New-York tribune., 1879-04-12
HARVARD Ex4NINATI0yS FoR WONEN

UaRVIRD EX4HINA TONS FOR WONEN.
WHEN ASp WHERE THEY ARE TO BE HELD
GRADES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE EXAMISA-
TONS.
lFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEI
BosroN, April 10-'rhe University eXami-
nations for women, which began in 1873 at Cam
bridge. are to be held the coming sea-
son during the early days of June at
Cambridge New-York, Philadelphia and Cincinnati
The local committees established at these several
pointstake charge of the examinations excepting
that of Cambridge, which is under the superintend-
cnce of the Womens Education Association of Bos-
ton. An examiner also to be sent to any place
where the number Of candidates offered warrants
| a separate examination.
As in previous years the examinations are of two
grades-a preliminary examination for young
women who are not less than seventeen years
old. and an advanced examination for young
women who have passed the preliminary examlna-
ton and are not less than eighteen years old
Two requsitIon5 for the present year in the sew
cral subjects have been carefully indicated in
a syllabus prepared by Harvard University
which points out courses of reading periods
of history prescribed. and textbooks and books
of reference recommended The Pre-
liminary examination includes English, physical
geography either elementary botany or elementary
physics, arithmetic algebra through quadratic
equations plane geometry history and two ofthe four
languages, German, French, Latin and Greek. Can
dldates are examined upon some pieces of standard
literature specified each year in advance. those set
for the coming examination being Hamlet " and
" Midsummer Nights Dream" In this test the re-
qnrement is that of an understanding of the his
tory, sources of plots, and other knowledge
necessary for clear appreciation of the text.
In English literature a candidate is expected
to be acquainted with what Arnold or Spaulding or
some equivalent book affords, concerning authors
from Chaucer to Wordsworth No books are pre-
scribed in French but lists are furnished to the
candidates to represent the character of the French
they should be able to read. The present
lists include standard works Of Noltare George
Sand, Alfred De Vigny. Sandeau, Mile. De La
SeIglere Moii6re Racine, SOuyestre, TOotleT, Mime.
De S6yigne FeGilet and others. In German, can
didaes are advised TO read the introduction
to Dr. Buchheim's "Deutsche LyTik,' together
with some of the poems in the work itself,
and also tho following Zschokke--" Der Zerbro-
chene Krug" Das Wirthshaus zu Cransac"; ;
Gcrstacker-" Germclshausen"; Paul Ileyse-" La
R,bbi3tav "Die Blinden": TheodOr Migse-
"Sgua die Scterin'; Adclbrrt Sitter BrlgItta"; /;
Schiller" William Tell"; Losing" Minna Won
BarnhelmD; Goethe" Hermann and DorOthea."
The present syllabus, az well a. the papers OF
questions set IN the last yO years, indicate re-
Guirrment Of comparatively thorough preparation
in the modern languages. The Latin and Greek
required are not above what Is necessary
for matIicuatlon in ordinary colleges, either as
to extent character. The reports OF the Harvard
examinations have shown largo proportion OF
failures IN French, and o marked degree of
success in mathematics. This simple fact
probably does not - much signify special
capacity of the feminine mind for one
study and an incapacity for another
as that the teaching has been more efficient IN one
direction than in another. lhe examination as
whole is less severe than would be imagined by
glance at the present syllabus and the papers of
questions used IN previous years, unless It rs also
observed 10 what "A degree the course Is elective.
An advantageous feature to 6o noted besides Is that
the preliminary examination Is divided between
two years at tho option of the candidate, the
imum age In this case being sixteen years. IL is.
however, expected that those who divide tho exam
uation shall ataina somewhat higher degree of eX-
eel ecnce than If presenting the nine subjects at
No candidate Is allowed 10 take part OF any subject.
Nor i any account made Of a partial examination
unless the candidate has passed satisfactorily in
three subjects.
The advanced examination il open only to persons
who have passed the first. In this grade again the
candidate presents herself in one more than
of the five departments, although il Is not intended
TO bo taken as whole, but SIMPLY 10 0ner list OF
special culture for the advantage or persons having
only limited leisure for study Tho section
OF languages includes English, French. Cor
man. Italian, Latin aud Greek, OF which any two
may be offered by candidates The same choice In
allowed the natural sciences, between cheinls-
try, physics, botany, HlntfSDSy, geology; ana III
philosophy between mental philosophy, moral phil
OsOphy. logic. rhetoric and political economy In
mathematics, candidates present In addition
to solid geometry. algebra logarlthnl5 and
plano trgonOmetry, any one of the three following
subjects: analytic geometry, mechanics, spherical
trIgOnonctry aud astronomy. Ia history the choice
II between the history of Continental Europe dur
ing the period of the Reformation, lJl1-lG+S, aud
English and American History from lGoS 10 the
eud of the eighteenth century.
one of the liberal features 10 be noted in this
educ. t!Onal movement Is that young women whose
limited circumstances are hIndrlnce TO their
becoming candidates aided IN defrayIng the
cost. he assistance ls regarded rs loan, whether
il comes in tho form of board during
the examinations or IN the remission OF fees.
Board and lodging secured for young women
by the local secretaries az moderate cost when
desired. The preliminary examination covers
parts Of too weeks, while the time required for The
advanced examination varies according To the num-
Der Of bubects undertaken. Ihe university Toe
ior the former including certificate II 10. II the
examination be divided, the fee for the first
SO and Tor the second year 50. Ihc fee for
ths last examination Ia $40. Candidates OBJ
tain from the local secretaries the forms Of
entry. which are filled mp, signed, and returned
to the same local secretaries or before April l.
Exact notice of the place OF examination, and OF
the day aud hour. sent tO each candidate by April
-. Ihe address of the hew-York local secretary L.
90 East Twenty -fifth-st.. New lork tnat OF the
secretary OF the Numan's Education Asso-
canou, No ia BOylstOn St. Boston, Mass; that
of the secretary Of the Philadelphia local commit
tee No 4Ol South Eiriith-.t., Phladelp pha. Penn,
committee. No. 81 Wainut-st. Cincinnati, Quo.
These secretarics cheeriully furnish any Iuforma-
ton on the subject which may be desired.
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