The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-16

most part of specialists, who have already
taken their degrees elsewhere, and have
come TO hear some particular lecturer and
really to attend the more advanced and
less crowded classes. It is a dangerous
thing, to .prophesy, but it seems highly
probable that if the German universities
are to be freely opened to women in the
future. it must be to this type of student
mainly; at any rate, this certainly applies
to the immediate future.
Inc course OF events has been as follows:
In the autumn of 1898 three women lnde-
penoentiy applied to be allowed to attend
some OF the mathematical and physical
lectures at the University of Gottingen.
Two were graduates of American colleges,
| and had been doing teaching and special
Work; the third was student of Girton
college, Cambridge, who had passed both
parts OF the mathematical tripos Pro-
| lessor Klein and the other professors
whose lectures these women were anxious
| to attend very kindly gave them all posi-
Bile help, and personally sent the applica-
| ton for admission to the university lee
| lures to the Prussian Minister of Educa-
ton. With each application was sent
detailed account of the work the student
had done, and letters of recommendation
from the professors under whom she had
already studied.
The reply was favorable and the women
were at once allowed to register-not as
oeNoOutSy lOI tHdJ illfOlNCu
ton" and other technical difficulties-but
as "hospitants," i. e., guests or hearers.
In the following year twelve women pre-
scented themselves for admission and wers
also admitted as hospitants, so that in the
winter semester of 1894 fifteen women were
attending the course of the philosophical
faculty at the university. Seven of these
studied mathematics, astronomy and
physics, while others heard lectures on
chemistry. philosophy, history and politi-
cal economy. Of these women three were
English, one German and eleven American.
IL must not, however, be concluded from
this rapid advance in numbers. that Got
tlngen IS opening wide its doors and well
coming all corners. This is far from being
the case. By no means are all the profess
Sors In favor OF the admittance of women;
some utterly refuse to lecture to women;
others take up neutral position, and those
who are most willing to extend the privi-
leges OF university training to women
are most anxious that it shall be done with
discrimination, that the women students
shall come well grounded and prepared for
hard work and that no element of diet
tantism shall appear.
With this object in view, no general
| rules have been framed with regard to adj
hitting women but each case is con-
sidered separately. The candidate for ad-
| mission must make herself known by
means of testimonials, certificates, and an
account OF the nature and extent of the
| work she has already done, to member
| OF the faculty or PROFESSIONAL board. If
ne is willing to support her application,
| the testimonials, etc, together with the
| professors recommendation, are laid be-
| fore the curator, who is the official repre-
sentative of the Ministry at the university,
and are forwarded by him to the PruSsian
Minister of Education. If a favorable
answer is received the curator instructs
the pro-rector- e., the president of the
PROFESSIONAL board-and he gives the official
permission, which is, however, subject to
the wishes of the individual lecturers The
permission of the lecturer must, lastly, be
asked for and obtained before his lectures
can be attended. The woman students at
Gottingen are now enjoying all the privi-
leges of the library and reading-rooms.
They attend certain of the seminaries, the
physical and chemical laboratories and the
observatory. They pay the ordinary uni
versity fees.
The next question which presented it.
self was: Shall these women, if capable
and anxious to offer themselves, be ad-
fully considered the question, and their
decision was as follows: The faculty does
not refuse to women, as SUCH permission
to take the doctors examination, but re-
serves to itself the right of presenting or
refusing to present to the Minister any
particular request LOT Sucn PERMISSION.
1t is understood that the candidate must
have fulfilled the usual requirements be-
fore being granted the degree. She must
have studied three years at German uni
versity, or university adjudged by the
faculty to be of equal standard, the last
year at least to be spent in Goettingen;
she must present an original dissertation
which possesses in the judgment of the
faculty scientific value and have this after
ward printed; she must pass an oral ex-
animation in the subject with which her
thesis deals and in two related subjects
The matter stands so at present One
lady miss Chisholm) has already fulfilled
the requirements and obtained the degree.
One or two more will shortly give in their
theses to the examiners. The Minister of
Education has given his consent, but par
ticularly remarks that it applies to these
exceptional cases only.
If the restrictions appear at first sight
1rksome we must remember that the ques-
ton at issue is very large one. Anything
that has so far been done is in the nature
of an experiment, and it is most desirable
that the trial should be made with the best
material, that only few women should
present themselves, and that those should
be thoroughly qualified to make the best
OF their opportunities.