Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-04-24
WOMEN TO THE PRoNr.

Under this inviting salutation the San
Francisco Chronicle of o recent date
speaks very highly, and deservedly so,
too, of Mrs. L. M. II. Wauzer, a female
student who has been matriculated in
the Medical Department of the. Univer-
sity of California, and who evil soon
be sitting on the front seat of the lee
ture amphitheatre, and cutting poor
humanity to pieces in the disseoting
room," and adds, I" she is the first wo-
man on this coast who. has ever been
admitted to similar honor and champi-
onship." Here we take issue with the
Chronicle. If our California editors
would but see that Oregon is on g this
coast, with oil her glorious history,
they would find examples and prece-
dents here for those important matters,
and things which are sure to follow in
their own State, and of which, ON the
first occasion of notice of them, they
boast SO much. Ga.@, es
Oregon has o daughter who has al
ready received the highest honors in
the medical profession, and is now reap
ing the fruits of lucrative practice of
medicines in this State. We allude to
Miss B. A. Owens, M. D., of the firm
of w. l.. Adams & Owens, physicians
and druggists, of Portland. Miss Ow-
ems came to Oregon with her parents in
1S43, being then mere child. She
early evinced o strong desire to learn;
to acquire scientific education. Hav-
ing no means to enable her pursue her
studies, except what pioneers shared in
common-those were just what their
own hands could procure. She strug-
gled on through great privation in this
new country until she became, though
young, the accomplished mistress of
her personal fortune. At that early day
and for years thereafter the opportuni-
ty for learning on this coast were very
few and far between. With the sub
iect of this sketch it was an individual
work. She first prepared herself for
teacher and followed the occupation
unta she removed to y more shisRly
settled portion of the State, among re-
lations and friends, and engaged in
more lucrative business, pursuing her
medical studies at the same time. Af-
ter few years, being fully prepared,
and having by her industry secured q
competency, she entered the Medical
University OF Pennsylvania, at Phila-
delphia, where, in due time, she gradu-
ated with the honors OF her class. Miss
Owens, therefore, is not only the first
woman of this coast who has ever been
admitted to such honor, but she is the
first woman Of the Pacific States who
had the moral courage to enter class
of students in medical college where
men and women studied and pFacticed
medicine together. 70 the honor of
her sex be it said, that it is the woman
after all who does this work for herself.
And while to Mrs Wauzer great credit
is given, we cannot allow Oregcus grad
uate and medical practitioner to be
overlooked in the order OF her promo
ton to the high honor she enjoys in the
medical profession. Miss Owens now
has her diploma from the college mem
toned, showing d aeomplete success, and
triumph over all the reyefses and OBJ
stacles which she had 10 encounter In
her early days. The example OF this
lady is worthy of emulation and cons
mendation. Another instance where
true merit and genius have b6en re-
warded regardless of the embarfass-
ments usually thrown in the way of
woman in her endeayors to fill q posi-
ton for which she is by virtue OF her
sex so eminently qualified and deserv-
ing. Oregon Statesman. ssi iis