The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-07-09
From the London Times.
THE PROBLEM OF THE EDU-
CATION OF WOMEN.

Mr.. Cowper Temple yesterday
brought before the House Of Com
mons the legal disabilities which the
lady students Of Edinburgh have en-
countered ia pursuing the study Of
medicine. He narrated how, five
years ago, they had been admitted
by the Medical Faculty, with the
con sent Of other authori les, and " ere
recognized and registered as students
of medicine. But difficulties soon
arose. 1t was, of course, essential
that the ladies should receive instrnc-
ton in separate classes, and this de-
manded more time then the existing
staff of Professors could spare.
Doubts arose, moreover, upon further
consideration, whether the Universe
ty had legal power to give degrees TO
women, and the Scotch courts ulti-
mately decided that it had not. The
result. no doubt, inflicted some hard
ship upon the ladies, who had been
working in the hope of being admit
ted to degree, and who wele thus
permitted to spend both time and
money in fruitless attempt. 1t is
a little amusing, indeed, that one Of
the ladies, who mad rendered herself
most conspicuous, should, af{er all,
have failed under the test OF examin-
alton; but the University Of Edin-
burgh would have done better to form
at the outset a more accurate estimate
of it's capacities and its legal powers.
The only remaining resource, how
ever, Of the ladies is to prepare a
removal Of the disability under which
the University lies, and Mr.. Cowper
Temple appeared as the advocate Of
this proposal. He extended it, in
deed, to all the Scottish Universities,
and there would obviously be no
reason for making an exception. lie
did not propose to compel the Uni
versities to admit women 10 degrees,
but simply to leave them power to do
SO if they thought fit. The forms of
the House precIuded his motion from
being put; but it gave occasion to an
interesting conversation, though we
can not add that the question was
materially elucidated.
There have been of late several in
dications that this subject needs to be
treated with more frmness than has
been hitherto displayed, and that the
points at issue need to be more dis
tinctly recognized. It was natural
at first toindulge in vague and polite
genelai;ies on the subject. When
ladies at first claimed a place among
the studies and pursuits Of men, the
first impulse was to indulge an ex-
ceptional and, for that reason, harm
less inclination. 1t could hardly be
supposed at first that the claim would
be crossed SO far as to demand iden-
tity in the whole intellectual and pro-
fessional position of the two sexes,
and many abstaned from expressing
a decided opinion from feeling that
it would be supe5huous. But it is
evident this attitude can no longer
be maintained. If mere politeness
and gsod nature are allowed to guide
us, all the barriers will soon be re-
moved which have insured a. distinc.
ton between the modes Of education
Of the two sexes, and we shall have a
variety Of experiments on female ca.
paclty tried Oh all sides, There are
those who tell us to- trust in this
matter to nature. But nature does
not exclude oversight and deIiberation
on the part ct those who work ont
her purposes No doubt she will
assert herself if the laws are violated :;
but it Is better, if possible. to find
out her laws beforehand and avoid
violating them. We have to face the
question whether It IS desirable to
encourage women in entering without
restriction upon the careers Of men.
Time and reflection, perhaps may
modify the question at issue; but it
is in this bare form that il is at pres
ent advanced. We must observe,
therefore, that great part Of Mr..
Cowper Temples pleas in fa1or~ot
the higher education of women are
beside the mark. There is not, we
boIiaua on~r .,,o.,l:oo ...o.4l- a4: =.