New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-02

| Omeu IN the SOHe&eSs
A correspondent of the Chicago TriJu,s
writing from Ann Arbor, Michigan, give
some in teresting information Of the praot
cal workings of the coeducation of til
sexes in the University of Michigan, at thu
place. We quote:
In the literary department co-educatio
is acknowledged on all sides to be su,
cess. During the few years of trial man
| questions in regard to woman's capacit
tor sustained and heavy intellectual labo
without i'll results following have bee
seven women in this department mar,
might be selected who are living refuta
| tons of DR.. Clarke's theory. Their robus
| forms and full faces prove, in their owl
| cases at least, that their study is not under
mining their constitutions, nor making o
them physical wrecks. There are not few
who have come to Ann Arbor in compare
lively poor health, and who, after year.
solid labor, have been really benefited BY
their life here. They all say that the
regular life, the constantly recurring
subjects of interest and of novelty
the pleasurable excitement of daily prepa
ration for Rotations, and the satistac.
ton of working toward some aim, more
than counterbalance the injuries which
might follow excessive fatigue and too in,
tense mental application. Their happy
and contented looks speak volumes for the
way in which they enjoy their wslk. Their
attendance upon college compares favora-
oily with that OF the men. There are nu-
merous cases of lad y students who have not
missed recitation for two or even three
years: and when compelled to be away, it
was not on account OF sickness, but because
a ba mir q,
some unforeseen circumstance.
The dress of these women who have dared
70 step a little out of the beaten track OF
"wOman's sphere" and "woman's duties" is
not at all different from their sisters at
home. They are compelled, of necessity,
from the amount of work required OF them.
to dress plainly, but they do not allow this
to exclude neatness nor taste in its arrange
ment. There is many woman in the uni
versity who would be singled out in a crowd
of well dressed women any " here as a person
Of taste and refinement.
When women were first admitted to the
university The great majority Of lockers OH
the experiment with suspicion,
and even contempt. 1t was generally pre-
1icted that none but coarse. grained, loud
'Oiced and brawnv "shriekers" in bloomers
md short hair would dare to enter the uni
7ersity. Time has showed how false
we're the predictions. Women with soft
,oices and gentle manners are the rule
ere, not the exception. If there are
ONE whose manners might be called
loud" their want Of popularity
mong the women as we'll as the men.
rove that the unchangiDg laws of nature |
re at work here as we'll as elsewhere. The |
ady and the hoyden soon find their level, |
.Oveliness of manner and character are
ttractlve, even in a woman who has strug- |
led with the problems of the Integril Cal. |
illus, or mastered the Greek of S0phocles
nd of Plato. The students regard the
resence Of women in the University in
quiet, gentlemanly, matter OF course man
er. They meet them in the halls and on
le stairs, in the recitation rooms, and
q the college grounds. Wherever there
re classes, there are women. And one
oes not perceive any failure on the part of
le gentlemen to extend to the women those
tile, delicate attentions, which have, in all
me been instinctively granted them, and
hich 1.-THE truth must be spoken) are 90
'ar to every woman's heart. There
no presuming upon acquaintance from
70 mere fact of having reclted together |
Is really matter OF remark how few |
Iuaintances are made among the students
re, when one remembers that they see
oh other daily. and constantly hear each
|
friendly and untriendly critics. One
~. recently q aluated, told me, not long
ice, that she never spoke to classmate, |
lopg the gentlemen, until her senior year,
q then only after formal Introduction. ,
are kept so busy that there is really
ry little time for social intercourse /.
70 most that can be done is to meet
ends Friday and Saturday evenings. {
ere are few women who have the .
lrage to attempt to keep up society :
iie attending college. But occasionally {
e Is found who does understand both l {
We one especially in minu. The most :
castle wit would scarcely be able to {
d any trace OF the traditional "blue | {
cking, either IN dress OF manners. I
the day the junior hop was given-by I
way the most brilliant social affair =
s year in Ann ArbOr-besides her regular c
ties she listened and took notes to a lee c
e from the professor in Greek on Epic !;
try and the HOmeric discussion, and, | =,
The afternoon. she heard another lecture | C
N the professor in Latin on Roman an Z
mites. In the evening this demure little =
dent OF the day could scarcely be recog- | e
under the gasight, in pink {
IN, honlton lace and powdered hair. G
'tainly queer melange OF duties and =
asure for one day. The women are 1
e. And from all that l can &
m and observe, l do not see that G
woman, whose desire for study and de- q
opment leads her to accept this grand Z,
'ortunity placed within her grasp. is in C.
danger OF becoming masculine, or ..uu- q
manly, ~ reason OF the broader intel ~
ual culture and discipline she is gaining c,
by day, nor that the H-adents have been C
red by her presence, nor that the stand c.
OF scholarship has been lowered -