The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-07-17
HIGHER EDUCATION.

Irene G. Adams, In W0man's Journal
HIGHER EDUCATION.
The Effects Of Accrued Knowledge Upon
tho Life Of Woman.
The higher education SO freely offered
to women at tho present time, together
with increased opportunities for voca-
tion, have led many to ask with no lit
tic seriousness what effect these so-call-
ed advantages will have upon women
will not be to detract from those finer
qualities which arc considered essential
~ feminine. II the necessary result Of
broader intelligence is correspond
ing loss Of refinement and delicacy,
writes Caroline X. Sherman, In Chicago
Post, women, as we'll a. men. should re-
gard with anxiety this intellectual de-
vclopmcnt. for no amount Of learning
can compensate the loss OF tenderness
and grace, and qualities Of mind alone
arc poor substitute for the warm in
stincts of Q gentle heart.
But those who are studying the prac-
tical solution Of the problem do not IS
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 wise intelli-
gence adds immensely to the value Of
the affections. They are ready, also. to
admit that the grace which comes from
strength is far more graceful than that
which comes from languor; that the ten
derncss which comes from efficient SYM
pathy is no less tender because OF its
efficiency. And that the trust which is
based ON full recognition Of all that
love and trust and self-snrrcnder imply
Is certainly apt to be more permanent
than the trust that is based upon ignO-
rance.
II the more rational life now offered
90 women shall lead them to more ra-
tional views in regard to the affections
incalculable results for good must iney-
itably follow; for there is no truth that
men and women need to see moro plain
~ than the fact the emotions are to be
kept under wise control; that they arc
Of value only n they are under control,
and that the infallibility Of love is not in
proportion to its intensity, hut rather In
proportion to its clear sightedness.
The illusions are very attractive
which cling to the idea Of chiyalrous
devotion on the part OF man and help.
less dependence on the part Of women,
and this might be we'll enough perhaps
II men were always strong and women
were always young and beautiful. Yet
even here 1t Is question whether a
woman could dnd lasting happiness
merely as q passing recipient Of loving
admiration, however ardent for as long
nature, SO long she fails of highest hap
pinoss IL these arc 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
confding, does not lead to the belief
| that tho fate of such women is at all en-.
yiable. Shakespeare knew this we'll.
While he portrayed every phase of the
emotions, and with all the allarements
and attractions which passion and nn-
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
OF wise intelligence, whose wealth o1
feeling was not under the sway of pas.
sion, lived not only to her own advan.
tage, but that Of her husband and house
hold.
Nor has Shakespeare failed to show
that the clear Judgment and calm 70
fection of women like Portia do not In
any wise lessen the intensity Of theil
affection. We find her tho genuine
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 tht
submission Of strength. not OF weakness
Eoethe, who knew women we'll, testides
to the same effect.
It is the disposition of most women tt
live in their feelings; and, perhaps
from their physical constitution they
are compelled to do so to greater ol
less extent. Still the tendency need
not DO cultivated, as it certainly has
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 re
garded. whether as an individual of and
for herself or as helpmeet for man. i,
either case'it is the rational life tha
gives permanent worth to tho emo
tional life. It Is to be hoped that tn,
nrdor and zeal with which women hay,
entered upon intellectual opportunitie
will moderate somewhat when the nov
city has passed. A feverish haste 70
knowledge is apt to defeat its own end
and mere attainment is often mistaken
for development. There is that il
sound, patient scholarship which acts q
sedativo to the nerves and gives th,
calm repose that Is based on . con
sciousRess OF intellectual vigor ant
strength. It Is this kind Of schola- a-shil
that meets tho needs of the women o
to-day.
In several towns Of South Dakota
whore women are not disfranchised b,
the city charter, women have beef
nominsted and elected upon the schoo
boarA