The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-11
Winter Festival Of The Congye-
gatlonaI Club Held.
WOMEN EDUCATORS PRESENT.
Tve vsr Interesting Addresses Were De-
llvsTss By Mrs. Alice Freeman Palmer
and Miss MaUE. wcolisI.

The ladies Night" which ushered in
tional club at the Trocadero last evening.
was essentially. and in every particular,
almost exclusively devoted 10 the ladies',
and the briliancy of the occasion can be
attributed TO this fact.
Addresses by two of New England's
leading women educators, Mrs. Alice
Freeman Palmer. OF the Massachusetts,
Besfd-ef Education and ex-president of
Wellesley college, and Miss Mary Il.
Woolley. presidentof Holyoke College, on
"The Progress of womans Education in
the Nineteenth Century In this Country
and "A Glimpse OF University Life for
Women in England and Scotland re-
spectively. were delivered with elo-
quence. and a force that held the rapt and
undivided attention or their hearers.
The addresses were interesting, bright
and sparkling with wit, and merted the
continuous applause they received at the
conclusion.
After the Rev. Mr. Woolley had in
voked Divine blessing. the 400 members
and guests present sat down to an ex-
cellent repast.
MRS. PALMERS ADDRESS.
At the conclusion OF the feast. Rev. Mr.
Nutting offered thanks. after which Rev
James III. Lyons. the president of the club
in a brief speech introduced Mrs. Alice
Freeman Palmer. who said in part:
Women colleges have made this country
one OF the leaders OF the world, In fact,
the leader for here is where girls We're
first admitted to the universities and
IN ri first I'M
tuted.
Countless are the changes that have
taken place in the closing century. One
hundred years ago there were no women
teachers in the public schools, or prac-
tically none, no schools for girls, and
all the education they derived was from
the little country schools where boys
and girls were huddled together
In olden days the girls only aim I'm life
was 10 make a good wife. sitting in the
corner spinning and weaving. and in the
winter in the old kitchens making
shoes. Everything was manufactured and
finished in the homes.
But today what a contrast. Women
lawyers doctors and women in every pro-
fession formerly occupied only by man.
A CHANGE IN SYSTEM.
In the old days American boys and
girls sat together in the schools, learning
together out of the same class book, ana
generally taught by the young college
man. Then some women began 10 teach.
first I'm private and then in the pu5lic
schools. At first there was some question
and grave doubts as to whether woman
ought TO be allowed 10 teach. Her sex
was against her, but with many trials
and after a hard battle she succeeded in
establishing herself and rapidly grew 10
her present high standing.
The girls In Republican form of
government have, perhaps a much cas-
ier chance TO establish schools but In the
old days when that illustrious and noble
pioneer OF woman teachers, Mary Lyon,
began her work, she had a long and off
fcult task among the slow thinking farm
ers of the New England hills.
But her perseverance won the day and
now nearly all the seminaries from the
Atlantic coast 10 the far west have been
founded by girls taught by Mary Lyon.
Mrs Palmer concluded by saying that
new colleges are being founded every
day. and new fields are opened, and in no
land is so much money so generously ex-
tended for the education OF girls.
MISS wooLLEY SPEAKS.
The Rev Mr.. Lyons thon introduced
Miss Woolley, who said in brief:
There Is nothing more beautiful than the
strong feeling of unity that exists be-
tween England and this country at the
close of the century. The same thing
applies to the close afflliation Of the uni
yersity with the college in England and
Scotland.
This affiliation has a great advantage
and with the added advantage of living in
an English university town makes the
English college Ire an interesting ore.
The surroundings, the beautiful scenery.
the associa tions and the knowledge OF
.wl4 Il.
beautiful old towns their homes, is an
education in Itself and inspires the mind
To better things.
Old England is rich i'm these spots. and
no country can compare with historic
oxford and Cambridge.
Girl education in England is fast going
forward and they are looking TO America
for further progress.
oxford and Cambridge have opened
their doors 10 women, not wide, perhaps
but enough for them to obtain the high
est In education.
In Ireland. Scotland and Wales there
are not more than 1loc women preparing
for college. But the ranks arc fast fill-
ing up
Why DO girls go TO college? For the
college llfe7 Yes, for college life In it
self is an education.
They derive the great benefits; they
work earnestly and hard, all for their one
great desire. the wish to obtain an educa-
ton.
EClI nvEp A rflc