Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-05-25
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
THERESA OF BAVARIA.
She Is An Advocate OF Education for Won

THERESA OF BAVARIA.
She Is An Advocate OF Education for Wom-
en- In Germany.
Princess Theresa of Bavaria, the only
daughter of the present regent of that
country, who was recently elected an
honorary member of the Bavarian Acad-
envy of Sciences, ranks by right among
the learned women of Europe, No sim
liar honor TO that conferred by the sa-
vans of Munich was ever given to n
woman in Germany. The majority of
the leaders of thought in the father
land unfortunately still have medieval
ideas regarding the intellectual powers
of women. Undeniable proofs of the
mental quality-or superiority-of the
gentler sex seem lost upon the wise
acres who fill the chairs in the institu
tions of learning. For a quarter of
century women have been knocking in
vain at the doors of the universities. AT
every new request on the part of a
woman for admission, the gray-haired,
high-foreheaded bent-shouldered pro-
fessors descend from their book-lined
towers, where, among dusty folios, they
spend their days apparently regardless
of modern times and progress-sit in
solemn conclave about the round, Off
cial table and decide in the negative.
"Women are still unequal to men" they
say. "They can not be entrusted with
the wisdom of the ages. Their frail
backs would break under the weight of
learning. They have not the physical
strength to devote themselves to sci
ence. Perhaps in several centuries to
come there will no longer be sex in the
brain; but we doubt it, No; the place
for woman is the home. She is, and
must be first of all, the 'liausfrau.'
Nature has fitted her for that and not
for universities. If we admit her to our
halls who will prepare our Kartofel-
suppe and sauerkraut? We must keep
her in her place"
But the intellectual emancipation of
women in Germany has begun. In
April the first gymnasium for women
was opened in Welmar, the athens
on-the-llm," where Goethe, Schiller,
Herder and Wieland lived and wrote.
Graduation from a German gymnasium
or college, is necessary for admission to
the universities, the four upper classes
ranking with the four classes of Amer
lean colleges. In the seminaries for
girls in Germany, the curricula are
primitive, compared with the higher
schools for the sex in England, Sweden
and the United States. Greek, Latin
and mathematics especially are never
taught there. But the Welmar gymna-
sum will be on a par with the best
colleges in the land. It's professors
will be famous, and it is hoped that by
the time the first women leave its halls
with diplomas, the portals of the uni
versities will be open to receive them.
In this progress toward the complete
intellectual freedom of women, no one
takes greater interest than the
brilliant and learned daughter OF the
Wittelsbachs. In fact, no one has con-
tributed more toward that end than the
princess herself.
Princess Theresa was born in Novem-
Der, 1850. Her mother was the lovely
Auguste Ferdinande of Tuscany, arch
duchess of Austria, who died in 1864, a
few weeks after the death of Maxi
milan II. Prince Leopold has never
recovered from his loss and has never
asked another woman to fill the vacant
place. Princess Theresa herself has
written sketch of her noble mother,
which appeared in the "New Illustrated
National Book of Honor" published
under the auspices of Albin, baron of
Teuffenbach. The biography, full as it
is of proofs of filial devotion and adj
miration, is one of the best works of
the royal writer
The princess was a mere child when
her mother died, but she had already
shown unusual talents. In Queen
Maria her aunt, widow of Macmillan,
she found second mother, who guard
ed her zealously, and took the greatest
interest in her education. Natural
sciences and languages were especially
attractive to the royal student, and in
these she had the best tutors to be
found in Bavaria. Italian she learned
in her earliest childhood from her
mother. Later she learned English
and French through tutors and travel
through England and France. To-day
she is master also of Spanish, Danish,
Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, Czeckish,
Russian, and modern Greek. People
who have taken the time and trouble
to learn one foreign language will be
able to appreciate the talent and en-
ergy of the Bavarian princess
Princess Theresa is not q beautiful
woman, as are many members of her
house, but her face is pleasing to look
upon. She is simple in her tastes and
loves study more than the brilliancy of
court life. But these she can not fully
escape, as she is the head of Prince
Luitpold's household, and is obliged to
act as the first woman of the land.
She is often to be seen in the streets of
the capital making purchases in the
shops as an ordinary "Iiausfrau." All
the people know her and and greet her
with love and respect. AS is natural to
expect, the cleverest men in the capital
are her friends and often meet at the
royal palace. Prince Luitpold is de-
voted to his daughter, and is proud of
her learning and distinction.-Chicago
Journal.