The sun., 1897-02-14

Geological Laboratory OF the Museum oi
Comparative Zoology Of Harvard College
One Of the best monographs produced by a
Radcliffe graduate is Miss FoLLErT's book
on 1.-THE Speaker OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives." This Is consecutive account
Of that Office from an early date, and traces
the evolution Of its influence and import
ance. This work has been published by
LoHGMANs, GREEN & Co., and is recognized
as q useful contribution TO the current
knowledge Of the workings of our Federal
Government. To another Radcliffe graduate
student we are indebted for "A Classified
List of Printed Material for English Mano-
rial and Agrarian History in the Middle
Ages" The title suggests work of mere
enumeration. but, as matter OF fact, 1t in
cludes the results Of great deal Of investi-
cation In medieva history. 1t was quoted
not long ago among authoritative works Of
reference in q course Of lectures delivered by
Prof. MAITLAND on 1.-THE History OF Eng
lish Law" at the University OF Cambridge,
England. We should also mention Miss
THoMPsoN's monograph on 1.-THE Unity Of
Fichte's System" which has a positive value
for students Of the Fichtesn philosophy.
One naturally turns with curiosity to the
undergraduate and graduate curricula,
which bear such substantial fruits Of
thought, research, aud learning as those to
which we have referred. 1t Is certain that
young woman can now obtain at Rad
cliffe College much more comprehensive,
II not more thorough, education than was
procurable by young men at Harvard Uni
otk t~t, To-
OF the subjects studied seem somewhat pro-
found and ponderous for "sweet girl gradu-
ates with their golden hair" They remind
one OF the skit that used to circulate in
Cambridge and Boston soon after the foun-
dation OF the society which was the germ
Of Radcliffe College:
"'whers arc you going my pretty maidp
I'm going TO the Annex. sirl she said.'
what shall you study there. my pretty maidr
Chinese and quatsrnions. Sir! she said.'"
As matter Of fact. we do not find either
the Confucian classics or the science Of the
fourth dimension included by name in the
present courses OF instruction at Radcliffe
College. The fair undergraduates, how
ever, may toy with the differential and in
tegral calculus, and Prof. b. o. PIERCE
stands ready to introduce them to determi-
nants, and, in truth, to all modern methods
in geometry. Then there are courses in the
Semitic languages, wherein the young wo-
man graduate, after refuting "HUDIBRAs"
BUFFERS slur:
For Hebrew roots. Ills often found.
They flourish beat In barren ground"
can proceed under the escort Of Prof. LYON
to decipher the Assyrlan historical writings
in their original cuneiform characters. As
for Latin and Greek, the Radcliffe graduate
is, OF course, required to read at sight such
easy authors as PLAUTUs, TERENCE
and LUcRETIUs, or EsCHYLUs, ARIs-
ToPHANEs and ARISTOTLE The Stagyrite's
" Politics." by the way. Is to be studied In
with his recently discovered
treatise on the constitutional history of
Athens; and for the budding PoRTIAs there
will be an enlivening excursus under the
conduct Of Prof. GOODWIN touching the
" Judicial Process Of the Athenian Courts"
When We turn to the literatures Of modern
Europe, 1t is painful to contrast what is ex-
pected of a Radcliffe student with what
used to be considered satisfactory ac-
quirements at Harvard in the consulship
OF PLANcUs, or, let US say, In 1859. At
present the young woman undergraduate
would disdain to begin a study Of German,
for instance, with the NibelunRenlied. She
lays deep and more solid foundation with
Gothic, Anglo-Saxon, Old Saxon, Old High
and Icelandic. As regards philoso-
ply, the Radcliffe girl, who has pursued both
the undergraduate and graduate curricula,
Is mistress OF KANT, HEGEL, and ScHoPEY-
HAUER, and has studied advanced Human
and Animal Psychology" under Prof. WILL
LIAM JAMES.
After inspecting the opportunities for
mental exercise afforded to young women
at Radcliffe College one is glad to learn that
the report OF the physical instructor on the
gymnasium is also encouraging We are
told that in 1893. when the gymnasium was
opened, only sixty-six students availed them
selves OF Its privileges, and that no general
interest In gymnastics was exhibited until
the autumn Of 1895, when "a genuine en-
thusiasm" began to show itself Some 1875
students arc now regular attendants; as
many as the building can accommodate.
On the last Radcliffe commencement day
It was pointed out that while this institu-
ton, owing to its connection with Harvard
University, does not need colossal
library. nor an observatory, nor huge COL
lections in natural history, it nevertheless
has needs OF its own. It needs laboratories
for teaching purposes; It needs lecture halls
Of It's own; 1t needs a gymnasium adequate
In point of size and OF equipment; It needs
houses In which its young women students
may be comfortably lodged; 1t needs spa
cious and attractive grounds. We add that
Il needs large number OF fellowships and
At present 1t has only about
half dozen.
The Pursuit of Antiquities.