New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-16
SOCIAL SCIENCE CONVENTION

A
ACcORDs IN PART WITH COL. mGGNsos-Ex-
pERrEscEs AT vAssAR--rIE PRESIDENT or HAIR
WARD DEFENDS THE EXCLUSION on WOMEN, AND
~ THOROUGHLY ABUSED BY MRS. HOWE.
lyRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUSEl
BosroN, May 1.-THE announcement that
Col Hgeinson il 20 speak Boston Is usually
suoient Go gather tho cream Boston society to hear
him. and the presence OF large number OF ladies'
such an occasion matter Of no surprise to those who
know the extent and OF the Colones attractions,
and who remember that, though no has thrown of his
redmenals he still fights an earnest battle In the cause
OF with pen that's "mighter than the sword"
Under these 1t would have been matter
OF surprise rather than otherwise II there not
a good audience in Freeman Place Chapel, even
80 early O'Clock in the morning, aud on subject
which has such capacities for dryness Social Science
Is supposed TO have Social Science" is generality
not at all gitterng but when Is specialized into the
"Higher Education for Woman" nothing could DO more
attractive TO the intellectual appetite Of Boston Be-
Sides t whispered that, after the manner OF Bret
Hartes distant William Nye there certain persons
present would go for" Mr.. Higginson in manner
either social scientific and perhaps both The expected
presence Of Prof. Agassz lent color TO the last adj
jectiye. Not few there for the pur-
pose OF attending the Colonels funeral, and when
the President OF Harvard College appeared it was very
naturally supposed that he assist at the obse
ques President Eliot has a considerable reputation as
a Harvard undertaken here, but the magnitude OF the
undertaking proposed to himself will be recos-
nzed by all those who know Mr. Higginsons intelec-
tual stature and fighting weight. quiet meeting
would all have been impossible II confined TO the
elements I have named. But when Wendell Philips
entered tho chapel aud took front seat the hermom
eter wont up rapidly. fight was inevitable.
Mr. Phillips does not consider fighting among the
lost arts II should say that he would five miles out
Of his way any day for the sake Of disabling college
President might exaggerate the distance. 1t was evil
dent that If Mr. Hggnson exposed to any risk, his
friends had taken ample means to protect him.
SOMEBODY LIKELY TO BE A MARTYR.
Women we're present great force, several Of them pos
sessing the gift tongue, and all of them equal TO con-
siderable amount VI applause requlredt Mrs.
Julia Ward Howe Mrs. Cheney, Mrs LvermOre, Mrs.
Dali women who able plead their own cause were
part OF the counsel the plaintiff President Raymond
Of Vassar College another champion aud there were
hosts Of others who might b9 called upon TO say some
thing II time should arrive when there was something
to be said The Rev. DR.. Barto!, MI ana MIS- D. L.
Sargent william Glunet and other representative OF
tue Radical Club wore there, like many AarOns and
Hurs to hold up tho Of IsraePs champion If 1t
should appear that was able to hold them up him
self b. Eaton, who last night read his excel
lent paper municipal government sat quietly beside
Prof Agassz Of Boston teachers were scattered
here and there. But beside President Eliot 1t was not
HigginsOn was to be. In fact. rs the discussion
will show you, that gentleman had the WORK
of demolition mainly In his own hands. think any
body ever foOshly doubted President EiOts courage,
will be occasion to do 80 again instead OF Mr
HgginsOn being the martyr some had supposed IL
was President Eliot He went to the stake ike man.
with firm unfalterng tread and amount Of grit that
college presidents not generally supposed TO possess
He and not Col Hggnson had the unpopular side Of the
afro m IN IL
Spartan fortitude; and If he did not succeed in con-
yincng people Of the strength OF his position he did
convince them OF his earnesness candor, ana good
temper substantiyes which sorry 20 say cannot BIO
applied in every to those who answered him. But
am anticipating the course Of the discussion.
The venerable Josiah Quincy took tho chair and intro
duced Mr. HiggnsOn AS you will probably have
printed at length the Coloners address before this
reaches YOU need remind you Of its character nor
will it necessary recall his points since they were
so clearly presented that could read the paper
and forget IL about To the charm Of clear
sparkling stream Of English prose he adds grace OF
voice and manner delivery which adorns his logic if it
does not justify 1t.
PROF. AGAssIz on THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN.
Prof Agassiz was the first to take the Oor II he felt
that he undertaking big task in following Mr.
Higdnson he received lack OF announcement, for
the sight his genial face the signal tor vehement
applause He said that he had there with the in
might better adhere bis resolutions but he thought
1t necessary upon statements which had
been made, and with which no could not Saying
this he did not wish TO place himself in wrong posi-
tion referred TO the wrong SIDE He believed no
the right side of the question: that is, he held
the imperative necessity OF granting woman in any
enlightened community all the privileges political and
educational which any has a right to claim. This
sentiment was greeted with loud applause. Still he
thought it to correct some OF Col HgSnsons
statements And first. in reference TO the dinner table,
have sat- said the Professor, fora longer time than
he, sorry to say, at tables at which have met
ladies and gentlemen, and have watched them just as
1 am IN the habit watching everything which passes
around me; and have always found that ladies and
gentlemen would be helped to different dinner from
other that their preferences their appettes their
needs with to diet not the Whether
the table is always provided these needs
whether people have always the discretion TO take that
which most useful and most beneficial is another ques
on But think that the absolute statement that and
women need the diet, take same is not
correct. Physicians know it we'll Even among men
there discrimination made. The scholar who sits at
his table do intellectual work needs very different
diet from the man who uses only his muscles AS long
IA there shall be different vacations among there
will be need Of that discrimination And it is no evil
dence OF ignorance the part OF physician that he
aludes this necessity of regarding the SEX" There
are physicians who have made wild assertions, and
these would leave to the tender mercies OF the Colo
mel and his ready wit. He did not claim to be a
Psychologist. His training in science had
been in another direction; but he felt bound
TO say that psychologists work upon facts
and statistics perhaps thoroughly than any
other class As to the question OF what shall be taught
and what range OF educational topics belong
10 man, he did not see that there is any
reason for discrimination lie did not that there are
subjects OF intellectual activity which belong
more particularly TO than To the other. He
wished 60 permitted 10 few words in regard to
his dongs ~ show by statement OF fact his posi-