Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-12
IUT NE ETIYUFfF
A VIRGINIA FEMALE UNIVERSITY.

Messrs. Editore:-Systematic Celebrations under
this head. would Of course be useless. We have only
to say, that to such persons as take an interest 10
educational enterprises, the Importance OF establish
ing In our Stnte an institution Of a higher grade for
young ladies, must be apparent. 1t is our wish 10
get Virginians interested in g Virginia Female Uni.
versity. And 1t would be- manifestly a work OF su-
pererogation to rehash stale, we'll known arguments
in favor OF the Importance OF education, II such On
attempt did not prove en- ineult 10 the intelligent
good sense now pervading almoet every community
on the subject. Whilst, therefore, we present q con
sideration or two, by way Of suggestion to ADLER pens,
with a view Of elicitiDg an interest in the establish
ment Of such an university for our young ladies, as
the one We now have for our young men, we do not
wish 10 be looked upon es a mere simless speculstor,
fired with an overweening enthusiasm in his devO
ton TO woman, nor as one intending to wholly depre.
cate Institutions Of learning already in existence
Many OF them are most excellent schools, and are
we'll worthy the patronage they 30 literally receive.
Yet, that the beet OF these schools are not sufficiently
comprehensive in their course of study, and that
others are wanting in practice Of the best modes Of
importing instruction, are facts sustained by the
opinions of men who have had the beat opportunities
for forming an acquaintance with the female mind.
The opinion which for 90 long a time maintained
credence among the masses, that the mind of woman
ia naturally incapable Of the same discipline, as that
afforded our young men in the best halls Of learning,
is a utopia which has proved utterly untenable in this
day Of boosted educational tests. The fact, the i'm.
p%ortant, well grounded fact Of woman'a mental
equality, 10 point of her capacities of intellectual
elevation, has at las, been made, and is becoming
daily more confirmed by experienced teachers in
the various departments Of female Instruction.
The tests afforded by The recent introduction
into female .chools of the classics and mathe-
notions about woman's true position. Such
;ests chow that woman is not a whit inferior to man
in point either of facility at acquiring, or in the power
OF comprehending the most abstruse problems OF
81 81. o-l skAan - -, r.hsAh .
sent themselves In the proper study OF language
And, as this opinion Is receiving more and more OF
the public favor, q most happy omen is ahorded-an
omen which goes far in warrantipg the belief that Of
forts to lift woman to a still higher standard In the
acaie Of intellectual Improvement, will NEST with fa.
vorable encouragement.
Surely none, who look at the matter right, can fail
20 see the Importance OF raising the standard OF fe-
male education. Let it be borne in mind, that If
come education be desirable, more education will he
more desirabie, and, that if opportunities can be given
for the iuil-st development, most desirable. The ac-
complishment of such an end will put into requisition
8 much higher standard for graduation than any at
present afforded by the many 30 called thigh schools"
in THE State. 1t will most a~ssuredly require an insti-
tuition wherein is taught not only (f at ALL botany,
painting, music, drawing, &c, but one 30 diversified
and extensive in it's course OF instruction 80 to cult
vste the strictly mental capacities one which will
afford the gymnastics of the higher mathematics and
language one which will inculcste habits of deep
thought, by Importing knowledge on strictly scientific
principles, and by t~rsInpling under foot, as justly
worthy OF contempt, those ruinous modes Of empiri.
cal instruction 80 rapidly gaining foothold on our
coil. We cannot do better than TO suggest aa q plan
for our ideal university, just precisely that in every
respect OF the existing university for young men.
Yes, give n Young lady the same drilling which an
a. NJ. of the University receives, and ahe will most
surely have learned 10 dsspise that rafting off Of sci.
enihc technicals so incident to the curriculum matter
of course "put through" She will not only have
learned science but the language Of science; will
have learned not only how TO demonstrate with facili
ty the most difficult problems Of mathematics, but
will also have been made to understand lite most rigid
philosophy will have learned not only to give proper
translations TO Latin and Greek, but WHAT Of great
or i,nportance) the philosophical rules upon which the
construction of each language ia based will have
discovered that the spouting OF technicalities is un.
tignified and most Enthusiastically significant Of the
speakers mental li.tleness and that IN educated
woman is the most of all Others, furthest from osten.
tatious display.
And motives are needed to lead young ladies into
intellectual pursuits. Present standards are too low
TO offer as en- inducement the attainment of hoEor,
than which nothing acts as a stronger Incentive TO
energetic effort. When Mics A., a young lady Of
strong mind, sees Miss B., one of weak mind, glide
easily through a College curriculum Of three or four
years, and bears her styled by the masses %'learned,"
she concludes not only on the ignorance of the masses,
but also land rightly too,l that acquisitions which
cost So little are not worth the sacrifice OF her time in
their attainment. We hold that no one who bss re
fected, for a moment, on the precise tendency of these
stereotyped routines for the getting OF an education.
can have failed Of the conviction that the deplorable
fewness Of the number OF young ladies who can
boast of real substantial knowledge and
solid attainmen:s, is owing, in a very great measure.
to those ruinous systens of "easy method" afforded
by the 30 called "curriculums," now 30 characteristic
of many of our female colleges. The very ~iucipient
vital principle of these "curriculums' is, 10, l am
with You always, even unto the end"-an assurance
which cannot tail to produce in the recipient Of euch
d,sinterested kindness a most eIbilaratipg sense OF
lnr nj n II q - arnnfa tho LIE &c., ~ 4
may in the shape OF storms, she will at Last moor In.
to the %unrufasj harbor Of gradustedom by simply SIT.
ting cry ffN and patiently, in the big ship %"curricu-