Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-01-29
Co-Education-Th Equality Of the ScNcs nj AM
AVbur

An alun.Hns of Anu Arbur writes 70 the
Chicago Times as follows The equality Of
the women in the university IS perhaps the
most noticeable feature to the returning
graduate. They are as perfectly free from
surveillance anl restraint a. their brothers.
The university has no dormitories or com
mons, and students room and board in pri-
vate houses about the city. One young lady
occupies tie apartments next TO mine, and
her wavs of doing things are in such con-
trast with those Of the ladies who were first
to avail themselves Of the privileges of the
university, As to keep me in Il state ofchronic
wonder. Only three or four years ago when
we called upon our lady classmates, instead
of lisregarding the barrier Of the front door
and going directly to their room, as was our
course in calling upon the boys. we rang the
bell, were ushered into the parlor, and sent
up our cards, and there awaited their COM
ing. Things are different now. When
gentleman calls upon my friend next door he
is not more formal than in seeking her
brothers across the hall. lie walks at once
to the room and raps. And she does mt con-
sumo several minutes in rushing to her bed
room. consulting her mirror, Arranging her
hair, and changing her sacque, and then 20
and open the door. She lust sits still and
calls. Come ~ for all the world as careless
" and naturally as lone of the boys" and in
the caller walks.
Nv neighbor, who, by the way, is pretty
net vet oat OF her teens. and the daughter Of
wealthy citizen of a large city in 4 neigh
boring state, who moreover ranks well in
her class, and enjoys the respect Of all who
know her, has great deal of company, and
| sometimes hear a half dozen callers in
there, talking, laughing, and having good
time; and from my room 4 graduate of 4
few wears standing would, uniniormed, haye c
no suspicion that the sounds came not from
/ the rooms of one Of the Jolly good fellows
such as he knew in undergraduate days.
The pioneer ladies in the university were
( regarded with curiosity, their conduct in
minute matters commented upon freely, and
/ an extraordinary circumspection seemed to
/ be demanded of them. They acquitted
/ themselves well, and now the authorities and
public opinion demand little more from their
successors than from gentlemen students.
/ Ladies and gentlemen alike are required to
attend rectatons and pass the regular exam
nations or be partially plucked." But
| beyond these two requirements they are free.
They room and board where they please, keep
what hours they like, receive what company
and when the choose, attend what parties
they will. Surely, the equality of the sexes
Is literally observed.
Now let he add that these blue stocking
ladies compare well in beauty, taste in dress,
modesty and ladylike department with their
sisters of the gay world; that no marked
tendency to radicalism or obstrusiOn of pecu-
liar opinions is manifested by them. and that
they yet rank considerably above the aver
age OF their classes These facts may aston
ish opinonatei opponents of co-education
to which your correspondent contesses him
self a recent convert.
But, on the other hand their presence does
not appear to exercise any powerful eleva-
ing tendency upon the average student, or to
have wholly eradicated his ancient barbara
ty, which results its theoretical friends con-
| fidently asserted would intallibly follow.
True, the ladies have been treated with
marked Difference. and rarely has one had
occasion to blush o= turn away because OF
! an improper remark made in her presence.
But this proves nothing, for the American
student was always gallant and was rarely
disposed to encourage public vulgarity. But