New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-26
WOUEN AT COLUMBIA.
A PETITIONER VERSUS DIR. DIX.

A PETITIONER VERSUS DIR. DIX.
To the EditOr OF The Tribune.
SIR: The Rev. DR.. Dix, in his third Lenten lee
ture reported THE TRIBUNE of this morning. appears
havereached the points which he plainly enough
aiming from the beginning, the question Of the aIped-
ency OF aOrding the opportunities for ntellec
tual culture which American colleges have 1t in their
power to bestow. As among the many bundr DIS OF
our feowczens who have respectfully invited tie at
tenton Of the trustees of Columbia College to this I'M
portant subject or, TO use the somewhat unwalrant-
able language OF the reverend orator. have attempted to
tease or frghen" them into concessions in regard
ot venture to express regret that man OF such
acknowledged ability should have expended wlste-
fully so great an amount Of ammunition In
phantom OF bis creation II is possible that the
worthy doctor the wishes Of the petitioners
better than they do themselves, but 1t Is certain that
they have not asked for what Extensively called coed
ucaon nor for anything which, to qnote more the
elegant words OF the orator, would tend to "make
women mannish," or detract in any manner from the
decacy and Eodesty which constitute the chief charm
OF the sex They ask simply that women shall not be
kept down by system Of artificial and Irrational re-
strants level OF universal intellectual nferiority,
but that they shall be permitted to cultivate their God
given faculties as freely as the other sex.
Nor Is 1t true the reverend doctor would seem 10
imply that the petitioners propose require that all
Young women should be constrained to find their educa
ton in colleges They seek no such thing. Ihey ask
only there be any, whether many or few who de-
sire such culture, It shall not be denied them.
Those who listened to the reverend orator could not
have failed carry away the impression that IN his view
there Is something in the studies themselves which con-
stitute the curriculum Of the higher education which
tends TO blunt the sense OF decacy to ysts the TASTE
and to brutfy speak, the manners II this is the
case, 1t is astonishing that such institutions
as vassar College, Smith College and Wellesley
College shonld DO so thronged with the daugh-
tiers OF our most cultivated people since the studies
taught in them are item by tem identical with those
taught In the colleges OF our own city, Young women
from New-York could obj ain, doubt this kind OF in
strucion by resorting those colleges as many do),
but only at an unnecessarily increased expense and at
the sacr flee OF home life and parental supervision. But
II this sort instruction Ia all wrong as Dr. DIX seems
to imply, then bis batteries should be opened npO1 the
founders patrons Of Institutions like these and not
upon humble suppats at the feet OF the trustees OF
Columbia College.
Ike those Just mentioned offer 10 women tue same Kind
OF instruction which gwen at Columbia there 10 feel
ing among the people. which be just or not nut Is
very real that though the instruction given there
may be The same in Kind, IL ~ not tne
same IN quality. Those women who want S1c i. IN
structiou at all probably only at present small minor
ity OF the entire NUMBER. want 1t where IL IL BEST ana
they do not believe that as yet at least can be fOu
best In any college in the country created tor women
alone.
/ have Just now used the expression, higher ednca-
lion" This term has been so long generally en-
pOyed 20 denote the kind Of education which Is given
In colleges. that 1t has become practically technical
The bubble. therefore, upon the word higher, with
worthy the dignity OF the subject ana OF the OCCASION
The movement which the worthy rector OF Trinity
Church has himself up % oppose Is one whcn is
golug straight along without regard to any obstacles
which dOgmatsm Ike his may place In ITS way Inc
H. eupOrarly a least in this particular drectiOni bu
"a hers It's force from the everlasting principles OF
right Il must IN the end prevail even here' as IL mas
a' h,,S y So,' Feb "a. 1883 CITIZEN.