The herald., 1894-09-03
UTOPIA OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


Sir Thomas Moro's Efpshccy Mas CuEzto 20
Pass IN America ~ ~
Sir Thomas More published his IA
nous Utopia in 1919. 'Itswas an &C.
count Of an imaginary common wealth
on the island OF Utopia. formed from
two Greek words meaning nowhere.
A companion Of Americus Vespucius
was said to have discovered this island,
where perfect state Of society existed,
and to have narrated the story to good
Sir Thomas. A system Of government
prevailed so very like that advocated
by tho Nationalist that it is surprising
none Of the hyperoritics of the day have
thought of charging Bellamy with
plagiarizing from utopia.
But the widest and most rtopian Of
all the schemes adopted by this famous
commonwealth, and which called out
unreasonable laughter and ridioule
from all Europe, was that relating to
the education Of girls, for in Utopia
as extensive and liberal an education
was given to girls as to boys, and moth
ing was lacking to develop in them
noble and symmetrical womanhood.s Sir
Thomas More defended the Utopians in
their astounding departure from the
custom Of those times and replied to
those who attacked him and them that
eff the reproaches cast on tho female
understanding were sound they would
but afford so many additional reasons
for bestowing on it all possible oultiva.
ton"
Only $40 years agoi And now we sec
that Sir Thomas More was a prophet,
and, as far as the education Of girls is
concerned, that utopia" has come to
pass in America Never were the girl
graduates from seminaries, fitting
schools, - normal schools and colleges SO
numerous as this year. The papers in
form US that more women are seeking
admission to colleges than the colleges
have room for. 20 The secretary Of the
New York State university reports 49,
556 girls and 18, 243 boys in the semi
naries and academies Of the state of New
York, the former being 90 per cent Of
the whole.
OF honor credentials the girls re-
ceived this year 298 to 40 granted to
the boys--a proportion Of GO per cent
for the girls Tho number of girls
who entered college last year from re-
gents schools was 81 per cent greater
than tho year before, and this year will
show similar increase. cat this rate"
says the secretary, sit looks as if early
in the next century the colleges would
graduate more women than men, just
as the academies do now
recently met the dean of the wom-
ems college Of Brown university and
learned that the nine women students
with whom the college opened three
years ago had Increased this year to 70.
A larger increase is expected next year,
but how to accommodate these earnest
and we'll fitted students is q problem
that taxes the university seriously. The
financial distress of the country has de-
layed the erection of buildings for their
occupancy, but they cannot be much
longer dispensed with. The dean spoke
in terms, of commentator of the wom-
en- students, who are welcomed by the
faculty, the young men Of the univer-
sity and all others concerned. Their ad-
mission was a popular movement from
the start, and the women Of the Provi-
dence club promptly manifested their
interest by taking measures to found
scholarships for the assistance Of needy
women students. Among the graduates
this year was Miss Mary Woolley, once
treasurer of the New England Whea-
ton Seminary club, who has received
much commentator from the college
faculty and was graduated with high
honors. She had taken exceptionally
high rank as teacher before she enter
ed the university.
How little while ago it seems since
DR.. E. Fl. Clarke published his booa,
Sex In Educationp' With what pom
derous solemnity he iterated and reiter-
ated that the higher education Of WON
en- meant their physical and domestic
ruinl And new what rubbish the book
is!-Mary A. Livermore.