The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-05 00:00:00

Eke ,Stottrlnibge Obseriter.

SATURDAi. JULY sth, 1884.

I THE POSITION OF WOMEN.
IT is an idea firmly rooted in the philoso-
phical mind that in these later times there
is no surer test of the degree of civilization
which any nation has reached than the posi-
tim in which it places its women. Where I
the mothers of the race are treated merely
as hewers of wood and drawers of water,
where they are regarded as inferior rather
than otherwise to the horses, and the dogs,
and the other pets of the master of the house-
hold, there it is generally agreed, civiliza-
tion has not attained its purest height.
Judged from this standpoint, England has
won a proud eminence among the nations.
It is not necessary to agree with all the
hopes or with all the aspirations of those
who favour the higher education of women,
it is still less necessary to be pledged in any
way with regard to what is known as the
"women's rights" agitation, to perceive that
much good is likely to flow from the in-
creased recognition of the fact that, as op-
portunities for female work increase, so must
likewise increase facilities for training those
who wish to participate in it. In any case,
for good or evil, the movement in favour of
female education has made rapid strides
within the last few years, and the end is
not yet. Cambridge showed the way which
Oxford has followed, the London University
has not been behind its elder brethren. In
the City of London a new higher school for
girls, designed to be a worthy companion
of the famous City school for boys, is shortly
to be established, and this is only one of
many such efforts which have lately been
seen. But, just as growth in this direction
has been so plainly visible, so there has
grown the opinion that protection is required
for young females while pursuing their
• studies in cases where, by the nature of
things, they are removed from the associa-
tions of home. This, in fact, has hitherto
been a matter difficult to overcome, and
neglect of it has in more than one instance
given:the opponents of higher education for
girls occasion to rejoice. But there has
this week been taken by the Prince and
Princess of Wales a step which, although
in one sense limited to London, will in many
ways have a:n influence throughout the
country upon this very point. Those who
know anything of the more recent develop-
ments of South Kensington are aware
that this part of London is the centre of
feminine study in music, science, and the
fine arts, and for the benefit of girls and
young women who there assemble, a home,
the foundation stone of which was laid by
their Royal Highnesses, is to be provided.
The comfort of the students will be ensured
in this building at a most reasonable rate
and their parents and guardians will have
the satisfaction of knowing with how much
confidence they will in future be able to
leave them in South Kensington. This is
one only of the symptoms to which refer-
ence has been made of the increasing atten-
tion which is being given to the educational
claims of women. If England's daughters
of the twentieth century do not hold their
own in the intellectual world, it will cer-
tainly not be from any lack of encourage-
ment on the part of their fathers of the
present time.