Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-10
SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.
SOME THOUGHTS CONCERNING
YASSAR COLLEGE RESULTS.
bIesfirls-YOung Ladies ofForty
Independence of the Sexes.

abIesIirls-Young Ladies ofForty
Independence of the Sexes.
Correspondence of the RECORD UxIoN.l
SAN Francisco, October s, 1885.
Several girls from this city have been
students in Vassar College. That institu-
ton is attended by girls from all grades of
wealth, turns out graduates who are sup
posed to represent the highest standard of
female intellectually in these days. and is
probably more widely known than any
school for women in America. Two years
ago its faculty published full, long list of
its alumnG. An Eastern journalist inter
ested in social science topics proceeded to
ascertain what effect education had made
upon their after-school life, by mailing to
every one a set of printed questions. Near
" seven eighths of the circulars returned
filled out, the missing ones being accounted
for on the hypothesis of not having reached
their intended destination through change
of name and address. The most startling
discovery from statistics returned. is that
only about one-tifth of those answering had
married. The question will now naturally
arise as TO why this is thus, that so large a
proportion of accomplished, intelligent
women remain single, when domesticity is
their natural destiny. Is it because. as
newspapers frequently state, that men find
ing equal comfort and less care in club life,
are becoming more and more averse to
marriage? What reason has any one to
assume that such conditions exist as q re-
suit of
PREJUDICE AGAINST MARRIAGE
By men only? If the girls remained single
through choice, in what way have they
been influenced thereto by their superior
educational opportunities? Should ex-
tended observation show that education
generally disinclines TO marriage, female
colleges would soon fall from favor with
women themselves, except among those
who attend with a view of utilizing their
education for the practical purpose of self
support. As far as men are concerned,
there probably will never be a time when
they will seek helpmeets from a mental
standard, knowing that their wives will
equal if not exceed them in knowledge.
Though men expect all possible power in
domestic administration power in which
they never acknowledge as requiring talent
equal to that applied in their own affairs,
they want this talent kept in the back
ground and headed by real or apparent
helpless mentality that shall bow down
before theirs as the superior judgment in
all conditions. They do not reason it out
but they unconsciously recognize as a fact
that when woman's mind has been for
years trained to observing causes, to reflect
ing upon events, to deducting therefrom
conclusions, to formulating opinions, that
she is bound to possess originality which
she will strive to maintain whatever may
be his effort to bury her ideas by his at
tempted control. Many men want 10
RULE THE DOMESTIC ROAST,
To be looked up to as superior beings, and
are, with good cause, afraid to tackle girls
whom they know are quite equal in hoeing
their own intellectual row. Any girl who
possesses sufficient individuality to make
any man afraid of her, should thank her
stars for it, and be equally afraid to
trust to him for that companionship which
is the only foundation for a happy mar
rage.
1t is, however, more than probable that
these maidens are such from choice. Look
ing over history, we will see that it is only
in those nations where women are kept in
utter Ignorance, in new countries where
the social standard is necessarily low
through absence of civilized advantages
and among etfeminate races that the GUS
tom exists of marrying girls while very
young. In India girls have customarily
become wives at II years of age; but OF
those who have within the last decade been
given educational advantages, their aver
age mas advanced to II for marrying. One
reason is that when girls are busy with
books, having their minds interested in
some regular pursuit, with a tangible OBJ
iect in view, Satan has no time to find some
mischief still for idle hands to do. Her
studies keep a college girl busy until at p
10 % she holds the coveted diploma. In
school her reflective faculties have been
constantly exercised She has become
accusts ed to r-r->.yhing considerations on
every subject presented to following
courses of reasoning and to question what
results will follow from specified acts
Owing to this training, she is, on entering
the world not likely to be
OVERCOME BY NEW EMOTIONS,
But will take any important step only afte
cool dehberation as to pro and con. If sh,
has home or property, she will want to res
awhile from school work and see some
thing of life before assuming domesu
cares. BY the time she is rested she real
lies that her education Will earn her living
and decides not to marry, unless for rea
companionship or unusual social advan
tages, and that she can afford to wait unit
opportunities appear suited to her taste.
she is poor and must at once begin sup
porting herself, she finds that school train
ing rouses an ambition TO best possible EN-
plOyment of her abilities, and soon see
that by her work it is possible for her to al
tain happiness and independence withou
husbands espionage. The more she OF
serves the devices which most wives ar
compelled to employ to get money for thei
domestic uses, the more she thanks kin
fortune that she can earn and use her owi
means without having to beg or account fo
anything, and is consequently disincline
to marriage.
The day has come when women are n
longer sneered at for being old maids. Th
many avenues of labor constantly openin
to them, the heartineSs with which the
are welcomed into professional pursuits
has largely decreased the number of thos
who marry only because they must
supported. The world no longer ostraciZe
a single woman on the suppositon of he
being so disagreeable that no man woul
have her. Itrecognizes that women worl
ers are generally single from preferences
when it sees that their independence pr,
serves in them an attractive appearance an
youthful, girlish ways far past time po
sible to overworked mothers. Public opiI
ion adverse to celibacy drove countle:
thousands into marriages of misery, bI
the
OLD MAID Is HAVING HER DAY,
And 4 merry heyday it is, for with on
hand she snaps her fingers under the most
of club men and holds on with the oth'
hand to her purse, which, if not full, he
at least a cheerful jingle. Support is IL
least consideration of her lot. She is IL
now an old maid, but i girl, even if she
40 years old, and is accorded privileges tn:
were hers while in her teens, with other
added. She may attend amusements, tax
journeys, come or so where her NEAR
allow or taste leads and though she ma
miss something in agreeable company, ht
course is perfectly proper without ma
escort.
The entire topic may be summed u
in this: The more schooling girls get, ii
less likely they are to make early, cons,
quently foolish, marriages. Every natio
that advances in social ethics, every clas
where culture attains strong sway, lend I
late marriages both practice and approva
In them thoughtful people see the onl
hope of the worlds salvation from certai