The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-11-25
State Female College. A Woman's
Last Word"

EDITORS CLARION: When | preached
the subject of a State Female College in
your paper, some months ago, l little
thought to cumber your columns with sc
many subsequent communications. Before
however, | rest the cause with the men OF
Mississippi, who make our laws and estab
fish our public institutions. ] wish to state
clearly nay position and say plainly, beyonc
the possibility of being misunderstood, what
l regard as the present need of the womer
of our State. When in previous letters
have demanded for my sex higher educa
ton" it was for education by the State
beyond what the common schools afford
When in speaking of the male university
/ claimed that a similar institution should
be established for white females-it was
that one just as free, fostered by the State,
and teaching the higher branches Of female
education, should be founded | regret |
should have been misunderstood, and that
[ have not, in former articles, stated what
was needed with sufficient distinctness.
have asked for my sex a State Female
College-an institution that will begin
where the common schools leave off and
train our girls ia all the higher depar tments
of female education, with the addition OF
such practical branches as will enable them
30 enter any business now thrown open to
females.
There is a pressing need for more and
better school teachers in this State and
: tate Female College would help to supply
this demand There are merchants who
pay high salaries to book-keepers, when a
daughter. sister, or wife could keep the
books just rs we'll.
Women if taught the cart preservative,"
could set type IN many a printing office
They could earn living as telegraph ope
rators and have charge of post-offices and
many men who now hold these positions
would gravitate to that place for which by
nature they are best fitted between the
plOw-hdndies
1t seems TO me to be much more wise and
Just TO fit our girls for such pursuits as
these, than to ignore their claims and edu- |
cate every other class, leaving them to |
become the hotel-waiters, and factory girls. |
and cotton-pickers of the State.
Again, an institution for larger girls, |
should be for them exclusively, and the
understanding should be distinct, and the
rule Inyiolable that no male pupils need
apply.
The South is abused for being "solid"
and having her peculiar institutions" but
1 hope she may remain both solid and pc
cullar in educating her youth of both sexes
and races apart. However well the system
OF collegiate co-education may work In
English and Northern colleges, the South
has not to any extent adopted it, and per-
haPs that Is the reason she has never yet
dIsgraced herself by producing DR.. Mary
Walker Victoria c. Woodruff, ct I'd omne
genus.
Before closing this communication | wish
20 thank our h0nored Chief Justice for the
explanation that he made. l am glad to
know that the offer of the university was 10
answer to a supposed demand for that kind
OF education, and that he really agrees
with me IN opposing mixed schools.
Indeed the women OF our State have
great cause to be grateful to our present
supreme Court. Some years ago our Su-
pTeme Court decided that man has right
10 beat his wife, provided he used only
small stick. This Court, | am satisfied,
you'd make no such barbarous decision.
The Chief Justice has shown himself to be
a prompt and ardent advocate of female
educatl6n. To Judge Campbell we are
'hdebted for taking our married women
cut OF the helpless and humiliating category
OF Infants and persons non eOnlpos nlentts"
Uy removing their disabilities, and placing
them on an independent footing in regard
10 property rights, and the right to
contract.
10 Judge George we feel grateful, as the
profound juIist, wise political leader, and
a: master spirit of the campaign of 1879.
mat he was 50 active ig founding second
institution for males, at StarkVille, is good
evidence of his interest in the cause Of edu
cation and that he would not be Indifferent
1t least to one State school for females
ne, no doubt will plead our cause in ma
Lonai councils and might secure for one
state College from the Federal Governments
a donation of some of the valuable public
lands in this State
r "lth these reflections / leave the request
L 1ot a State Female College, for the present.
S Selore the people of our State, earnestly
hoping that they may consider it favorably,
sna that ere another Legislature adjourns
sucn an institution may be seen to be
necessity, and by their action may become
an accomplished fact.
1saor all your kindness and patience,
~-eS-Ts. Editors, | remain
Tours gratefully and respectfully,
~ A MIssIssIPPE WolEAE.
SNOfemhef 13fh 1870