New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-31
OGONTZ.

The country-seat of Jay Cooke, near Phila-
dclphia, Ogontz was recently put UP at auc-
ton and Withdrawn for the present, none OF
the bids reaching the sum at which 1t is held.
We understand that, provided this place can
be purchased for reasonable amount, it will
be bought by the Presbyterian Church, or GER
tain leading members of it, for the establish
ment of a National School for Women, equal
in extent and scope to Vassar College, and
giving not only theoretical, but technical ed
ucation, fitting its pupils to gain their own liv-
ing by practical professions or handicrafts.
The estate of Mr.. Cooke and the enormous
house which he built upon it are probably we'll
fitted for this purpose. Both must necessarily
he sold below their actual cost. The objection
made to their purchase is that, with most charl-
table or novel experiments in philanthropy III
this country, the larger share of the money for
their support is sunk in uselessly splendid build
ings. There is 10 excuse in common sense for
making our State prisons, asyums for lunatics or
idiots or similar institutions the cOstiest OF mar
bic palaces. In ordinary cases an experiment
of this kind should begin with the fewest and
simplest necessary appliances, which should
enlarge only as required. In this case there
would, however, be q reasonable apology for
large outlay at frat. An institution which Is
meant to adequately represent one of the most
powerful religious bodies in the country should
have "a certain external dignity to give it
prestige and proper rank, and such dignity in
this case would be its best advertisement.
OF the undertaking itself we cannot speak
with too much praise. Needy women in this
country, III nine cases out of ten, will tell you
to-day that it is not suffrage nor any vague
right that they need, but some plain, prac-
tcable way, which is not sewing or teaching.
TO earn their food and clothes We talk Of
the battle of life before young boy; but
think what it is that his sister has to fight
No matter what her education, the difficulty
before her is the same. IL she tries 10 teach land
the percentage of women really fitted for
teachers il as small as that of men) her pay is
meager and the chance of finding work is
slight; il she goes into the shops as clerk or
saeswOman her wages are less than those of
an ordinary servant; nothing is left but the
needle and the kitchen. 1t is true, there are
medicine, the arts, engraving, designing OF
every kind, chemistry as applied to dozen pay
ing occupations, telegraphy-in short, countless
skilled handicrafts requiring technical knOwl-
edge which she has not and delicacy OF eye or
hand which she has far more than her brother.
If she tries to gain the technical knowledge,
and afterwards to put it to practical account,
see what Obstacles lie in her way,-the sneers,
the Indifference, the absolute refusal of men
to help her to make her living in the easy
lucrative ways which they have 50 long
mOnOpOlized.
If the Presbyterian Church takes up the
work of furnishing this technical knowledge
to young girls and abolshing the absurd pref
udice against their use of it, it will deserve
the gratitude of every woman in the country,
and accomplish good service for its Master.