Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-09
Our GIRLS IN FOREIGN COLLEGES.
Ex-Minister Sargent Interviewed Upon
the Subject.

" HliP CudLllllp VIII tA- 4NliliSlGi SCili
recently, | asked him about the American
girls who are studying the classics and sci
ences abroad. People who write letters
from Europe tell Us all about Americans
who are conspicuous in society. in music,
in art. in opera and the drama. but hear
very little of those who are studying the
solid branches of the worlds knowledge.
The cable letters keep us posted about Lolita
and Minnie Palmer and Lillian Russell,
what they do, and what's thought of them,
and if there is q scandal we are sure to get
ali the interesting details, but Of the Amer
lean girls who are studying chemistry
medicine and political economy. never a
word is said.
"There are twenty American girls said
Mr. Sargent, " at the University Of Zurich
Switzerland, studying the higher branches
of science and fitting themselves for careers
have two daughters there, Miss Ella who
is taking q classical course, and Miss Lizzie
who is studying the eye and the ear under
the most famous specialist III the world
Lizzie, you know, took degree in medi-
cine in this country and was licensed to
practice here, but she wanted to learn all
that an oculist could know, and has been
with the Zurich University for some time -
is co-education encouraged in Eu-
rope?"
L Not at all. On the contrary, the doors
of every university in Europe except that
of Zurich, are slammed il the face of
women. The French admit women to
their medical colleges, but not to their uni
verSities'
" How does Zurich stand?"
at is abreast of Heidelberg, Cambridge
or any on the continent, and women are
admitted there upon equal terms III every
respect They ask no favors and no pro-
lection they have the same instruction and
are subject to the same rules. Sex IS not
recognized in any way. In Germany women
are prohibited from entering the universe
ties in fact, they are not recognized as the
equals of men. There is no ambition among
European women; they seek no higher de-
gree of mental requirement, and only as
pire to social distinctions. There IS tone
in society against the advancement OF wOn-
en-, against the higher education, except
among the Swiss, and in some cases among
the Russians. There are several Russian
girls at Zurich studying medicine, for there
is splendid career open to them among
the Mohammedans along the border, where
religious prejudice exists against male
physicians, who are not allowed to attend
women patients These Mohammedans
would rather see a Mohammedan woman
die than call in male physician to attend
her, and the few women physicians who
have gone there to practice have achieved
remarkable success, such as to encourage
many others to enter upon similar ca
recrs."
docs the Russian Government encour-
age this?"
sOnly partially. The Government OBJ
iects TO its subjects seeking educational IA
cilitieS outside the realm for fear they may
haccp,a inncylatn1 with NibIlISul y
did your daughters Try to enter the
German University"
Eyes, for reasons that are natural we
much preferred to have our daughters edu-
Gated at Berlin, where we were living, and
Miss Sargent applied for admission to the
university, but her application was politely
but absolutely refused. She then went to
Zurich, where she was admittedup equal
terms with the male students. A few
months after | received an intimation that
if she would renew her application to the
Berlin University it would be favorably re-
ceived, but we took no notice OF 1t. Subse-
ouently / learned there had been fight in
the faculty over the matter, and that ma
iority had decided to vote in favor OF her
reception. 1t was test case, and being
well satisfied with the advantages offered
at Zurich Miss Sargent did not care 10 have
the notoriety which must necessarily attend
her admission"
"How many young ladies are there at
Zurich?'
81 don't know, but there are twenty
American girls, including my own daugh
tiers, and Miss Florence, the daughter of
Congressman Kelly of Pennsylvania, who.
is studying law. There are number of
young ladies of other nationalities, but do
not know how many. Zurich is the only
place where the higher branches of science
can be reached by them"-[ Washington
Correspondence of the Chicago Inter-Ocean.