The University students, through poverty, are compelled to spend the vacation in earning money (for which they find many opportunities to the north of us), and have been acting as waiters at the springs and the seaside resorts, where their good behavior makes many friends and often secures benefactors. Eight of the theological students gave themselves to missionary work with great success during the summer. One received twenty converts to the church, the Sabbath before he came back to resume study. The others were in the rural district of Southern Virginia, dark with ignorance, where they established day-schools as well as Sunday-schools, aided in a very interesting Sunday-school convention of that region, visited the families and preached the Gospel. It is thought that several new churches will soon result from these efforts, and one such was organized last month. They gave special attention to encouraging young men to prepare for usefulness as teachers and ministers, but hardly any proper facilities exist there, and poverty prevents them from going elsewhere to obtain education. We are continually tried by not having the means to aid those seeking the higher education, as the number increases and their literary character improves, while the colored people must have educated leaders in church and state. * * * * * HAMPTON, VA. MISS HELEN W. LUDLOW. Hampton begins the year with a large influx of students. They have come in much faster and more promptly than ever before. Last year, our largest number was 385, including 70 Indians; now, on the sixth day of school, we have 385, only 40 of whom are Indians. They appear to be a good set—hopeful material—on the whole, in advance of former years. Indeed, so many more have applied than it is possible to accommodate, that it has been our duty, of course, to select the best, and examinations have been more severe. Our quarters are full to overflowing, especially the girls’. There is a larger proportion of these than ever. Seven of our returning students report that they have taught schools this vacation. A few more who will return are still out teaching. Of the few students, sixty-one reported having come through the agency of our graduate teachers, and fourteen more through that of undergraduates. One girl brought nine. Several of our graduate teachers came in person to bring their students.