Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-17
An Abnormal Being.

"A learned woman still appears to some
of us an abnormal being We do not, of
course agree with Fenelon when he says
that contact with learning would be almost
fatal to womanly deicacy as contact
with vice: nor with Leasing in the opinion
that the woman who thinks is as ridiculous
as the man who puts on rouge, that there
are many serious minds who are not with
out grave misgiVings as to the result OF the
higher education OF women. In reply to
whatever doubts and objections of this
kind it is enough to say that the adverse
ries of the highest intellectual culture for
women either do not understand what edu-
cation is, or do not believe in its divine eff
cacy. Education is simply the process
whereby the powers which constitute a HUI
man being are strengthened, developed and
brought into action. If these endowments
are good, education is good, and the best is
best whether for man or woman. Women
not less than men Iced strong and open
minds the capacity to form definite ideas and
sound judgments, to deduse conclusions log
ically from premises, to weigh evidence and
to estimate the value of proof They more
than men even may be helped if they are
permitted to live in the high and serene
world which the study of philosophy poe
try, history and science will throw open to
them, for they more than men probably
dwell IN the present, are too much dOmi-
mated by the senses, and a better education
by enabling them TO live more in the past
and the future, will tranquillize deeper and
purify their whole being.
What shall women learn? Whatever ex-
perience and the Insight of the wisest have
shown TO have most efficacy in opening
strengthening and supplying the mind
whether literature or science or metaphys-
les or history. Is not such superficial ac-
quaintdnce with these branches of knowI-
edge as may be made in our academies and
other secondary schools for girls sufficient
for them? II is sufficient for those who
care not or will not take up the work of
intellectual culture in a serious spirit and
with earnest purpose, and these unfortu-
nately are the many, whether there be Dues
ton OF women or Of men. A few only are
urged by the impulse to grow ceaseiessly
III mental power, as but a few hunger and
thirst for righteousness. They are the best
their value is greater than that Of num-
bers, because their life is of higher Quail
" and potency. 1t is they who uolift the
ideals in whose light the multitude walk
II Is they who open ways tn. undiscovered
wOrids-it is they who show to the crowd
that right hoping and right doing of human
souls may achieve Were il not for them
the whole people would sink to lower planes
OF thought and aspiration. Now, these
chosen ones whom God bids grow unceas-
lhSIy are not found in one sex alone
Higher Education.
"Since the close of our civil war America
has entered on the work of providing for
the higher education of women with an en-
ergy and a generosity unequaIed by anv
to all kinds of schools, and to nearly all
the professions. They are no longer ac-
customed TO look to marriage as to their
one aim in life. They are brought up 10
trust to their own intelligence and industry
TO maintain themselves in the world Their
success in study is equal to that of the
men, and their eagerness to improve them
selves seems to be greater.
Let us not be so dull as to ignore the
gifts of woman. Let us not be of those
who still doubt whether 1t is not better that
she should be a simpleton who thinks that
only specifically educated women can
make good wives and mothers. In all COM
panionship, the lower bends to pull the
higher down. for il is easy to sink and hard
to rise. Hence an ignorant wife and mother
will dull the minds of her husband and
children, while one who is intelligent and
appreciative will be for them a strong
stimulus to self-activity
"Ah! hasten, then, the day when Trinity
College shah stand beside the Catholic
University, twin stars to lure and iIlumine
the all-generous souls who are drawn to
God by the love of truth and goodness and