Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-11-09

Some time ago, DR. Clarke, Of Boston
created sensation by publishing a book
maintaining the theory that the co-educatiou
of the sexes was not desirable. because the
physical nature of woman rendered her unfit
after maturity for the continuous appllcatlon
TO study or labor which man could undergo
without injury to his constitution. lie boldly
declared that n young woman was unable to
take her place beside a young man and do IA
mans work, and he proved 1t to the satistac-
tion of everybody but that class of reiormers
who hold that the dignity and value of
womanhood depend upon the closeneSs with
which the sexes resemble each other
The medical basis on which DIR. Clarke pro-
ceeded made the discussion of the question Il
delicate business, but the report Just pub
lished by the trustees of the University of
Wisconsin cannot fail to revive the subject
This institution, like many of the colleges of
the West, provides for the co-education of
the sexes, and in some respect its history goes
10 Justify such system. According to the
report of the trustees the young women at
the University of Winconsn show no mental
inferiority to the young men. They exhibit
the same proficiency i'll their classes, anu, ii
anything. excel in the precision and promp-
titude of their answers at recitation but the
ungnllant officials, too, do not hesitate to say:
ave were, however. deeply impressed with
the appearance of i'll health which most of
them presented.
An investigation into the cuases of this i'll
health was made at once. TIE investigation
of the college buildings, the sanitary charac
ter al their site, the quality OF the food fur
nished to the students, the condit III of the
apparatus :or lighting and heating all things
n atfarttpfy tho y.lrc,col ,v.ll laipr, of
tending the institution were carefully eX-
amined The result was that the trustees
came to the conclusion that the only reason for
the i'll health OF the girls lay i'll the simple fact
that they were girls, and therefore unfit TOR
the steady and wearing study of Il course
intended for men. They put DIR. Clarkc's
theory clearly in explaining this unfitness
Every psychologist is well aware that ut
stated times nature makes n great demand
upon the energies of early womanhood, and
and that at these times great caution must be
exercised lest injury be done an injury
which, it is we'll known, may prove Iermi-
nent. In order to keep place IN the univer-
sity classes, where the sexes are educated to-
gether. no account is taken of the fact that
the woman labors under double disadvnnt-
age as compared with the man First, in the
circumstance that nature compels compliance
with its well-established laws, and as above
stated, makes demands upon her energies
and, second, that to keep her class-standing
the girl must devote more energy and conse-
quently must work harder to accomplish her
task, making drafts upon her system which,
by the very nature of the case, is already
taxed to meet the physiological demand
made upon it. 1t is also well known that
Dverwork, in whatever way induced, at the
times indicated. will produce deterioration of
the system, which generally manifests itself
by blooilessness, followed by train of evils |
which it is not necessary here to enumerate. |
1t is this very condition of bloodlessness |
which is SO noticeable in the women of the |
at this time ; the sailow features, |
he pearly whiteness OF the eye, the lack OF |
,olor, the want of physical development in |
he majority and an absolute expression of |
snaemia in very many of the women students,
III indicate that demands are made upon
h EN- which they cannot meet"
These trustees are not opponents of any
yoman's right movement, but simply officials
Who have tested the working OF one of the
improvements ofmodern life and
ind grave reasons for doubling its wisdom.
Their observations should lead us to consider
whether, after all, the generations which pre-
eded us may not have reached some sound
onclusions in regard to the great problems
hat perplex humanity, and whether the sep
rate education of the sexes be not such
wise conclusion. Is not identity OF sexes in
abors in garment and in mental characteris-
les the outgrowth of savage life, and the diff
OF the sexes IL dress. education,
york and habits OF mind a mark of ci siliZa-
ion? Are not the so-called retormers who
eek to make woman merely 1.-THE lesser man
oing backward instead OF forward ~ Y.
y Ortd Editorial.