New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-24
THE STORM DIR. DIX RAISED.
SEPARATING THE SEXES IN SCHOOLS.
A LETTER FROM MRS. ELIZABETH CAKES SMITH.
the Edftor OTThe Tribune.

A LETTER FROM MRS ELIZABETH CAKES SMITH.
To the Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Ii is utter nonsense to cayll at the CO.
education of the sexes It is natures own methoo 10
bring them together and train them together AS well
might parents be expected TO separate the boys anu
girls of family having separate nursery Tor eaon'
and forbddng the sexes IN the same cradle or
exchange at night the family kiss 1t Is in the house
hold, where boys and girls play together and are
together trained to the amenities and sanctties OF e
that the finest outcome Of our humanity may be sought
for. Whether the sacred loves between members OF
household be natural intuition OF the growth Of ages OF
culture does not natter all know that they exist
aud may be trusted and 1t is here in this relation that
are sown seeds of decorous and chaste
personal modcsty mutual respect and becoming re-
serve in language and deIneanor.
Young men and women do not encounter each other
utter strangers; bred in solitude, ike shakespeares
Miranda who had none OF the other sex Dut her
longbearded father and the beasty Oattbon and might
thence infer that only these species OF tue male
gender had an erstence-he one he reverenced and
the other to be feared and dreaded s graceless TASK
any teacher OF the mOraltes to intimate that here
are Oabdns than true men to be met Win In our
colleges The lesson that Shakespeare taught was th'
the GIRL thus raised In sccuson fell in love with the
frat that to her notice. and replies to tho up
br&dng Of her father that Ferdinand but poor spec
men of man, by naiyely saying:
my affections
Are then most humble have no ambition
To see gO0dlier man"
s this very separation OF the sexes at the period OF
lifo when youthful ambition the smulant to study and
10 all endeavor that mischief most likely to
ensue. Together there Will be natural and not I'M
wholesome rivalry; enthusiasm. so becoming In the
young, will be stimulated and a certain becOmingness
dress and demeanor will characterize the student OF
both sexes 1t Is not to be questioned that this monk
ish opinion that the young must study In college
with none OF the restraints OF home life has been the
fruitful Of infinite disorder IL has been the ruin
OF countless youths who have returned home boorsh In
manner, rOwdyish, conceted and wrecked IN morals
often and often have mothers and sisters mourned at
the the wake OF the youth who has mbbed dan
gerous monkish IDEAS without the ausertes that might
redeem them.
We're there 40 other argument favor OF cOeducation,
would advocate It in the hope OF redeeming our young
men, Dr. Dix breads the license that may follow In the
wake OF the proposed opening Of our colleges to both
-cIes-dreads that Athena may be displaced by
Aphrodite There innumerabe laws that may he re-
lied governing humanity. The perncous doc
trne OF total deprsvty Is at with our best insttu
tons and to all the sweetness underlying our
kind. II is not the crude uDdeveoped. nneyillzed
classes would invade the halls OF learning, but the
progeny OF ages of ture-young women and men, who
have the bres restrained by moral ntmation-in whose
blood generations OF selfsacrfficng duty nave
prepared the way for high endeavor aud enlarged
thought and IL contrary to all experience to
suppose that these going mady to plunge into de-
bauchery and disorder while mastering the higher
efforts Of the human mind Their very pursuits forbid
isomehng must be and ought to be trusted to innate
or II YOU choose cultured intimatons The sins Of soil
tary teaching OF the OF solitary study and secu-
sion have been the theme Of much invectiye, and
penoratng minds know well that this Isolation OF sex 10
at the root oft
The Roman Catholic Church. favorng mona,tic aus
terity has not failed TO apply certain safeguards by
bt1a Ut fIaa nVnn
time he placed upon what 1t regards as the higher
plane Of life A distinguished statesman. Thnrlow
Weed who died lately. In conversation with Archbishop
HUGHES made the remark that he should suppose that
.'yonng men secluded from all compauionshlp suitable
to their age wouli be likely 10 break away from re-
stran and long for II they did not indulge in, danger
ous. hut somewhat natural license"
Ouite tlecOutrary," WAS the reply youth Is apt
To ~ modest In their fret noviiate they ambitious
for lclnlng-are stnd0us and. mOre than all hled with
"A sanity enthusiasm. They give ns no anxiety"
Now these 40 the ag when are asking cOeduca-
ton when both sexes are likely to be ambitious
aud entAuaed by q passion for learning. The Arch
bishop continued and what he said conveys pans to
/ the heart
1t Is not the youns enthusiastic acolyte that ocos-
sous nxiotybut when tue youth merges into the man
hood thirty years, may begin 10 dstrust 20 ques-
ton 10 begin weigh what he mas sscu1cedaud that IA
the dau grrous period FOR MIN But tho church sends
| him cut unon some mssion-some work adapted to his
learning and character which finally cngrosses his whole
attention. and he no longer Is source OF dstru5t or
| anxiety"
There has never been any thought Of separating tho
sexes in puDiic schools. where may be found fu
grown and women, a. least IN the winter months,
aud NOBODY dreams Of being troubled abont H. No. the
gst OF The objection IL to be fOund not In any oppre
hendcd danger 80 the morals OF either sex but tn an
mgrain"d unwllingness 10 ah1 women the same OPP
porunites for study and learning deemed neces
-ary 10 the other Il all proceeds from low est
mate OF the char1crer and capabilities OF woman. A
society Is no present developed men. and perhaps
women too have great deal too much book learning
altogether too igaOrant OF moral responsibilities
would put the classics aside and found profes sorshp
! II moral science.
The most STR king comment upon what Isolated college
study done T, men has been found In tae remark
made by the Warden OF the Penltentary OF Sing sing
10 was proposed 20 have school In the prison TO teach
such cOnyicts could neither read nor wfite and the
oustlon arose "a could be procured %
| which tho Warden replied: That ia easily settled
| who wOuli be glad 10 teach them"
| ELIZABETH CAKES SMITH.
Blue P0uf l.. J., March 10, 1888.