Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-04-25


She gave the best summary Of it that can
be put into words in her reply 20 the Pres
idsnt Of the Geneva College. when he
presented her diploma Departing from
the usual form. he rose and addressed
her in . manner 50 emphatic and unusual,
that she was surprised into . response
IL thank you. sir" said she. with the
help Of the Most High. it shall be the
study Of my life to shed honor on this di-
ploma."
lIer settled sentiment was, perhaps.
unconsciously discovered in this brief
speech. She had fought her way into the
profession, openly, without disguise, eva
sion, or any indirection, steadily refusing
al! compromises aud expediencies, and
under better impulses and with higher
aims than personal ambition or the dis
tinction Of singularty. Her object was
not the honor that a medical degree could
confer upon her, but the honor that she
resolved TO bes.ow upon il; and that she
will nobly redeem this pledge is, to all
who know her, rather more certain than
almost any other unarrived event.
Those who will form opinions about
Miss Blackwell herself, from their own
views Of her enterprise. run very great
risk Of making mistakes. II is natural
enough for them to ask. "what sort Of
woman is sl,e!" and it is likely that each
will answer il for himself. but it is not
likely that one in dozen will hit the truth.
Manifest considerations Of proprcty for
bid such description in the public prints.
and especially due respect for her own
feelings checks the inclination which ]
l~u Ill t,n. 1<.I, chn
has not given her name to any Of the pub.
LEGATIONS by which she has been earning
snoncv for the achievement Of her great
undertaking. and her avoidance OF the &C.
casions Of notoriety which court her at
every turn amounts almost to a fault. In
snsnner and spirit she is as quiet and reti-
ring rs she is innexible in purpose and de-
ter,nined in action. The spirit Of adven-
,urc never had a more gentle and tranquil
lodgmcnt in woman's nature.
In the last two or three years, she has
solicited perhaps fifty medical men. and
II least dozen medical schools, for the
privilege Of studying the profession, and
was refused by all except those which
have mentioned. ] heard her say that /
she found in tho Union four medical (
willing to admit black men, and
only two that would extend the same /
to white women. have seen
her often after her successive repulses,
but in no instance heard word Of COM
plant or rcproach. or observed the slight
est indication Of detection. Her conclu.
sioD always was, "T'herc is some place
in the world for me, and III find it,
There arc doubtless other physicians.
and perhaps other schools, that would
have received her, but she always took
The first acceptable grant. and instantly
availad herself Of it. with an industry
and promptitude that ! never saw match.
I'll. The fact is. that the faith in which
the lives and works has the tone all the
orce Of religious confidence. The secret
,f l.sr efficiency and her success is in
hat patience which rests upon the Divine
Her construction Of the re-
tistance which she was constantly en-
was always kinder and per-
,aps truer than any friend would allow or
my opponent could fairly ask.
She entertains no particular respect for
he science Of medicine, and disavows
any natural taste for its pursuit; and the
,ugnant TO her as to any sensible woman
But she differs in the matter Of nerves +,
rom those who shudder at any thing I
which comes in the shape Of duty and ,
,oblc enterprise. She devoted herself to
,cr novel undertaking at twenty three
,ears Of age, because she had then work
ID herself into the spirit Of victory. and
he tone Of an earnest life that could not !
70 s,nothercd in her merely personal in
ercsts. Heroes are not made Of metal
hat is liable to rust.
In person, she is every way rather be-
ow the middle size. Her weight is Ger.
ainly less than 10 but her muscular Wig
,r is perfectly prodigious. She is never
II, knows nothing Of pain, and is almost
incapable Of fatigue.
Will she succeed! Those who, know /:
ng her. do not know that now, are just
he kind Of geniuscs who will not know
he fact when il is fulfilled before their
yes.
Aftcr her return from Geneva this
,pring. having the desire to hear our most
distinguished medical teachers, she was
cordially invited by several Of them. In
The presence Of these large classes. she
heard Drs. Jackson, Chapman. Ilorner.
Gibson and Rodgers. Of The University Of
and she also heard Drs.
and Mut,er. Of the Jefferson
School, and DR.. Williamson. Of the Ho-
mcopa,hic College. DR.. Wood. Of the
refused. Conservatism came
very near to caving in completely. but
little Hunkerism saved it from a general
rash. The Professors of the Geneva
College. l learn. have to suffer little
rom a few Of the old tread-mill regulars.
Dut they are manly enough to pay the
price Of their own independence without
any heart-breaking. What an orderly
hing established order is; aud what ,c-
spectacle thing responsibility is: and,
moreover. what an interesting thing pro-
cssional interest is!
A few Of the sucking Galens who loaf.
I'll upon the University benches.
thought. looked little awful at the sight