Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-07-24
HIGHER EDUCATION.
The Effects of Accrued Knowledge Upon
the Life of Woman.

Inc Effects or Accrued knowledge Upon
the Life of Woman.
The higher education so freely offered
70 women at the present time, together
with increased opportunities for voca-
tion, have led many to ask with no lit
tie seriousness what effect these so-call-
cd advantages will have upon women
and whether, on tho whole, the result
will not be to detract from those finer
qualities which are considered essential
ly feminine. If the necessary result of
n broader intelligence is a correspond
ing loss of refinement and delicacy,
writes Caroline X. Sherman, in Chicago
Post, women, as we'll as men, should re-
gard with anxiety this intellectual de-
velopmcnt, for no amount Of learning
can compensate the loss of tenderness
and grace, and qualities of mind alone
are poor substitute for the warm in
stincts of gentle heart,
But those who are studying the prac-
tical solution of the problem do not as
yet find occasion for alarm. They see
no necessary contradiction between the
activities of the head and those of the
heart. On the contrary, they have
reason to believe that a wise intelli-
gence adds immensely to the value of
the affections They arc ready, also, to
admit that the grace which comes from
strength is far more graceful than that
which comes from languor; that the ten
derness which comes from efficient SYM
pathy is no less tender because of its
efficiency. And that the trust which is
based on a full recognition of all that
love and trust and self-surrcnder imply
is certainly apt to be more permanent
than tho trust that is based upon igno-
rance.
II the more rational life now offered
tional views in regard to the affections
incalculable results for good must inev-
itably follow; for there is no truth that
men and women need to see more plain
ly than the fact the emotions are to be
kept under wise control that they are
of valuo only as they are under control,
and that the infallibility of love is not in
proportion to it's intensity, but rather in
proportion to its clear sightedness.
The illusions are very attractive
which cling to the idea of chivalrous
devotion on the part of man and help.
less dependence on the part of women,
and this might be we'll enough perhaps
If men were always strong and women
were always young and beautiful. Yet
even here it is question whether a
woman could find lasting happiness
merely as passing recipient of loving
admiration, however ardent for as long
as a woman has rational and spiritual
nature, so long she fails of highest hap
pincss If these are dwarfed or lost sight
of. Furthermore, the fate of the Juli-
cts, the Desdemonas, the Margarets, and
countless hosts of other women, who
were all that is gentle and sweet and
confiding, does not lead to the belief
that the fate of such women is at all en-
/ viable. Shakespeare knew this well.
While he portrayed every phase of the
emotions, and with all the allurements
and attractions which passion and un-
disciplined ardor know how to offer, he
has not failed to show the evil results
where feeling, and not reason, obtains
control. The Ophelias and Desdemonas
perish, the victims of their own undisci.
plined instincts, but Portia, the woman
1 of wise intelligence, whose wealth oi
feeling was not under the sway of pas
/ sion, lived not only to her own adyan
tage, but that of her husband and house
hold.
Nor has Shakespeare failed to show
that the clear Judgment and calm re
Election of women like Portia do not il
any wise lessen the intensity of thei
affection. We find her the genuin,
woman, with all womanly instincts
happy in the self-surrender to hus
band who is worthy of her. No submis
sion could be more womanly than is tha
of Portia to her husband; but it is tn,
submission of strength, not of weakness
Goethe, who knew women we'll, testifie
to the same effect.
1t is the disposition of most women :
live in their feelings; and, perhaps
from their physical constitution the
are compelled to do so to a greater o
less extent. Still the tendency nee
not be cultivated, as it certainly ha
been in times past And, above al
things, the emotional state need not b
considered the ideal condition for won
en-. for in whatever way women is r,
garded. whether as an individual of an
for herself or as helpmeet for man, |
either case it is the rational life ths
gives a permanent worth to the em'
tIonal life. il is 10 Be hoped that Il