, 1873-06-29
GIRLS AND THEIR OPPORTUNITIES

E7oH kHS 1csfoH AQreFfissr.
! Athough the University at Cambridge still "a
fuses to admit women as studeuts within j.;
walls, it is quite willing TO Assist in vh,t =
8 ealeo taelr higher education, and to give them
opportunity for collegiate study under its super.
: vlslon- Ihs Faculty Of the College have Jus.
t made arrangements Tor the examination o,
0 women IN course Of study carefully marked
J ont Tor them, and Published with full list 81
! tho necessary books. The preliminary exam.
!, nation will be held for the first TINA i,
! June OF next year, and will embrace
Enghsh' French. phYaical geography.
! po1any or Pny8lcs, arithmetic, algebra through
quaofatlc equations, plane geometry, history.
and either Greek, Latin, or German An sd-
7anced examination will be held for oir1a vho
have passed the preliminary one.
No girl under II is received st the arst e7.uf-
nation, none under 18 at the second This re-
stfiction is, we think, q wise one. The years b.
sween II and 20 are in most caseB the best years
OF Womans life for uninterrupted study. Her
health should then no vigorous; she snou1d
have the enthusiasm OF youth; should not be
| burdened by socla1 duties or domestic cares
! should be prepared for the College course By
her training in the public or in private schools.
and should find those last years Of study yeara
4
| mental and physical strength.
! No degrees are conferred On female stu denta
but they receive certidcatea signed by the Presi-
dent, declaring that L has passed, passed with
distinction, OF passed with the highest distinc,
| tion, the preliminary or advanced examination
held under the direction Of the Faculty Of
| Harvard College. The fee for tho prelimI.
| nary examination is 315; that for the
| advanced, $40: Notices OF the place and
didates. The Womkn's Education Associatioo
| will take charge Of those held in Boston, will
| provide board and lodging, and assist IN paying
| the cost OF examinations for those girls Tho
need such help. The first examination will list
| seven days.
We welcome anything that puts the best mean,
Of education within the reach OF men OF women.
II only one woman in the country is convinced
that ahe needs education according to Harvard,
she can have her desire or ambition
satisfied. But re wish to say emphatc,lIy
that the great defect in the present sTs:em
Of female education is fundamental. and can
not be remedied by any course OF advanced study.
Women are, as a general thing, ta1ght from.
books, reference to their practical duties
OF their condition in life As the world ia now
most women leave school and enter at once upon
their share Of the endless and often depressing
cares Of household. The fortunate feW-if in
deed they are fortunate-who escape these
cares, are exceptions to the general rule and
public education should be for the greatest good
Of the greatest number, not for the e1cep-
tional few. Tnero is no question that uiaalY-
cultivated intellect is, or should be, an infinite
source Of happiness. Mr. HRmmerton eays that
1.-THE essence OF intellectual living resides not
in the extent of science or perfection OF express
sion, but in 4 constant preference for higher
thoughts over lower thoughts." This preference
it is the province of teachers to create and ea-
tabliBh; 10 woman who possesses ii can be TOO
grateful for /. ; it often makes for her the di1ar
ence between a lifo Of happiness and one Of
misery
It has been our good fortune to know woreu
Of this and the last generatlon,-women who
were almost without what are now catlod " Id
vantages of education, because disadvantages
did not then cxist,-who might be models Ter
They we're women who had been taught practi-
caIlY, and had, besides, trained intelectuas
tastes. They we're mattresses in their house.
holds, able, and often obliged, to do all the wccl
sickness OF appalled, BY danger, for they had beet
taught to meet both with caimnesa and akiIL
But they were not irritated OF demoraGzed by
their petty cares, or the real drudgery OF tLeir
work; they knew how to keep these snbordinste,
and their noble intellectual tastes, rahter than
their petty cares, gave the tone to their li7ea;
hall-houE' a reading each day Of Bacon, OF Nil.
ton, or Sir Thomas Browne; half-hour's study
OF some science or art; half-hour's work at
mathematics, has held to its highest uses
many day Of many q woman's LIE
TINT would otherwise have gone to Hasta
and weakness, To be able to get out Of thu
pressure and hurry Of life, to stand aside, asit
were, and see things in their truo lights and trus
proportions, is one OF the best results Of educa-
ton. such reading or such study Lifts vnnau.
out OF the daily routine; ahe stands above it.
sees the end and tho good Of it, sees how emal
the obstacles are that looked like mountains to
low what are considered the special worries IT
women to ruff1e her dignity or cloud her mind
The trouble to-day il, that girls confound Sc
quisition Of knowledge with education. and pride
themselves on certain number OF facts which
they have stored in their memories, and which,
for few years, they use with Bhovy effect, They
think they know great deal more than they do;
they peep through the windows Of science, SEQ
q star here and flower thers, t1iae litts
nth psaea ss h's Ss tss1 and e.us6ss .ts nd
mers, botanists, and chemists; they III
derva1uo all knowledge which they do not I
possess, and are inclined to dcapise all lsho1, {
save that Of the student. There is no branch Of I
8 no height Of learning to which girls may no.
.spire but they shon,4 be taught, most OF al {
personal dignity, the need and the beauty Ut /
.daptlng themselves to the life in which they !!
'ible, have practical application they should
understand that they cannot know much at any- {
ate, and should learn the gracas Of intellectual
nodesty. +
Tho present method Of education is very IN
Ike the old, but wo not sure it is an improve 4
1ent upon it, it makes different women, but :
re should not dare to say that it makos better +
mes. It should keep what is Of worth in thu +
Id, and add to it what is Of worth in the mex.
70 would have girls taught, as they used to b
aught, the elements OF English education, sew: 4
ng, helpfulness. system, obedience, respect for i
sc and character, simple and healthfnl habita1-
0 learn these last five is saving rather than 4
n expenditure OF time,-and q taste for study I
~, r1rtN. Z
ave few years OF classical studJ,-the Ealns
I which will be felt in many important but indl*
ect ways; It gives quality to tho mind that 70
ther studies do give, To know that Life sud
1orld Of the past, their greatness, their wisdom
seir accomplishments, their heroes. nhjloste,
be conceit, impatience, hurry, and superficial I
tudy which are the dangers Of thoss who Me
holly in the present. Classical studies gFa
fine poise to the mind which it neyar. qute
oses, and which it ia not hard to keep, even u
be midst Of wonan's practical life, IT sho na
be al1~important intellectual taste. =,
st ID, rafso 3oo |