The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1900-01-06

the University did solicit the aid OF the
women of Knoxville in building up an
interest throughout the State in the
new departure, namely the admission
of women students. This attempt was
cordially met and a 'Woman's Assocla-
ton of the State University' was speed
lily formed and all sorts of enthusiastic
plans for the furtherance of what seemed
a most iudiciOus scheme were laid. Now
let US look into the matter little further
The first suggestion looking to the I'm
terests and well-being of the female
students" was made to the Trustee in
the form of a petition, asking that the
doors of the University be formally
opened wide to women and that piece
of ground be set aside for the erection
of woman's building for the use of
the new student contingent. Both these
suggestions met with hearty approval,
a sort of jovial pat on the back from the
Trustees and faculty. For why? First,
there is no form of generosity that
comes easier than the ratification of
what is already granted. The doors
had been informally opened and so the
land lying idle might very profitably be
turned over to lot of enthusiasts who,
once undertaking a thing, stop at moth
ing but success. Query? Had it ever
occurred to these august bodies who
hold the University purse-strings, that
it might be very gracious land nat
ural) thing for these ladies thus exalted
(?) to a share of the labor in building up
the State institution, to enter upon the
erection of said wine and fig tree" for
the female knockers at the seat of
learning, thereby relieving the fund
(which took into account "our boys
but not "our girls of possible drain?
A hall for the girls would be healthy
addition to the woman part of the curri-
culum, and beautify the grounds be-
SUES, DC bCul NlOulul co LluSi III
such work. Dyes, the response to this
suggestion was most cordial. AS tx"
says, at a public commencement the
womans board of the association were
out in full feather, introduced to the
audience, not only allowed but urged to
the Science Hall platform, to lay bare
their plans and aspirations for the de-
velopment of the work.
So favorable was the attitude of the
powers that be- of the University,
that they were permitted ~ these COM
mittee women, to fit up temporary
building for the new aspirants, until
such time as the new structure should
be substantial fact based upon terra
frma." The building set aside was
made habitable by the personal labor
of the executive board of the associa-
ton. Entertainments were given to
raise money, library was projected,
and afterward made fair start. Archi-
tects were set to work on p ans. the
hive of workers were busy storing
honey, and all went serenely on until
sure enough, as "X" says, there was a
woman in the case, but not the woman
referred to, nor the occasion indicated.
These ladies, DESTROYS of bringing the
town and University interests into clos
er touch. and of uniting the college to a
certain extent with the social life of the
city, arranged series of monthly lee
lures, inaugurated by an open recep-
ton in Science Hall. Three lectures
were delivered by three of the Univer-
sity professors, and proved gratifying
successes. There was a splendid atten-
dance of representative Knoxville peO-
pie. The ladies were jubilant, fore
seeing an easy attainment of the desir-
ed goal. AS the time approached for
the fourth lecture, these somewhat I'M
duly elated spirits, decided that man
udu udu lis llIul1So, dIu IL W do ION
time for woman to enter the field, to
claim a share of the honor having done
all the labor. But as has been her fate
since time began, woman proposed, but
man as usual, disposed. They arranged
for presentation, by one thoroughly
competent to entertain an audience,
herself teacher of long experience and
wife of University professor, to give
the passion Play" with stereoptican
views, as presented by her at Byrn
Mawr.
Result A cloud much bigger than
a mans hand above the hitherto peace
full horizon. 1t was announced that the
faculty disapproved of women on Sci
ence Hall platform. Il quote the ex-
act words as repeated by member of
the committee:) Here was pretty
kettle of inconsistency. Although wo-
men were made eligible to the Univer-
sity and the University to women, thus
identifying them with the male STU
dents and elevating ~ them to the
same plane, and it would seem the
most natural step to associate woman
in every possible way with the various
interests of the University, she was