New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-20
MR.. DEPEW TO ALUMNAE
HE sAYsiwoMEN SHOULD ASSERT THEIR
RIGHTS.
A LIVELY ADDRESS TO THE GRADUATES AND

A LIVELY ADDRESS TO THE GRADUATES AND
PUPILS OF THE NORMAL COLLEGE.
The chapel OF the Normal College, decorated win
flags and flowers. and with Its seating capacity
well tested, was the scene of much enjoyment yes
terday afternoon. The reunion OF the Associate
Alumnae brought together a large NUMBER OF MEM
bers present pupils and their friends The enter
ranment was in charge Of Miss Bessie Mead MISS
Ella Keith Miss Emma Klauser. Miss Minnie
Lounsbery Miss Alice Wehle Miss Florence buhce
and Miss Laura NJ Obry After piano SOLO py
A. Edgar Brush Thomas Hunter president OF the
college made a brief address. He sad that as
the Legislature had recently granted the Normal
College an additional $4,000. the appropriations
are now the same as for the City College lie
also declared that the standard OF ADMISSION hdd
been raised. A letter from Charles h. Knox presi-
dent of the Board OF Education. was read express
ing regret at his inability 10 be present song
with violin obligato, BY Miss Harriet Jordan and
Miss Jeanne Benson was followed by an address
by Chauncey NJ. Depew.
Mr.. Depew began by declaring that through one
of the providenual arrangements Of nature, each
man can talk we'll to some woman. but he
considered II matter of grave doubt whether ne
sould do the same before such large body OF
women. When addressing the alumnae he said that
Il was against his principles TO call them the old
girls" as he had never been able TO ma that an
s.old' girl existed. The present century was ex-
rolled for dts wonderful advancement and enamel
patton from many evils. This attributed
greatly to woman.
"Abort every ten years." continued the speaker,
"a revolution takes place-potcal topical or So
cial-and have TO look upon this as a good
thing. The results desired have been best brought
about when the mothers. wives and daughters
have had heart in the matter. and have forced
men from their lethargic attitude 10 open action.
When the women do overturn things. 1t is because
something else is needed. Whatever woman
wants she usually gets. and hope she may con-
tinue to- Qaughter)
Competition mentioned, and II was said 10
have destroyed many OF the conditions by wnich
humanity has got along so well heretofore. Train
Ing he added. is now considered indispensable. and
without II must go ito the wall. Woman s
work was referred by Mr.. Depew. and the ne
cessity Of her taking positions clerk. sales
woman and othfr places formerly occupied only by
men. "In many of these cases" declared the speak
err IAN employer finds that the young woman
doesn't understand her rights. and has no one to
her salary to one-fourth the amount paid to her
predecessor TIPS has been done until woman nan mas
must simply make use OF the same faculties as
Il much enjoy hearing the conservative man rail
against the advancement of woman. and declare
dogs: that we shall never more have home. or a
wife-in fact only a skeleton at the feast; but as
s his marv aln 81 sood appetite augherJ
have seen this dear old country OF ours go to per,
have heard of the ruin to be wrought by the
higher education of woman until ENJOY the erect
in every hbre of my being Applause).
DIR. johnson quoted as asking the question:
s'Dont you know that womans brain is con-
sttuted that she can Jump at conclusions but can
Think Conservatives were said 10 be much OF
this opinion. and. while admitting that women
might occasionally meet with success they declared
10 marry them" debate at Smith College on
the question Does Higher Education Unfit a
Man for Domestic Life?' said TO have recently
taken place, and to have been decided in the mega,
no less capable prolonged appause).
After a violin solo by Miss Jeanne Benson, tht
alurnnae sang, 1.-THE Ivy Leaf" written by Heller
Gray and this closed the exercises. Refreshments
were then served in the calisthenium and an in
formal reception was held.