The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-30
WOMEN ABROAD.

From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
The confraternity of bishops, rectors,- vi
cars, and curates of the Established church
who rallied to Cambridge last year to pre-
vent the award of degrees to women who
had honestly passed the requisite examina-
tons have hit upon an expedient which
they hope may dispose of the troublesome
question finally and forever. They are
advocating the establishment of a uni
yersity for women, the magnificent build
ings and endowments of the late Thomas
Holloway, amounting to 9S50,000, to be in
some manner diverted to this end. The
donor specified that the fund should go to
the education of women, without sufficient
ly indicating Il practical plan for its expen-
diture. The enemies of higher education
are united in their approval of the project
of the university.
It has been suggested that the best
Judges as to the educational needs of their
seX-the women educators themseveS-be
consulted. 1t has been ascertained already,
as might be supposed, that they are solid
ly opposed to it. They believe, and justly,
that NEWMAN, Mary Somervllle, Girton
and Lady Margaret Hall are adequate,
with their constantly increasing accommo-
dations and endowments, if Cambridge and
oxford would only do what was right in
the matter of granting the degrees In
the whole controversy there never has been
any question of co-education as it is recog-
nized in America. Women students have
their own halls, removed from the mems
colleges, while they are tacitly acknowl-
edged as a part of the university, the de-
gree alone being withheld. The oppon-
ents of women, as has been said, have been
largely clergy of the Established church,
who adhere to the scriptural subordination,
and who jealousy perceive in the educa-
ton of women a great menace to their
own authority and perquisites
The present British ministry, conserva-
tive in name, is very liberal in some par
tculars. In others its attitude is synony-
nous with its title. One of it's retrogros-
sive impulses has been evinced in the
refusal of Sir Matthew White Ridley 10
fill the vacancy made by the resignation of
Mrs. Tenant. She held with great effl-
cheney the post of lady experimenting in
spector of factories Her province, of
course, was confined to women and to the
children employees. In recent report it is
stated that, under Sir Matthew Ridley's
administration, sthe entire status of the
womens department has been lowered"
Mrs. Tenant was empowered to prosecute
violations of the law whenever she deemed
it necessary, but her successor must now
act only through and with the concurrence
of the head of the superintendent of men
inspectors. 1t practically amounts to be-
Ing an ONCE In name only. The London
Daily News says of the course pursued by
Sir Matthew Ridley: 1.-THE loss of Mrs.
Tenant, though serious, might have been
repaired The loss of independence Is ir-
reparable." 1t further adds that the mat
ter must be brought before parliament ear
ly in the session. The deprival of the
woman inspector of her rightful preroga-
tives should not occasion surprise 1t
simply shows that official appointment
without legal political authority behind 1t
is dependent upon the within of those In
power; it has no real, intrinsic dignity or
authority
Nursing, in Great Britain has hardly
been brought to the professional and tech
nical pelfection it has attained in the
United States There are not the same
rigid requirements in the matter of train
ing, experience and certificates which OBJ
tains in the United States and which has
made American training schools for nurses
the very best in the world. THE difference
of opinion in London is so great that the
Royal School for Nurses Is almost in a
state Of disruption, with Mrs. Bedford