The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-06-14

| SuIdlluS pldIl, WHICH GnOugn lInpe
feet, provided some instruction t,
girls. Gradually such unjust al
illiberal views and preiudiceS begS
to give way and die on
But MT till woman h;l
demonstrated what she could accor
plish in mastering the higher depar
ments of science as well rs all otht
departments taught i'll the be.
schools. When this was shown, tho.
who had before denounced the adv,
Gates of her admission to the highC
schools as enthusiasts, themselves b.
came enthusiasts in her behalf, an
strong advocates of an improve
system of female education; for it wa
then seen that by a true discipline q
mind and application of the soil
branches of knowledge, well educate
women become more agreeable con
panlOnS, more useful members &
society and more skillful and faithfu
teachers, without in the slightest de
gree rendering them unfit for domes
tic ayocations. The battle which wo
| man has fought in the cause of her owl
education, although severe, has no
been fruitleSs. She has much yet t,
do, many more struggles before sh
reaches her just and proper place il
the world in regard to education. W,
have seen that less than a centur,
ago she was denied admission to tn
public schools; she fought her wa,
through the public schools t.
gain admission to academies ant
colleges, and since the year 1884, com
mencing simultaneously in Massa
chusetts and Georgia, colleges anC
universities have been founded which
admit both males and females upoI
an entire equality. Notwithstanding
this fact, there is a great prejudice
in many parts of the country against
the higher education of woman
which seems to arise from a desire tC
cling to old customs and habits
Such prejudice prevents us from
recognizing and meeting bravely the
demands of the new era in education
Still, woman has been admitted on III
equality with man by more than two
hundred of the chartered educational
institutions of this country, or more
than half the number that claim the
name of college exclusive of those in
charge of the Roman Catholic church.
Many of these institutions are not OF
very great celebrity, but among those
which are well known may be named
the universities of California, Iowa,
Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Cornell
in New York, and Washington Uni
versity in Missouri, in all of which stu
dents are admitted without distinction
us to sex and are allowed to take any
fnr. luhinh Oh
themselves prepared. Both males and
females attend lectures at the same
hour, stand the same examinations
and both take like degrees, if the
branches leading to them have been
mastered. This is an in
stance Of the co-education of the sexes
to which many urge objections. The
however, are based
upon physical grounds. The
plea is, that woman is weaker and in
ferior to man in both physical and
mental strength, and hence she is in
capable of mastering the higher
branches prescribed by the curricula
Of colleges and universities. That
these objections are not well taAen is
shown by the testimony of presidents
and other officials connected with
these institutions where the sexes
have been taught together, as we'll as
by the conclusions of large number
OF the most distinguished
and practical educators in
this country. Some women
have shown themselves possessed
of both mental and physical strength
and powers equal to the Severest test
and demands that are anywhere made
upon the young men with whom they
were associating, and with whom
they have competed successfully, car
rying off in many instances over their
male associates the highest prizes in
the severe studies of mathematics as
well as in the Greek and Latin clas-
sizes. This same testimony shows that
other good results have followed the
admission of women to OR colleges
and universities. AS consequence,
both the young men and young wo-
men have aspired to a higher plane
IN regard to their department as
well as in a generous and healthy
emulation in their studies: that no
or "strong laindedness"
mas been developed in the young wo-
men, but that the whole effect and
tendency has been to make the
young man more manly, and the
young woman more womanly."
Woman's influence is always ele-
waiting and refining. Her presence
inspires respect and compels man to
observe and to practice decorum
in all his actions and department.
This fact is seen and felt in the lee
ture room, in churches, in theatres
and in the parlor. If in all these
places her presence and influence ex-
erciSe salutary, elevating and whole
some influence on man, why would
not the same results follow in colleges
and universities ? There are unfortu-
1ately some coarse women whose
presence does not inspire respect, but
It will generally be found that such
is associated with igno-
rance; we are contending for the rule
and not the exception. Does it not
appear Illogical, not to say absurd, to
contend that young woman should
be precluded from sitting by her
brother in the university lecture or
recitation room, and at the same time
say that 1t is right and proper
for her to attend the. theatre, the
church and lectures on metaphysics or
theology with, and sit by one who is
not her brother, at such places? 1t
she can compete with man for the
mastery in music, in archery,
N croquet and lawn-tennis, why
not allow her the same right
Of competition in the department of
higher education in our colleges and
where she can be awarded
a certificate of proficiency in the
shape of Il diploma? / do not wish
to be considered, on account of these
an advocate of what is
denominated "Woman's
Rights" The right to seek aod tie
ability to receive all the dement's and
blessings of thorough and complete
does not include the right
to become politician. to vote and to
mol office. The mind is the gift of
God-no limitations or restrictions
should ever be placed on its powers
Of development and eXpansion-its
5uscept bility to beautiful growth and
symmetrical adornment, on account
Of the physiology of sex. Education
ID Ouc tulllS dAu PO1ltlCO dllObuCl.
hope the time will never come in the
history of this country, when the
frenzy of politics Oh the greed for
office will seize the women of this
Iand-that we may never see the
lay when politics will lay its
hand upon our affairs and
gods, and break up and de-
stroy the SacredneSS and Sanctity of
homel l know of no better or safer
way to avert such a calamity than to
educate the masses of our women, in