The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-08-12

sehooIs for noth sexes.

Horace Mann's untimely death pre-
vented him from demonstrating by
practical experiment whether or not
his theory was sound one, that the
Two sexes could be educated together
with great mutual profit and advantage
to both. Judging, however, from the
results which have attended oberlin,
Hillsdale and Antioch Colleges, there
is certainly much to be said In favor of
permitting the two sexes to pursue the
University curriculum together. Miss
Blake, an English woman interested in
the education OF women, has recently
returned from visit TO the United
States to investigate the workings OF
the "amalgamated" Institutions here.
She has embodied her observations In
book form, and thus alludes TO Ober-
lin College, Ohio: ID. a. .al.r.
The Professor of Chemistry and Ply
sIology thought that the girls played
their part in the rescitations about as
" ell as the young men, but did not con-
slider them so we'll qualified for the
lenGtheued consideration of u scientific
subject. The Professor OF Greek told
me that he was unable to see much DIFF
IeTente DtlWE6u Tue SbuoEhN5 Vi TIC ="
sexes: HBut for the difference In sound
of voice, Il should find II hard, or i'm
possible, with my eyes shut, to tell one
from the other. If l am 10 find dis
tinction, 1 may perhaps say that, spea k
ing generally, the ladies have more IN
tuitiYe quiCkness-in constituting, and
earlier acquire elegance In composition;
while gentlemen seem more able to
seize on points touching the philoso'
ply of the language. AS regards power
of attention and application, have
never remarked any difference, and the
work done is usually about equal.
The Professor of Biblical Literature,
who had the chief management oil The
Theological School, had had much less
to do with female than with male stu
dents. He said that he had had, how
ever, quite as good work done by young
women as by young men, and that IN
rhetorical exercises and composition he
often found them to excel the young
men iu delicacy and elegance OF ex-
preston. On the whole, however,
he inclined to the belief that the
balance of mental strength lay ON the
side of the young men. In answer TO a
question of mine, this Professor said
that they had never received appllea-
tions from women for systematic train
ing for the ministry, though one or two
female graduates had afterward become
lions were made, the faculty would GER
tainly not refuse to admit them, but
would, in each case, as at present, leave
the responsibility of electing such a
calling to the individual conscience.
The Professor of Mathematics spoke,
perhaps, more strongly than any in
favor of the equality of the male and
female intellect, He had been Pro-
fessor at Hillsdale College before COM
ing TO Oberlin, and gave us letters OF
introduction to that place, where the
same system of education is pursued,
though with certain differences. On
the point in question he said 81 have
found the work done by ladies to be
fully equal TO that of the gentlemen
JItLLy and it has more than once oc-
CURED thatthe best scholar in my class
was lady. Ladies are generally the
quickest at recitation, and will repeat
long problems more accurately than
most of the young men. l do not know
that they have any counterbalancing
defect. AS to strength and power OF
application, / know that the advantage
is said to lie with the men, but have
not found 1t So"