Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-16
Letter from Boston.
Professor Fisk ON EvOIutiOn-C Omte De-
nOiished-WOman's EdRcatiOn-OpiB-
IONS of Experts-JHrs. Wayne's Appeal
for Fallen WOmen-PicIures AT Auction
Projected Street Improvements.
IRON OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
BosroN, April II, 1872

FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
Boston, April II, 1872.
We never get away from lectures and CONVEX
sat)ns; after the Lyceum courses are over,
lectures come in single file all through the
spring and summer, and occasionally comes
one, who, like Miss Vaughan, has something to
say which is worth hearing. But the most in
terestiug talks are not in the large halls with an
audience of one or two thousand, but in the
smaller ones or in parlors. Professor John
Fisk's course on evolution (that, | think, was
the general titc) was given in the parlors of the
| Woman's club, TO an interested aud interesting
audience of forty or fifty, mostly ladies' The
| lecture on Comte and the positive philosophy
was exceedingly entertaining, clear emphatic,
and courageous Mr.. Fisk has no tenderness
for Connie or his theories; his attack upon both
was made with Il hearliness and pluck that were
inspiring TO his hearers; and if some daring and
dogmatic Comtist had only been there to reply
thcre would have been thoroughly delightful
fight. As it was Comte was so utterly routed,
was blown into such small fragments, that until
a defender appears, we who heard Mr.. Fisk
shall believe that positive philosophy is annihi-
lated.
The meetings of The woman's education asso-
citation are held in private parlors, and draw to-
gether the same kind of people who made Mr.
Fisk's audience; the prosperous, well-educated
earnest Boston women, who have done so much
to give Boston its reputation for intellect, phi
lanthropy, and exclusiveness. The association
has, as yet, offered no plan for the education of
girls, but has devoted its time to collecting in
formation, and hearing from practical and
theoretical educators, the results of what they
have thought or have done. Thematters chiefly
discussed have been the quality and the amount
Of education desirable for women; and the CO.
education Of the sexes. OF course these have
involved woman's mental and physical capacity
for study, and to some extent her proper sphere
after her school education is finished. Every
shade of opinion has had a fair hearing, from
President Eliot of Harvard college on one side
TO President Cummings of Genesee college, and
Mr.. Higgiuson on the other. Mr.. Eliot disap-
proves Of the sexes working together either as
students or teachers in colleges; and thinks
scholarships for women, even in female colleges,
extravagant and undesirable. DIR. Cummings
who has always taught mixed classes, and whose
college makes absolutely no distinction on ac-
count of sex, is sure that coeducstion is not
only the best possible way, but is entirely prac-
ticable, his experience of many years having
proved to him that the theoretical objections so
often made do not exist in practice.
President Raymond Of Vassar college is an
earnest advocate Of the highest possible educa-
ton for both men and women; of scholarships
and prolessorships for women and he believes
co-education will ultimately be the best for both
sexes, but at present he sees decided objections
TO it, and prefers colleges for girls exclusively.
All these different opinions have given rise 10
animated discussions, which, notwithstanding
their earnestness, have been conducted with
great courtesy and mutual respect
Mrs. Wayne's "Plea for fallen women" made
in fremont Temple before a large audience was
one of the most solemn things imaginable. The
evening was rainy, and the universal dark water
proofs filled the hall with kind of gloom. At
half-past seven Mr.. Bowles and a dozen ladies.
all, with one exception, in black, marched
across the great platform and sat to-
gether on the farther side Then DR.
Neale took his seat there; and then Mrs. Liver
more appeared with pale, delicate-looking,
pretty woman leaning on her arm 1t was an
effective appeal to the interest and sympathy of
the spectators. Mrs Livermore made a few in
troductoy remarks that were kind and resolute,
and Mrs. Wayne's lecture was received with
serious attention. She is a pleasant speaker,
and treats her subject with all possible refine
ar,t
made good impression on the larger part of
her hearers, although portion OF the excitable
and unwise ones applauded her attacks upon
ministers and public officials, and expressed
great delight in her statements about the cor
ruption and tyranny of society. She was illogic-
al; she brought no new contribution of thought
or of practical help to this terrible social prob
leu; but her lecture was highly approved by a
number of ladies and gentlemen, at whose re-
quest she delivered it. Society is not Indifferent
to this subject; it lies near the hearts of most
thoughtful women and men; but not all of
them believe in these public lectures, where
young boys and girls 90 in large num-
oers not all OF them believe that
lallen women" are, like negro slaves, the inyo-
uniary victims Of the injustice of society and
the brutality Of men; victims who loatbe tbeir
CONDITION and pray for death. Seen through the
veil of sentiment, romance, and undeseryed suc.
iering, sin loses something of It's hideous form
and repulsive features; and the slightest sus.
picion of martyrdom crowns the sinner with
something like halo. With this element of
pity, this feeling that women are far more
siuned against than SHINING so largely intro.
duced into social reform, there is no danger Of
harshness; but good deal of danger of iucon-
slderate ardor, oyer-enthuslasm and bitter dis.
appointment.
The last sale Of pictures at Leonard's auction
room was crowded. There were about ninety
pictures, most Of them New England landscapes.
As they hung together 10 the exhibition room,
the effect was rather monotonous. There were
seventeen BY Thomas Hill, lwenty-three by Ben
lamin Champney, mot Champ who is james,,
eighteen by Alfred Ordway, ana the rest BY Geo.
y. Shes. Mr. HilPs brought the highest prices,