The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-02
CARLYLE on WOMEN DOCTORS.
An Unpublished Letter Prom the Author sf
'>artor Resartus'' on the subject of Fe-
male Emancipation.

An Unpublished Letter Prom the Author sf
''Snrtor Resartus- on the Subject of Fe
male Emancipation.
LONDON, Feb. 9.-The following highly
characteristic letter. which has never preyi
ously been published, was sent BY the lat.
Mr.. Thomas Carlye To medical student
who was prominent supporter of his can
didature for the Lord Rectorship OF Edin-
ourgh University, and who had requested
him to express his opinion on the woman
question generally, and especially in regard
10 the entrance OF women into the medical
profession:
No. 5CHEYSE Row. CIuzsFA. Feb =, 1871.
DEAR SIR-It is with reluctance that I write
an!lnlhg 70 you on this subject Of female eman-
elp&uon, which Is now rising TO Such hight and
and do ii only the strict condition that what
ever say shall be private. and nothing of il get
INTO Inc newspapers. The truth j. the topic for
ive and twenty years pass especially for tie last
thfye or lour, has been a mere sOrrow 10 me-one
or @ @t.S most if aiulcting proofs OF the miserable
aiiaIch! mat prevails IN human society, and I
have avoided thinking OF IL, except when fairly
eompelled What little has become clear 10 me
on II shall now endeavOr 70 tell YOU.
in the first place, then. have never doubted
Dut tae lrue and noble function OF 4 woman in
TINS world was, and forever will be- that Of being
aWlie ana helpmate OF worthy mau. and dis
charging well the duties that deyolVe on her i'm
consequence, as mother OF children and mistress
OF Observation-Disclosures high, noble silently i'm
por!ant as any that can fall to q human creature.
duties, which if well discharged constitut n ,So
man-in a soft. beautiful and almost sacred way
the Queen OF the world: and which. by her ma
turl faculties, graces. strengths aud weaknesses
are IN every way indicated specially hers, The
true destiny OF woman. therefore, il To wed a
man she can love and esteem, and TO lead noise.
lessly, under his protection with all the wisdom
grace and herOisln that i in her, The lie prc.
seribed in consequence
Ii seems, furthermore, imlnbiiabie that il a
woman miss this destiny or have renowned il
she has every right, before God and man 70 rake.
uP MbateNer holcst employment she can find
open 10 her IN the world. Probably there arr.
several or many emplOyments now exclusively
in the hands OF men for which women millbt ~.
more or less nt-printing. tailoring weaving
cerklng, etc. etc. That medicine i intrinscailv
not unit for them Is proved from The fact that IN
fore the medical profession rose in to being they
were virtually the physicians and surgeons as
well a. sick nurSeS-all that the world had Their
iOrin OF intellect. their sympathy their wonder
cate in them peculiar qualities for DEALING with
disease, and evidently in certain departments
ttnat of female dsease) they have quite peculiar
opportunities OF being useful. Ny answer TO your
question, then, may be tnat two things are nor
doubtful to me in this matter.
l.. Ihat women-any woman who deliberately
so oetermines-haye right TO study medicine
ana THAT II might be profitable and serviceabie to
nave lselties or at least possibilities offered them
Tor Sc doing But
> That, for obvious reasons female students
ot medicine ought to have. IL possible female
teachers, or else an extremely select kind of men,
Ana, IN particular, that TO 10 have young women
present among young men in anatomical classes
clinical lectures or generally STUDYING medicine
IN concert Is an incOnEruity OF the first rnseni-
tude and shocking to think OF 20 every pure and
modest mind
This i all | have to say, and send IL to Won
under the condition above mentioned as a friend
forthe use OF friends. Yours sincerely.
7. CARLYLE.