, 1875-07-22
THE HIGHER EDUCATION Of WOMEN,

THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN.
Fnssar Collage, when it wns founded, WaB
tho best institution Of the aort in the United
States. 1t is hereafter TO have competitors
which may eclipse it. Not that it has retro
graded. 1t sconls to havo advanced. It hns,
moreover, tho great advantage of seyern1
years experience. But MATTHEW VAssAn's
donation Of tho money set All example which
has since boon followed, nntl, like most cx-
asnplos, improved upon Next full will see
Tho opening of two largo colleges designed
for feminine education, and apparently most
wisely planned Each Inns peculiar features.
The experience of tho next ten years, in them
md In Vassar, will go far towards settling
vnrious vexed questions about tho education
Of women.
Sage College will be IN experiment in
modified co-aducation. When Corneu Uni
vernisy WAS organized, Tho seal chosen for it
bore Ezra CoRSK1L's Eaying that ho wished
to found IN institution in which my one
could bc taught anything But tho saying
was forthwith faiaiiled by tho refusal Of tho
authorities to admit women Rs students.
Some time ago, tho Hon. II. W. SAGE offered
tho University $300,000 on condition TINT
the money should bo used in promoting tho
highor education Of women. Tho ofrer was
too great to be rejected. The Trustees ewal-
lowcd their scruplcs against co-etlucation md
pocketed tho cash. Hence Sago College.
1ta ample root ia to shelter 12o young women,
who will follow the aama course Of studies
as tho Cornell boys do They aro to
attend certain lectures and rocitations
with tho malo members Of the Univor-
Hity, but will bavo separate instruc-
ton in other branches, The University
will grant them tho sano degrees bestowed
upon male graduates. Sage College will
practically 10 ono of group Of colleges
which together form Cornell University. It
Is said to hare boon suggested by tho sucoeas
Of Girton College, ut Cambridge, in which
English women are getting university etl,-
cation, and which hopes ere long to be fully
recognized as part of tho University.
Tho other now college beara tho beautiful
and uncommon name of Smith. It is the
child of Misa sorH1A SMrr11, Of Hatfold,
Mass., whose brother left her $2oo, 900 fif-
teen ycars ago. She decided to uso it to on-
dow some charitable institution, but hes
itatod between two o1tremes,-an asylum
for the doaf mud dumb and college for
women. She finally decided in favor of
tho latter. After ton years' study of tho
question OF fcmalo education, Bho made up
ler mind, male her will, and liod The
buildings Of Smith College hnyo been erected
at Northampton, Mass., and the ArBt class
will be admitted next full. Tho President ia
Prof. (nov Congrossman) skE1YE, The Col
logo contains no dorrnitorics. Tho students
arc to board in the village, live in the FAM
illcs Of tho Professors, or practice cooperative
housekeeping In cottages built on the College
grounds. The course Of study is 10 bo "a
comprehensive as that of Yale or Harvard,
and the examination for admission Is proposed
to be - thorough a. it is in those Univer-
siuea,
It will be seen that Vessar, sage, and
Smith Colleges differ radically in their fnnda-
mental principles. Educators everywhere
will watch tue three with interest.