The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-08-24
Education of Women,


1t is a fact that cannot be denied, that
in this land of boasted freedom women
are denied privileges that are freely
granted them in other countries. In
France, Germany, Austria, Russia, and
England institutions of learning are be-
ing opened to women, on the same
terms as to the opposite sex. Particu-
larly is this the case in medical schools.
They are allowed to enter on the same
terms, pursue the same course of study,
are subject to the same examinations,
and, if successful, are granted degrees
and allowed hospital privileges the same
as male students. Grave professors and
learned savants see no impropTiety in
this. On the contrary, they approve it.
1t improves the character and conduct
of the male students, and it does not un-
sex women.
Any course of intellectual study will
improve them as well as men. Knowl-
edge of science UnseXes nobody. What
physician or surgeon of note ever was
known to complain of trained nurses
Did Florence Nightengale unsex herself
when she went on the battle fields of
the Crimea? Do Sisters of Charity un-
sex themselves by facing death in the
contagion of infected hospitals? No
answer is needed.
Why should not women then be al
lowed to follow the impulses of their
hearts prompting? Why should law,
custom, or fashion deter her from culti-
waiting her intellect that she may be the
better fitted to fulfill her earthly mission
by ministering to the wants of human
ity? If she acquires science she will
impart it more surely to her sisters than
mn mil Oh
ments to practical account, she will
elevate her sex, cause women to become
nobler mothers, better wives. and more
loving sisters, thus accomplishing some
thing toward the elevation of the race.
Those who fear that women will un-
sex themselves by entering the learned
professions are the very ones that drive
them to it by forcing them to become
servants and hirelings for less wages for
doing the same labor as is paid men.
The sad way in which women unseX
themselves need not be named. But
when we drive them to the factory, to
the sewing-room, to the shop and the
kitchen, do we not pave the way for
them to unseX themselves? They must
perform this drudgery or staFve. They
are not as class sufficiently cultivated
to assume higher rate. There is no es-
cape for it but in matrimony, and nine
times out of ten marriage is only eX-
changing a hard contractor to become
the bond servant of still harder task
master.
A vast majority of men when they
marry do it for a selfish motive; for
ecOnomy's sake; to have their trifiing
wants attended to; because they are
tired of hiring servants; they want a
nurse; servant; they want ownership
in somebody; tits not wife, cOmpan-
ion, an equal, they are looking for; SO
when they find some poor young girl,
who is sick of the restraint of an un-
happy home, or one homeless, toiling
| for the pittance of her daily bread and
scant wardrobe; whose lack of educa-
tion units her for any high and nObleI
calling; who sees no way to better heI
condition than to accept, the two be-
come one, that is, the man is one and
the woman is the cipher; the former
continues the same round of life as be-
! fore, seldom curtailing an extravaganza
or disearding his darling vices, but eX-
acts the most rigid virtue and faithful
service from his better half, often mar
rowing her life and making her service
more unbearable than a hireling's.
Seldom do men or women, when
properly trained for their calling, fail
unless overtaken and overwhelmed by
disaster. 1t is dishonesty in business
sham in the professions, and shOddy in
society that makes lamentable and ridic
ulous failures. Trained intellect win!
and rules everywhere. If women really
wish to succeed in any profession oil
calling, they must go through course
of preparation.
Professional men are not honored be
cause they are men. 1t is their trained
intellect and acquired talents that com
mand homage. We cannot long affort
to keep the doors of our learned institu
tions closed to women. There are to-
many of the sex already, who are com
PEELED to earn their own living, to per
NIT men to mOnopOlize all the desirabl
occupations because they are trained TO
it and women not. Our universitie
will follow the European example
Several have done so already. Whel
women properly fit themselves for an.
calling, they will succeed, and not be
fore. Then they will command respect
-SnOhOnliSh Star.