Regarding Women at Allegheny College, I thought this letter might be of interest. It was written by my Great Grand Uncle Edward S. Blair and printed in the Forreston Herald, Forreston, Illinois in February of 1881. Forreston was Edward's hometown, his parents having left Crawford County in 1837 as children. Edward later became President of his class and went on to become a doctor. He wrote several other letters about his college days at Allegheny if anyone is interested in these they can contact me. Forreston Herald: Forreston, Illinois: February 12, 1881: WINTER IN THE EAST-COLLEGE LIFE-A VIGOROUS �KICK� AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS-THE MISER�S DEATH. Meadville Penn., Feb. 6, 1881: The winter of �80 and �81 at Meadville and Allegheny College is fruitful of many interesting events. From information which I have gathered from various sources, I am led to believe that the East, particularly this locality, has enjoyed a pleasanter season then the people of the West have. An ideal winter, it seems to me, is such as we have experienced here. About the middle of November some little time before Thanksgiving, snow fell to the depth of perhaps 3 or 4 inches. The roads being in an excellent condition to receive the snow, good sleighing was at once produced. It has continued up to the present time, making almost three months of fine sleighing. As severe weather has been experienced here within a week, as has visited this locality in many years. The thermometer registered about 30 degreed below zero one day last week. Such has been our winter at Meadville. College life with its regular routine of arduous duties, is received of its monotony by occasional lectures, concerts, literary entertainments, and once in a while a small rebellion, or, to express it in College terms, a vigorous and universal �kick� among a certain class of students. During the present winter two of these interesting rebellions have engaged the attention of our faculty and students. Now society makes a great distinction between the sexes, in regard to physical carriage and habits. A gentleman, from the manner of his dress, and from his free out-door life, enjoys a far wider range of physical liberties. To say that a class of jolly college boys had �kicked� against some seemingly unreasonable and distasteful rule, would create no unusual surprise, but to secure a number of young ladies of indulging in this rude manifestation of spirit, would call forth the greatest censurs. The fact of the matter is the ladies of Allegheny College, for reasons sufficiently great to them, have �kicked.� The cause of this display of indignation among our fair students, I will explain a few words. Huling�s Hall, a beautiful edifice, constructed during the last summer was thrown open to our ladies about last November. It was furnished beautifully and appeared to be a most inviting place. It was intended that the building should be heated by hot air. The machinery for heating was not put into the building before cold weather approached. The young ladies being delicate of constitution, not accustomed to living in houses where heating apparatus was wanting, began to complain. The first measure taken was to go to the Faculty and ask permission to leave the Hall. The request was refused, and the ladies were comforted with the promise, that they soon should be supplied with the missing article. They waited long; they wandered about those cold, cheerless rooms wrapped in shawls and robes to such a thickness that you would have imagined them Artic explorers, or England peasants. Again and again they sent statements of their grievances to the Faculty, but to no afface. Finally, they could bear it no longer. They went out into the city, engaged boarding places and Huling�s Hall cold and cheerless as ever bade farewell to her discontented inmates. As they emerged from her doors she showered icicles upon them, with her icy hand, as she pushed them from the threshold. The means of heating the rooms was finally obtained. The fair seekers after knowledge, were then invited back. Some who were very comfortably situated, refused to return to their former quarters. The President instructed the Secretary to drop such names from the roll. One morning when the roll was called it was noticed that the names of two ladies in the Senior class were not called. The gallant boys of that distinguished class at once kicked against the cruel action of the President. The following morning not a Senior appeared. The forthcoming trouble was easily discerned by the Faculty, and they succombed. Also dissatisfaction has been produced among our cadets in respect to promotions in the Military department. Some who were privates vaulted with a gigantic stride from that insignificant position in the office of Lieutenant while on the other hand one highly respectable and perhaps competent Lieutenant was lowered to the rank of a private. But such are the uncertainties of life. An interesting incident which came to the notice of the people of Meadville I will relate and then tax your patience no longer. In this city, on last Wednesday evening a life was brought to close, whose history alas, if told would prove again that truthful proverb that �Money is the root of all evil.� In one of the back alleys of Meadville an old shoemaker has lived for years, apparently in the lowest condition of penury and poverty. Then Wednesday night he bade adieu to life�s cares. The spirit of avarice that took possession of his being here, has gone to another sphere. As the departed had no friends or relations to care for his remains, the city officers took carge of them. In his shanty they found money and articles of value to the amount of $5,000. Six gold and twenty silver watches were found. A half bushel measure of silver was also found. With all this money the poor miser was suffering for even the necessaries of life. He was about 80 years of age when his miserable career closed. Edward S. Blair.