The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
E GIRLS.
They Do Not Marry as Early as Those
Who Have Fewer Advantages.
DA;roI.I1L;o o-oo;oI

The charge made by the Rev. DR.. E. Win
chester Donald in a speech delivered at Abb
methods OF education followed in nearly all
female colleges make pupils unwomanly and
too erudite has aroused a storm of agitation
at Bryn Mawr, Wellesley and other insti-
tutions included in DR.. Donalds arraign-
ment. There may be some basis for this ex-
traordinary criticism in the fact that the
percentage OF marriages OF the student class
falls far below that of the ordinary women,
and this may open a wide field for thought
among the educators of this country. Ii
may be that a college education does not
make a young woman self-centered and that
the influence of marriage among the grad
yates is merely a coincidence; but the fol-
at Bryn Mawr would indicate that there
may be more truth than poetry in DR.. Don
AIDS severe accusation:
Glass 'S9-Ten years out of school, aver
aging now 1928 years of age; 26 members,
IL married; 2 studied three years post-grad-
uate to take the degree Of PHI. D.. Neither
of these has married.
Glass '94-Ffve years out of school, aver
aging now 27-2S years of age; 20 in class, 3
nave married; 3 studied one year extra to
take degree Of A. NJ; stayed three years
possible courtship.
OF IS women who have held fellowships,
10 have married. or 13 per cent; of 161 grad
yates SO nave married, or "A per cent. of 225
girls who did not stay to take their degrees
80 have married, or IL per cent; of "a A.
BIS 80 have, married, or IA per cent.
ItMCl 6ll 10 AldAlL = NIL NhS - 1s
degree than those who do not graduate.
Whether or not the Bryn Mawr students
are g~uiltless of DR.. Donaid'S charge OF I'M
womanliness, one thing is certain, they are
taught to keep a secret, for everything re-
lating to Bryn Mawr is kept a profound
secret.
When asked concerning DR.. Donald's re-
marks, Miss NJ. Carey Thomas president
of Bryn Mawr, declined to talk for publica-
ton. and said: .! nave no answer or ex-
PLANTATION to make"
Justice Strawbridge, president Of the
board or trustees, frigidly declined 10 dis
cuss the matter. Each of the students ap-
TO Bryn Mawr traditions, but their man
ner indicated silent Indignation.
One Of the young ladies, who declined to
give her name, said: 1T Is true that the
proportion of marrying college women is
lower than will be found in the same num-
Der of society women. Taking all college
women together. about one-third of them
marry. Not that they are less attractive,
or less desirable as wives, but they are
busy, and the time and circumstances for
courtship are lacking. Once married, how
ever, many of them carry on their work as
before. The General Association of College
Alumnae was the first organization to take
up problems Of the home and or domestic
service"
Another undergraduate said: Graduates
leave college at the age of twenty-one or
TWENTY-FIVE, and are less likely TO rush into
marriage. They think longer and look at
maternity more seriously. While i must adj
mist that there is a great difference IN the
percentage of married women who graduate,
COMPARED TO those who do not, l do not think
that a girls erudition scares a young man
or creates a desire to remain single, but
makes a woman more sensible and restraints
her from rushing unheedingly into wediock."