The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-02
THE OsHAWA REBELLION.
How the Trouble at q Canadian Female
College Was Settled.
philadelphia Times.l

The Female College at Oshawa, Ont,
is not one Of the stilted concerns which
aim chiefly at graduating girls in white
tulle with satin trimmings and giving
them a beautiful diploma in Latin, which
they can not read. To make woman's
education complete it deals out instruc-
ton in the noble arts OF housekeeping
and even of cookery
Determined to make its students use
full women, it does not satisfy itself by
compelling them to recite long pages
from the cookery book, nor to write COM
positions on the making of beds, the
sweeping of rooms, the building of fires,
or the washing of dishes. The girls are
taught to practice these arts and thus to
become experts in them.
Whether with view to this entirely,
or possibly in the attempt to run the
college on an economical basis, the stu
dents do all the house work of the estab-
lishment, even such rs is ordinarily con-
sidered menial and usually performed by
hired servants. But there proved to be
point beyond which the young ladies
were unwilling to pursue their studies in
this direction. They were willing to
sweep the house, wait on the door, roast
the turkeys, prepare the hash and set
the table. But when it came to washing
the dishes they drew the line and posi-
lively refused to step across it.
They honored the Professors, and
wished to obey the rules. They were
willing to eat from the dishes anything
that should eplaced upon them. But
they calmly, vet firmly, notified the
Professors that as long as they remained
at Oshawa not another dish would they
wash. The crockery might be piled up
after each meal until every plate and
dish in the concern should be added to
the soied stock. The table might be set
day after day with only such provisions
as could be taken in the hand and con-
veyed to the mouth. But no more dish
washing for these young ladies.
Matters grew desperate. There was
danger that the college might be swept
as bare of students rs poor Middlebury
The girls insisted on their right to 60
home if dishwashing was insisted upon.
The professors held a council OF war. A
compromise was suggested. A grave
professor proposed the use Of the large
round hard-tack biscuits, such as are used
by sailors. These can be made to serve
as plates, and when cleared of the repast
PLACED upon them can he eaten instead of
washed. Another professor moved the
introduction of the new-fashioned wood
en- plates, which are made of thin veneer
and conld be thrown out the windows
at the close of the meal at which they
are used.
Both of these IDEAS were rejected, the
former for fear the girls would raise an
other rebellion if forced to eat 80 much
hard. tack; the latter because it was feared
that the college grounds would soon be
greatly Uttered up with the cast-oif
wooden plates. So it was agreed that
for the present some of the lady profess
ors should wash the dishes, and when the
excitement over the matter shall sub
side the college will quietly hire serv-
ant or two to perform this and such other
menial duties as the young ladies may
object to. Peace reigns at Oshawa.
The rebellion is wisely and pleasantly
subdued. The professors have taught
other professors lesson. 1t is possible
to enforce rules in such way as to make
students hate their teachers, and even to
run away from them and leave them in
the glory of their lonely dignity. But it
is also possible to remember that the
students are human beings. with mind,
capable of reasoning, and that there are
circumstances under which it is better t.
compromise with them than to insure
their everlasting enmity.