The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-23
A BREEZE IN 4 COLLEGE.
Young Lady Students Strike
Against Wearing Uniforms.
ANEW YORK NORMAL SCHOOL
Where the Fair Attendants Object
to Being Treated as Charity
Girls-Threatenins to Leave
the Institution.

New YoRx, May 2e.-The rumor tina
the pupils at the Normal College woulc
be compelled to don a uniform of gra!
or black has caused great deal of indig
nation.
Outside the Board Of Education thu
proposition has met with no favor. II
talking with various people on this sub
ject the reporter was told that America
was the wrong place to try such an ex
pertinent. The rich might put theil
servants in livery, after the fashion Of
monarchical countries, but to dress the
young women who attend a scholastic
establishment in uniform was a very
un-American proceeding.
ANY person who has been in the
neighborhood of the Normal College
when the girls come trooping out to re-
turn to their homes must have been
struck with their attractive appearance.
1t would be difficult to match them any
where for refinement Of face and intel
lectual expression, while their attire
would give the impression that the
wearers came from the best homes in
New York.
While there is a wide diversity in the
quality Of what they wear and in the
styles in which they dress, there is a
uniformity in taste and sameness in
neatness and appropriateness to form
and complexion. Whether they be rich
or whether they be comparatively poor,
they evidently take pride in making
themselves look well with the means at
their command, andeveryliberal minded
person will admit this is duty which a
girl or woman owes to society Us well Us
TO herself.
The fair students are mad that the
uniform proposition should have been
mentioned. why, if that should be
done," said one, they would have to
make our compilations and the color Of
our hair uniform. What's fright | would
look in a gray uniform There are
fashionable colors and tints prevailing
every season that no girl Of taste would
think of wearing If they did not suit her
complexion, no matter how fashionable
they might be. Why, uniform would
make US look like charity scholars, and
that our parents would never submit to.
l would rather leave the college than
wear such uniform"
"And so would "AndI," J." "And l."
echoed others in the group.
"Well, said another young lady, ''if
they want US to wear q uniform during
school hours, Just think OF the loss OF
time in putting on and off our street
clothes. Besides, an extra room or
large number OF closets would be re-
quired, and there is no space to spare in
the college. As it is, we haven't enough
class rooms. We don't want a uniform
for calistheuic exercises, and we can
perform them in our own ordinary
dresses"
To show how repugnant is the uni
form idea TO Americans, it may be men,
toned that in the Catholic seminary of
Mount st. Vincent the proposition was
made some years ago to make the young
ladies dress alike. Parents and pupils
at once rebelled, and so a compromise
was made on jewelry. Even in the
Catholic Protectory, where something
like uniform is necessary, and the
girls are allowed choice OF colors, and
as fur as possible Of general makeup.
The late Father Drumgoole, who found.
ed the mission in Lafayette place, said
he would never compel the poor chill
dren TO wear q uniform for fear OF max.
ing them feel degraded.
The Normal School young ladies will
find small comfort from some members
OF the Board OF Education. To the re.
porter these declined to say whether
they would or would not vote for the
proposition. Mr.. Robert N. Gallaway
said he could not give an opinion right
of without consideration. He would
not say how he would vote if the pro
position came up. Mr.. Miles NJ. O'Brier
would not give an opinion. Miss Grace
II. Dodge had nothing TO say. Mrs
Agnew was credited with having made
the suggestion. This is news 10 me, >
said that lady, with one OF her charming
smiles. "rhe proposition did moi
originate with mel am not its author
Pressed for her views, and asked il she
would vote for the change, Mrs. Agnew
said she had nothing more to say on thai
subject. Mr.. William Lummins said he
had high respect for the views OF Mrs
Agnew on educational subjects, but the
suggestion being new one he had moi
yet formed q decided opinion with refer
ence to it.
Among those who said they wouli
vote against it was Mr., William A, Cole
Mr.. Henry Schmitt did not like it anG
would vote against it. Mr.. Edward ]
II. Tamsen would not favor the idea
Mr.. Charles L. Holt had not given the
matter any consideration to express ar
opinion at length, but assured the re
porter he would vote against it.
"Oh, pshaw!" said President j. II
Simmons. "The idea of making the
Normal School look like a charity school
It is nonsense. Mrs. Agnew is a splen
did woman-none better in the city
You may rely upon it, she has no idei
of making the girls look like charity
children. 0fcourse l would vote agains
it."
Mr.. Charles Crary said: at is absurd
girls in this country dress nicely-all o
them. Even the poor cannot be sur
passed, perhaps not equalled, in othel
countries for the neatness of their attire
The class OF girls who go to the Norma
College do not need uniform. Thos,
who can afford TO send their children
there can afford TO dress item respecta
bly,"
Murderer MaxWeIrs Case.
ST. LOUIS, May 22.-The Missouri su