Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-06
A LEARNED WOMAN.

Who is a Competitor for a University Chair.
At the coming contest for the chair of
archaeology at University College, Eng
land, woman appears among the list of
candidates for this learned post. The
chair is OF recent origin. Il was founded
for Sir Charles Neucomb, of the British
museum, who is now string after years
of solid service 10 this and every kindred
science. The cRndidature itself is no
mean distinction, says the London News
and whatever her fate III this contest,
Mis- j. E. Harrison may always boast that
lshe was deemed worthy 80 enter for the
prize, more especially as one of her com
petitors is Mr.. Reginald Stuart Poole, of
the British Museum. The fact of heI
candidature, however, is a matter of
public interest, and it must be regarded
as distinct gain TO the oacse of the
higher education of woman. The emolu-
ments of the chair are not extraordinary,
though they are sufficient for the pur-
pose, but they are largely supplemented
by the honors which the position confers.
The candicature implies the most serious
studies. Miss Harrison has made one
domain of Hellenic lore her own. There
is perhaps, no greater living authoriry OF
the Interpretation Of the pictorial record
of the Greek vase. Miss Harrison's
lectures at the British Museum and at
South Kensington have been followed
with breathless interest, by large audi
ences. She has found out how to popu-
larize science which depends entirely
for its general interest on the gift of
exposition. The Greek vase with its out
lined illustrations, is Greek religion,
| Greek history and Greek myth, seen
from the point of view Of the people.
1t was not always the very learned, the
very distlng uished or the very remark
able people in any way for whom the
vases were adorified. The pictures had
| to be put somewhere, and as the illus
trated magazine was hardly available,
| they were put on the table service. L he
ancient Greek learned all about the
Homerio cycle, the choice of Paris and
| the Trojan war from his dinner things,
! Just as the modern Freuchman learns the
fact and fable of the Napoleonic legend,
both iumbleo joyously into one, from the
| plates and dishes bought at the country
fair. Miss Harrison has devoted the not
very numerous years of her life since
| she left the NEWMAN, to the study of
| these profoundly interesting memorials
of vanished past. They have revealed
to her the secret OF the Greek point of
view of Gods and men. As we have al
ready shown, this was not always a very
exalted point of view, or very profound
one, for the simple reason that it was the
view of the Greek 10-pound householder,
who liked to be on pleasant, companion
able terms with things human and divine.
Its perfect freshness and heaIthiness con-
stitutes one charm of those lectures 81
South Kepsington, by which perhaps,
| Miss Harrison is best known to the
general public. By q more select circle
in England, in Germany and in Greece
itself, she is recognized as Hellenic
scholar, and as generous benefactress
of the British school at Athens, whose
funds have been increased by the pro-
ceeus of many of her lectures. She is a
devoted diciple of the retiring professor,
and to the erudition which he has i'm
parted to her, she has added powers of
graceful exposition which are all her own
Even archaeology may be none the worse
for the service of gifted woman who
J knows how to hold an audience spell
bound by the charm of manner, while
! offering them good deal more learning
| than they can conveniently carry away
One of the lady's competitors, as we have
said, is Mr.. Reginald Stuart Poole, keep r
/, of the CONS. Another is Mr.. Talfourd
Ely, late secretary of the University
College, who resigned that post some
years ago to study archaeology under
Mominsen and Curtius at Burlin. A third
Is Mr.. Ernest Gardiner, director of the
British school at Athens, which has been
In working order for the past two years
With these we have Fernell, the well WI
lecturer on genealogical subjects at Ok
} ford and Mr.. Penrose, an eminent archi
? tecs and antiquarian. Miss Harrison has
! done no mean Service to sr sex in enter