From Normal Hill

With the retuniing of the students the character of Ypsilanti life along both social and business lines, is very materially changed. The churches and soeieties hold a series of receptions for the new corners, and the storekeepers spare no time and energy in making attractive displays of their goods. until the poor student, wandering thereamong, might well exclaim with Sócrates, "How much there is in the world I do not want!" The attendance at the Normal is very good this year, 830 students being enrolled. Of these a larger proportion than usual are taking the higher classes, with fewer in the preparatory department. There are 68 practice teachers, of whom 23 are doing kindergarten work? this department also is unusually f uil. Among the largest classes are those in Latin and Greek, of which there are six classes each; Dr. Boone's lecture class in Science of Education, has 94 members; American Literature, 35 members; Civil Government, 59; Elemens of Vocal Music, 61 members; Elementary Drawing, 174 members; Method of Reading aad Language, 83 members. Last Friday Dr. Boone assisted at the dedication of the Garfield school building at Springwells. Sunday morning he delivered an address to the S. C. A. in Newberry Hall, Ann Arbor. Mr. Simmons, of the State Board, spent Friday and Saturday at the Normal. It is expected that the new Training School and S. C. A. buildings will be ready for occupancy by holiday time. Work on these buildings is rapidly progressing and next spring the grounds will be improved with walks, drives and flower beds. Last Thursday occurred the death of Jas. A. Bailey, familiarly known as "Aleck," who has been a faithful employee of the Normal since 1881. Most of this time he served as janitor, but during the last few months he had acted as night watchman. Funeral services were held at the house Saturday p. m., and were attended by several members of the Normal faculty and State Board. The music was furnished by ten young men from the Normal choir. The laboratories are unusually full, and no little difflculty is found in arranging the classes to accommodate all who wish to take the work. Mr. Underwood has been appointed temporarily to the position of night watchman made vacant by the death of Mr. Bailey. The program of the Wednesday af ternoon recital this week was arranged by Mrs. F. H. Pease. The performers were Misses Paxon, Newcomer, Bassett and Beardsley. Next week the program will be in charge of Mrs. Helen A. Pease. Visitors are welcome at these recitals, to which no admission is charged, and which are held every Wednesday from 4 to 5 p. m., in the Conservatory. Miss Florence Bassett, of the Conservatory, has secured the position of first soprano in the Central M. E. church, Detroit.