The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-07-09

deprecated. Whom is Mr.. Cowper-
Temple arguing against when he
speaks OF the disadvantage Of women
being Ignorant OF arithmetic J? Con
slderatlons Of this sort are merely
preliminary. and leave the main
problem unstated as we'll as unsolv-
ed. That propIem is by what means
the capacities of women may be best
developed. Is it the best means for
cultivating their nature to submit
them to precisely the same training
as men ? That is question not to
be answered by generalities about
knowledge having no divisions COR
responding to that of sex. and CON-
sistlng ofthe same laws and facts.
whether learned by men or women.
But education is not the mere acqui
.sltion OF facts. It is their acquisi
ton in q particular manner and with
reference to a particular purpose.
Men do not spend the early years
Of their lives IN studying facts in
general; they pursue a course which
is strictly regulated with a view to a
professional purpose. A. great deal
Of their study and of their ACCIDENTAL
life is, intellectually and estheticaly.
speaking, very roughly and, so TO
speak, unscrupuIousjy subordinate
to practical ends. A hundred things
are assumed, omitted, or adjusted by
their teachers ON the assumption of
their being men, knowing what men
know and having to do what men do.
The thing is the growth Of centuries,
and IS simply an accommodation TO
what have hitherto been the facts
Of life. Now, what We are asked to
do is, On a sudden, to throw all these
arrangements aside, and prepare for
admitting girls and women to the
ordinary education If men. THAT
the form which prolonged competi-
ton has impressed upon that course
will be materially modified cannot be
seriou ly supposed, and the question
is whether 1t is the best way Of
educating women's nature to expose
them to this rough course Of training.
We are bound in common prudence,
not to say kindness, to look that
question fairly in the face. Difficult
ties, OF course, arose at once with
respect to the medical training of
women; but not less real, though
less palpable difficulties would
arise IN all other departments Of
study The education of men, in
fact, is very rough struggle, and
there is nothing unreasonable in
thinking it as undesirable that
women should engage in it as thai
they should compete with men in
athletic sports.
What the friends Of woman's edu-
cation would be wise to do is to en-
deayor to frame some special courses
of study for them, AID to open the
way to them Tor some distinctive
kind of work. There were many
good arguments aGduoed yesterday
for admitting women to D share in
snch work as that Of battling with
disease and death. We doubt, like
the Lord Advocate. Mr.. Henley's
statement that the death rate is in
creasing and the supply of doctors
il diminishing But women have
done good work as nurses, and may,
no doubt, do good work il some high
er branches Of medical labor It
do 8 not seem to be perceived, how
ever, that this IS only an argument
for giving them further opportuni
ties, and Is no argument at all for a
bare scheme of admitting them al
once to the whole training and career
Of men, AS we have said, people
must make up ther minds more def
nHiteflY on the the subject There, are
those who believe that women are
capable of precisely the same work
and training 1allr g as men, and they are
right to advocate the abolition Of all
conventional distinctio.sS. 81 But we
are satisfied we express the general
conviction, and the verdict of Nature.