Delegoles from lhe Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario attending the Triennial Conference of the Assoctoled Country Women at the World at Lansing, Michigan A Welcome to Michigan State University "It is felt that Michigan State University is an appropriate place to hold a Conference of the Associated Country Women of the World since A.C.W.W. is an organization dedicated to the improvement of international relations and the quality of rural life throughout the world; and because this University, founded in 1855, was the first institution in the United States of America for the teaching of the agri- cultural sciences at the level of higher educa- tion," said President John Hannah, as he wel- comed the delegates to the University campus. The Land Grant Colleges President Hannah described the system of land grant colleges of which Michigan State was the first. He said “There are new land grant colleges in every state in the union in- cluding Puerto Rico. Michigan was formally recognized as a state in 1837. Its population in 1855 was fewer than six hundred thousand; and ninety per cent of the people lived in rural areas. About this time dissatisfaction was mounting with higher edu- cation People were dissatisfied with the kind of education offered and with the narrowness of educational opportunity open to young Americans. From discussions held. the idea emerged of a new kind of college that would offer a new curriculum to larger numbers of young men coming from families of farmers, shop mechanics and storekeepers. young men to whom higher education was then largely de- nied by tradition and practice. FALL 1968 The proposal was then put forward that Congress grant to each state an additional thirâ€" ty thousand acres or equivalent in land script for each member of Congress from that state. This land or the equivalent would he sold; the money invested. and the interest made avail‘ able in perpetuity for the support of the new colleges. Thus came the term "land grant col: leges". * i i’ The meadows and hir-sheutcd streams Lie still without a sound; Like some soft minister of dream». The snow-lat“ himds me round: In Wood and water. earth and air, A silence everywhere Save when at lnnt-ly intervals Some farmer's sleigh, urged (in. \Viih rustling runners and sharp hells. Swings by me and is gone; Or from the empty waste I hear A sound remote and clear. The barking of E1 dog. or call To cattle. sharply peeled, Borne echoing from some wayside stall 0r barnyard far afield; Then all is silent. and the snow Falls, settling soft and slow. The evening deepens, and the gray l-‘nlds clnscr earth and sky: The world seems shrouded far away, It» noises sleep. and I As secret as yon buried stream Plnd dumbly on. and dream. Archibald Lampn'ian 7