The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-02
Chr Rutlanl Daily 6lohe,
MONDAY, MARCH 2. 1874.
a Woinnm's Ideas about "a Esecem,
Book

grca. deal of attention; from the fact
presume, that it treats one phase of the
irrepressiblc woman question in a some
what new light. In his sex in education,
Dr. Clarke abandons the old arbitrarily
assumed premise of the Inherent difference
in quality of the masculine and feminine
intellect, and the utter incapacity of the
latter under any training to attain to the
breadth and depth of calture which the
former undoubtedly reaches. DR.. Clarke
argues the question from purely physio-
logical standpoint. There is naught he
aftlrms, in the constitution of woman's
liver, or wOman's brain, to apprisc the
most skillful anatomist of the gender of
his subject. The mental process by which
many masters learn a lesson in German, is
identical with that by which John acquires
the same. These are not his exact words
but think the substance is the same.
The doctor reasons kindly and candidly
but think, 18th wrong conclusions: for
the inference which me must draw from
his book is, as he himself says, that the
higher education of woman is intellectually
a success, physically, failure.
Many pens have been busy confirming
his views, or answering his arguments, and
contradicting some of his statements.
Perhaps | can add nothing to what has
already been said; but being woman and
consequently, a highly interested party,
| MAJ be allowed to dissent from the Doc
tors conclusion and state my reasons for
dissenting.
do know that all over the land in the
busy cities, in quiet hamlcts, in lonely
farm-houscs, there are earnest thinking
women, who are anXiou>ly watching the
progress of events, eager for the day that
shall give to their sex, an opportunity for
broader culture; stronger incentives to
earnestness of purpose in living, and a
deeper realization of the great problems OF
life.
With joyful hearts they have watched the
gradual, very gradual lifting of the stan
dard of education for woman.
This is one of the glad signs of the times
for these believe that the trivolties and ca.
prices which characterize so many of the
sex will never be abated until loftier aim.
and trucr purposes are held up before, ant
impressed upon the minds of women, even
from the cradle up. And how shall this be
done. save by educating carefully, ant
thoroughly those, who are to become the
mothers-thc real educators of the race?
But DR. Clarke does not oppose educa
ton of women in the abstrac He is OPP
posed to what is commonly called co-educa
ton. He does not boliovo that women ar,
physically strong enough to compete witt
their brothers in thorough college cur
rculum With all Difference to his pro
; tcssional-and therefore, to many. pre-
sumably correct-opinons | beg to differ
and being Il woman feel that | am justifiet
in so doing. Nor do | speak ignorantly
for having had considerable experience
both as pupil in an institution which ha
the unenviablc reputation, wrongfully,
fully believe-of running the constitution
of its students by over work and as teach
er of both girls and boys, | think / ma,
say that II speak that | do know
and testify that / have seem" 1t i
not hard study that is breaking the con
situations of our women to the degree that
five are ready to take the word of many,
thoroughly healthy woman is an anomal,
in our middle and, what are termed tn,
higher ranks of society.
What if lady Amberly did say, on visit
lug one of the Boston schools, that she nev
; er saw so many pretty girls together, ant
added shut they all look sck"
1t is enough to know that it was in tn,
city, and abundant reasons can be found il
the city life of girls, in particular to accoun
for the pale checks and fragile forms, with
out laying the blame to hard study. Doubt
less girls have been found, are found, to
day who have injured their health BY stud
and even lost their lives from the cause
but do not think the circumstance com
mon. But to return to the city girls; win
does not know, who knows anything of cit
life at all, how wholly unnatural and over
strained an existence it is to nine.tenhs q
those whose childhood and youth are spen
in its atmosphere? There is a chance 70
the boys who may be turned into the street
or allowed to HE away to park or conmo
. to make the most of those poor substitute
for the boundless freedom of the country
But the girls, heaven pity them shut up i
the heated houses, growing up in the shade
e fragile and delicate perhaps, but with i'm
paired constitutions, bound to fade, losn
all their pale prettiness long before tn
midsummer of life is upon them, and oftc
to droop and die ere its morning is past
Nor are our country villages without thei
quota of girls like these. But where is til
fault? viii you say it is the severe menta
discipline of the schools?
Oh good doctor, are there not excitement
and strains put upon the physical system
of our girls, infinitely worse than thos
which are borne in the recitation room?
You touched upon the abuses of woman
dress and you did well, but what of the in
tence excitement, the fever heats entaile
by nights of dissipation, following each 9th
er in quick succession, at an age when, a
you say, the forces of nature are all require
to build up and strengthen the system?
How about the irregularity of diet, i
many cases fostered by indulgent friend
producing morbid app tte which, in il
turn, being gratifed, deranges the Who'll
organism? Is it not AS reasonable TO info
% that these are the seeds from which sprin
this plentiful and sadlening crop of ills {
" which so many of our women complain, a
that studies, regularly, and systematicall
- pursued with good degree of open air On
ercse, and regularity in diet, could be tn