New-York tribune., 1881-03-27
ELLEN WATSON, THE A1THEAA1ICI4R.
From Yhe London Spectator.


handful Of good people are trying to do thing
that altogether unprecedented and carries lts own
signfcaace; they are eDdeavoring 20 found Mathe-
Miss Ellen Watson's story Is simple enough. She
was the daughter Of schoOlmastor a. Reading She
was sent to school, not hor fathers and when there
was an examination to pass she passed it, when
there was o soholarshp TO win she won IT. lu 1870
or 1877 she astOnished the authorities at University
College, Gower-st. by asking permission TO attend
the classes for physics and mathematics IL was be-
fore women were admitted and the privilege Miss
Watson desired had previously been refused 70 TWO
desorvi and enterprislug young ladies' Inc All
tbOrites were puzzled. the professors were amused.
but somehow tho difficulties were overcome, and q
modest sweet-faoed gIrl OF twenty was seen taxing
posite sex. With his cordial consent she attended
the late Professor W. X. CIiffJrd's lectures on 'Ap
1877. to the surprise of her fellow-students and
rather 10 the bewilderment of the authorities, 1t
was discovered that the young lady was far away
d,stinetion. the Never de Rothschild Exhibition.
Professor Clifford was delighted In the gentle girl
who always listened with rapt attention to his lec-
lures he had discovered brilliant young mathema-
tician. He made speech at the distributi9n OF
PRICES and IN the course of IL he said. Miss Wat
sons proficiency would have been very rare III man,
but he had been totally unpIepared to ind it IN
woman y adding that few more students like her
would University Collage TO status FAR surpass-
ing that OF institutions twenty times as rich ana
hundred years longer in existence" Alter attend
ing University College Miss Watson went into the
examinations of the University OF London, where
after the changes regarding women enectea 10 pooS,
elor of Science Examination ia the fret division.
Then the old evil stepped IN ara asserted ltseli'
She was net strOag-she had worked nara. All tnls
time she had been giving lessons in mathematics IN
London and studying in many directions, Tor she nao
wide sympathies and keen interests. Her health
broke down. and finally as lass Chance; r sne sy
from home of the dlreful disease that has gathered
the brightest and the best, and for which no cure
has yet discovered, she died on December last
a the of tWeltV-fOuf wears. 10 those MDO Duu
known her personally and loved her for her gentle
uess and simplicity. her death was sad shock !;
while all those who had watched her career with
interest and curiosity must have felt that good
worker, and possibly great genus, had been lost
to tho world ~ Ellen Watson.
And this girl asserted herself, never talked
in public and was unknown outside the friendly
circle that loved her. and the learned one that
waited hopefully tosee what she would do in the
future Even the professors among whom she
studied looked upon her genius as thing separate
from herself. Sue was just gentle, loyable woman,
TO whom was given The intellectual power that
usually belongs only to men and she used the
power as best she could in the short time at ner DIS
posal-used 1t quietly and unohendingly ana with
out forfeitng her claim to woman's greatest charm.
have have bee been known to the world; but the
T'Ae for the woman wonld have lived apart
from her fame. looking on 1t perhaps, with wonder
and surprise, but never with vanity nor b0astiBg'
M IL Ia that simplicity and true greatness walk
IL women were content to prove. themselves ca
pabe aud TO do their work as quietly as Ellen At
son dd hers and to do it tor the works sake, they
would not find many Of the privileges they demand
denied the for IT s net 70 the doers Oh WORK tnas
beEween these two there Is indeed wide difference.
Her life. sbort as 1t was, has proved, as many
other things lately have proved, and as the vose M
were an xiors TO acknowledge that an intellectual
career is di5tinctly possible for womenIthat pro
yidcd their ysical strength will stand tue stisn:
have shown is by no means incompatible with tne
nfoper duiies OF womanhood 10 take two widely
RResseut insfances--Mrs. Somerville delighted IN
har arden and her housewfey routine; and
Gsorre Eliot though many who snly knew her o.
late Years may doubt 1t, was domestic IN ner taste
and loved hossS S.sx HOW ss fssn dsscrotons Ia Rs
earlier works attesis