The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-10

I have never understood why it would not
be reasonable and pre- per to make some
moderate participation for the young girls
who 90 to Cambridge and Oxford in re-
wards of that kind and In the initiative
provision which is of inestimable value in
enabling them to overcome difficulties at
the commencement of their career.
AT all events. / am quite sure there is
no fear that your position at the universe
ties will be worsened Splendid distinc-
tons have been won this year and in
former years in come individual cases, and
the general capacity which is perhaps ex-
hibifed more by young ladies at Cambridge
and Oxford who have arrived at high
standard of instruction and education, is
really circumstance of inestimable value
and promise for the future of our society.
The future of our society is q subject not
only vast in itself, but of enormous inn
portance to the world. l think it is not
uninteresting to recall, If / may say 1T, q
little anecdote, some words that were used
to me more than fifty years ago by an em-
inent physician of that dav, DR.. Farr, who
lived In Charterhouse square. / went to
him on account of some affection of the
ewes, and he entered into q general con-
versation about the political prospects of
the country. and he used to me these
words, which think were full of sense,
right feeling and wisdom. He said: You
may depend upon it, Mr.. Gladstone. it is
not the Wings that will save the country,
and il is not the Tories that will save the
country it is the mothers of England that
will save the country That may, and,
think, ought to convey to many young
mind a most true, most consoling, and
at the same time most stimulating lesson.
THE words are full OF wisdom. The
value and the importance of this Office is
such that nothing, no additions that we
can possibly make to the wOmen's func-
tons. can ever stand for moment in COM
parison with it as regards the very vital
bearing upon the formation of character in
every one of US: and what is the formation
of character except that for which God sent
us into the world? 1t is the sum and SUBJ
stance, the beginning and the end OF the
whole matter, and IL is to the formation of
character that it is the bright and glorious
function of woman. partly as teacher, and
largely az teacher. but infinitely more as a
mother, to contribute. Well. ladies, it is a
matter into which don't consider myself
well qualified by knowledge and practical
experience to enter. although from the cir
cumstance of having much-loved daugh-
ter at the head of one of the branches OF
Newnham College, my mind has been to q
certain extent kept in contact with the
subject.
However. do not consider it my func-
ton 10 trouble you further upon these
matters. i Will only fetuiHu you Vi tulS.
that this great change thar has taken
place, that has removed the burdens and
cisaualificanons. that has increased the
opportunities that were unknown TO women
oil former generations. has another side. 1t
brings with a greatly increased weight of
responsibility. 1t enforces upon you the
necessity of endeavoring to form an ade-
ouate and profound conception of the
character of that human nature in which
il has pleased the Almighty to create us
that it has great powers, it has great obli-
cations, il has great opportunities, and
this not merely by its being developed in
speech or reported in the newspapers, but
by private personal reflection and med
itation = the 81 ent hours, in the
hours OF the chamber, in the hours of
the study, in the hour of PRAYER, in
the hour when in devoting yoursel to full
MI the will of Almighty God you NAV be
happy to think that you have better means
than those who preceded you had of ascer-
tanning What that will in respect to YOUR
selves may really be. 1 will only say 10
Won. and say it heartily at east, If | say it
briefly and simply. may it be granted to
every one Of Won 10 CORRESPOND with those
generous and glorious iaoors that human
xisdom and philanthropy have Performed
ON yonr behalf, ano each OF you. every one
az Won. knowing thar there l. vocation
for Won all, high and noble vocation for
every one, from the strongest to the weak.
esf from the most brilliantly endowed TO
those endowed most humbly, that each OF
Won may endeavor with all your might to
correspond to that vocation, TO fuihu that