably and 
 happily J or $300 a year. 
 
 I cannot close without saying that my whole course was made 
 easier by the friendl}' words of advice and encouragement from 
 President Eliot, Professors Briggs, James, Smith, Peabod}', Kittredge 
 and Palmer, and not the least, from yourself. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 

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