The morning call., 1890-11-07
WOMAN'S INTELLECT.
A Review Showing That 1t Is Not In
ferior TO That of Man.

Review Showing That 1t Is Not In
ferior to That of Man
Editor Womdn'S Column. Morning Call:
7 he world las never doubted that man has
intellect. and man. the ''measurer," has had
every incentive to develop the faculties
given him, but with woman it has been very
different. She has been made TO feel that
10 be strong minded" 10 be masculine" is
disgrace, and she has until recently been
hedged away from opportunities, and is still
discouraged if her taste and talent lead her
in an unusual direction. None but intel
lectual women know what mild martyrdom
it is to adopt unusual opinions and
an unusual line of work. Tie wiSest
have learned, however that women, the
same as men, are benefited by hard
thinking and thorough drill; that both need
strong minds and strong bodies; that God
given talents are Tor use, not for waste. Our
gTandmOthers were supposed to have IN
tellcct enough to learn to read the Bible, to
embroider samples and TO achieve mourn
ing piere for the parlor; that was liberal
education. Their training was mostly in
the artistic line; their work remains, and
their granddaughter look over the treasured
samples, or the willow tree shading the
grayestone and the ''reict' usually
wld0wer, with peculiar emotions. Our
m others were allowed to dabble little in
ari thmetic until they were lost in flac-
tionS.
THEY HAD A LITTLE GEOGRAPHY
And some grammar, but it was conceded by
nearly all tnat WOnan'S brain would give
way entirely should she tackle the les and
the 'o.Og;eS. Ii favored of fortune they
took accomplishments" learned to play
Money Musk " and " Buy q Broom" waltz,
or they composed landscapes, putting an
English castle on an Alpine slope and sur
rounding it with tropical vegetation. At is
they We're finished, and expected TO rest
from mental labor. We were told that
women could not go TO college if they had
chance, that they had not the kind OF intel
lect to master a course, That on no
account should the law be changed
admitting them to college or the
professions lest they abandon every
oil her duty and flock thither; that associa-
ton with young men in school would turn
the heads IF both. Higher education for
woman was as much OF bugbear rs the
ballot is now, and precisely the same asser-
uanS were made. The friends OF the move
declared that no one would be obliged 10
enter college; that no one could learn the
quality OF womtns intellect until they had
Il chance TO develop it; that if they do not
want an education and have not capacity,
they could not flock Very numerously; that
boys and girls are put into the same world,
the same families, they will surely associate
in some fashion, ana that constant a>Socta-
tion III useful pursuits is wholesome-much
BETTER THAN THE BALLROOM
Or on the sly, and tnat if cupid should in
wade the classic halls the scholastic atmOs-
phere might improve the quality OF his work.
80 It has proved, and the girls have deted
the prophets successfully. Teachers know
that there are at least two good scholars
among gTlS to one among toys, not because
of SEX for nature is impartial, but because
OF cigarettes, clubs and other evils mostly
limited 10 niascullneS. Last year girl took
n priZ,. and went to the Paris Ell oSition,
San ETonpicrO SpbnpiS
and this year the ladies' star has been in The
ascen dency. Helen Leah Recde took the
Sargent classical prize at Harvard, and size
nothing but an annex. Ii is a prize not
always given, as itrequires high standard Of
work, and sixteen men competed with her.
Margaret Afford, niece OF Dean Afford,
won tie first prize In the classical tripoS at
Cambridge, England, as Philippe Faweett
won the mathematical tfipos, standing four
hundred marks above the senior wraugler
In tie good old days, when Intercollegiate
contests meant tuSsle of brains, not base
ball game or boat-Tace, julia Thomas of
Cornell took the Greek prize, competing
with representatives Of our best colleges.
Cambridge, England has given the best
chance, and there have been lady seniors"
in all the important triposes except law, and
this year a woman took the Philosophy
prize at London University examination.
Speaking of the honors won by Miss Faw-
cett and Miss Afford, the Westminster and
Lambeth Gazette says:
We ATE in danger OF not giving full appreca-
tOn 10 tie splendid Work OF the ladies next on
lie lists. There are Miss Martin-LeaAc of Cir
Ion, and Miss o. Mitchell OF Newnlam, who in
the natural science tripos are equal TO the men
ID Part ii, aud In Part Miss E. Dale and Miss
NJ. c. TebD, OF Clifton, aud Miss II. NJ. MaItyn OF
NtHnbaI stand as high as The highest of The male
students. Miss II. Stevenson Of Girton has
taken fin si-claSs III The historical tripos. The
number OF women altogether who have passed
will hOlOrs IN one of tile lrposes Is thriys
twenty from Newnbam and sixteen from Glrlon.
Ii i no longer any use TO brandsh against The
higher educational movement that blunt old
weapon an argument wOmens mental inca
pacty and physical unfltHeSs. IL Is no use TO
aver that Miss Fawceti, Miss Afford and Mrs.
Butler are magnificent exceptions in general
dead level Of inIetioriiy. The class lists prove
that This is hot The case. There Is an upward
movement among Tie whole body OF students;
the standard Of excellence is III iIkedy rising,
ana tie cataciiy Of passing severe mental tests
Is inc easing.
Ii has been asserted that "meD cannot
stand such things" but men are just the
ones v no are glad Of it, and congratulate
the girls most heartily; it is not men, but
boobies and rtwdies who are jealous OF
wcmeI; and wish to deny them free field.
SMALL men fear women and cage them in
spheres: large men wish them to develop
whatever ability the Lcrd gave them. The
world asks. What becomes of these
women?" Well, some teach, some go into
the professions, some are rich and turn
lhianthropists, and-a great many are
gathered into Hymen's net. 1t is very com
mCn for them to marry professor or a
fellow student. Why not? What better
place fur men and women 10 learn each
others real selves than Where they are ell
gagged in enuobing work?