Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-06-13
HEALTH OF COLLEGE GIRLS.
Interesting Summary Of Responses by
COlIege.Bred Women.


The regular quarterly meeting Of the
Association of Collegiate alumne was
held at Wellesley, Massachusetts, on
Saturday afternoon, May 10. This asso
citation is composed of the women cradu-
ates of different colleges. The members
of the association assembled in the
chapel, where Miss Freeman welcomed
them in few pleasant words. The pa.
per of the occasion, read by Miss Hicks,
was of unusual interest Some time ago
the association sent to about 400 women
graduates of different colleges circular
containing list of questions as to their
health on entering college, their health
during the course. and their health since
graduation. Other questions referred to
their habits, diet, sleep, etc. The object
was to ascertain as far as possible, the
actual effects of the higher education
upon the health of women. which mas
been the subject of so much dispute.
The paper of questions was filed out
and returned by 705 women. The papers
were submitted Icy the association to
Carroll d. Wright of the Massachusetts
bureau of labor, whe set his clerks to lift
and classify the answers. The results
are very satisfactory to the advocates of
the higher education" OF the .05 wo-
men graduated PIP reported their present
health as excellent" 277 as good" 50
as indifferent" S5 as poor" and SO
failed to report. Thus 7S per cent. of
the women graduates heard from are in
good health. The health of 20 per cent.
of the women was below par before they
entered college. The health of only II
per cent. was below par after they gradu-
ated. Thus, on the whole, health has
improved rather than deteriorated
during the college course. Those whose
health have deteriorated suffer chiefly
from nervous troubles. The Massachu-
sets bureau of labor not long ago ques.
tioued | ,032 working women employed
in shops, factories. etc. Of these rs plus
per cent. were in good health before
thew began to work. Their troubles un
like those of the college girls, were very
rarely nervous.
The majority of the college graduates
are from the country and from the
northern and western states. Contrary
to what might have been expected, the
girls who lived in the country before
going to college do not make as good
showing in the way of health as those
who lived in the city. Or the 7O5 wo
men, 5SS are descended. on both sides
from native American parents. The
average of the graduates is twenty-eigh
wears. Only 81 per cent. of those hearC
from are married, but this does not repre-
sent the whole number, as it was more
difficult for the association to trace th'
married graduates under their new
names. OF the married graduates hardl,
any are divorced 1l3 have children
The health of the children of college
graduates is generally good, and th'
death rate among them unusually low
+, The speaker said that the average mum
Der of children to each (married) gradu
ste was two, of whom 1.8 were living
This provoked a general laugh. Th,
average age of entering college was Is 80
Ofthe 705 only eight reported themselv"
as butterflies without occupation, anC
only two expressed the belief that th'
higher education Of women was mis-
take.
The figures read on this occasion arr
| from advance sheets from the full repor
to be published later, which will he th'
most important contribution yet made
to the discussion of the higher education
versus the health of women. Hitbert'
the arguments urged on both sides nave
been mainly theoretical. Providence
Journal.