The Irish standard., 1899-01-28

law or medicine, or to preach, they fall
into mechanical way. We accept
them because they have the Intellectual
method which we have not, but they are
not alive.
am sure DR.. Harris would not con-
tradict me when say that our aim is to
so arouse the mind of the young that
they will remain awake, that they will
find the same delight in mental action
that an athlete finds in performing his
feats, that healthy boy finds in roam
ing over the hills or in swimming;
that fair maiden finds in dancing from
pure delight in the open air.
When this comes it will lift us up to
where we can see that money can do lit,
tie for us, and approaching what it can
do and the little it can do, we will seek
our life in effort This is to be done for
women as we'll as men.
This kind of education that strength
ems the highest being that streng hens
the mind that eXaits the imagination,
that upbuilds the character that makes
right the consciencc--this is good in
every sphere of life Ii such one is a
wife she will be all the better wife; if
she be mother. all the better mother:
if she be cook she will he all the bet
ter cook.
This kind of education takes away
from us much of our pettlEess, much OF
our prejudice, much of those inherited
foolish notions A really educated
man would not think it degrading to
hold the pillow or drive wagon, or
build house, or do any honest work
Nor would an educated woman think it
degrading. 1t is the half educated who
find degradation in circumstances, who
think life consists Of environment, who
do not know that it lies within us, that
the kingdom Of heaven" is within us.
Let the waters spring pure and strong
from that central source OF faith
knowledge and love for all will be we'll
You say if the people become deeply
interested in the things of the mind that
they will take no interest in common
things. 1t Is not so. 1t has been shown
that the relative number of college men
who succeed is far greater than others
If man is rightly educated he is able
to get along some way or other, what
ever happens.
In the latter part of the century there
has begun movement for the higher
education of women. or course, the old
idea was that woman was naturally a
weak minded creature, and the old idea
was, also, that she was "mcst charming
when most goose" daughter Thev
said, You want to make these women
study seriously? You will break them
down. 1t is amusing the arguments
which will be found when the sympa-
thies are on that side.
Since our civil war there has been
begun movement to give women the
same kind Of an education that is given
men. There are three classes of these
schools. For instance, at Oberlin, and
most of the western universities, men
and women go to the same school and
sit in the same classes, and it has been
going on without the women suffering
from the comparison.
, Then another class. like Bryn Mawr,
Wellesley, Smith, Vassar, where women
alone are educated, and receive an cdu-
cation which ranks with that given
lou ~,
versitics. And then there is the third
type-Radcliffe. Barnard and Evelyn
in which education is given exclusively
to women by professors of Harvard Co.
lumbia and Princeton. Have they
ruined their health? On the contrary, il
statistics prove anything, the health in
women's schools Of higher education is
continually improving. They understand
that gymnasium is more important
than music room, with its eternal III
ano. Look at those girls playing hour
after hour. and once they are married
never again open II! (AppIausc.) Wo-
men become strong and hearty and able
to bear study like men, and their sue
cess in the University of London. where
they admit women to the same cxaminn-
lions as men, a larger percentage of NO.
men pass than of the men that is prob
ably due to the fact that a more chosen
set of women 90 than of the men.)
All of the arguments against the
higher education of women have fallen
to the ground
The great German philosopher, Kant,
who was led by Rousseau's enthusiasts
belief in education to study the pedagog-
ical problem. says: There is nothing
SO important rs schools of experiment.
Do not theorize about it, try it,"
We have tried it with the higher cdu-
cation of women and experimental long
enough to find it is emincntly success
full.
In 1S90-9l We had some 1000 women
going to these women's schools and CO.
educational schools of the highest kinds
In 1895 the number had increased to a.
600. Where the degree of the doctorate
of philosophy is given the number III
creased from 400 in 1890 to I, OGl in 1885
What shall the woman who wants to
get the best education study? She
should study whatever will widen.
81.