New-York tribune., 1901-09-06
HER HEIDELBERG DEGREE.
MISS HAMILTON. THE SECOND AMERI-
CAN WOMAN TO RECEIVE THIS
HONOR TALKS on FOREIGN
UNIVERSITIES
UNIVERSITIES.


Miss Neena Hamilton. a daughter OF DR.. Ed
ward J. Hamilton. OF No 312 West One-hundred-
and-twenty-second-st, has just returned from
Europe where she spent seven years in advanced
study. She passed her examinations with honors
in June, and received the degree Of Doctor OF
Philosophy in the department OF art history OF
the University OF Heidelberg. She is the second
American woman to take this degree at Heidelberg.
the first being Miss DEMO. formerly a professor
Wellesley.
The subject of Miss Eanilton's thesis was The
Alteration of the Magi in Tuscan Painting from
Giotto 10 LEONARDO" 1t accepted by the fac
ulty with much praise and will shortly be pub
lished. Ii is the first work Of woman student to
be included in a German art series
I would not advise any American woman go
through what have in an effort secure a Ger
man degree" said Miss Hamilton yesterday to a
Tribune reporter She will meet with opposition
every hand from the ministry. from the faculty.
from the professors more than all, and from
the students She Will hnd il impossible TO
take lectures under certain professors. no matter
OF how much importance they may be 10 her
course She VIII be asked to leave certain libraries
though some other professor may have sent her
there. All this opposition is not because she is
an American, but because she is a woman. A Ger
man woman meets with great opposition. if.
indeed, there not more restrictions placed in
her way.
Il studied five years in Germany and Italy and
hlEher
education for women is stronger in Germany, how
than in the other countries At the universities
al Halle. Berlin Munich and Heidelberg found
the same opposition everywhere When ! first
went 10 Germany the feeling against women was
much stronger than il is now. / had to persuade
the professors 10 give permission take their
courses, Then the matter taken up by the fac
uty OF The university, and if the petition was ap-
proved II was turned over the ministry for
consideration You can imagine how unpleasant 4
was 70 attend lectures where one was the only
woman among two hundred men Some professors
would not consider the possibility Of a woman
STUDENT doing the required work. and would not
allow one 70 listen 10 their lectures.
one day al Heidelberg a certain professor sent
me 70 library to consult some books. / was hard
AZ work over them when another professor entered.
What are you doing here?' he demanded
1 explained that my professor had sent me. and
outlined the work / was doing
.,s Mslls you can go away again. and AT once he
OF course ] went for there was no appeal 1
eouio hardly blame the blunt old man, however, for
ne was simply following the views which he has
ne,a al MS lfe-that women were not fitted for ad-
=, The individual man student is polite TO the in
oIplausl CIVIC woman student. There is OF that
open dislike which told Is shown in some
american coeducationsl universities. The German
man oolects 10 the presence Of women students on
pIlnelpie, and he cannot understand that a woman
During the last two years, however I have
ilouceo mat the opposition 10 women was becom-
70 % me fact that women can 90 the required work
They have passed their examinations with Uniform
S7qtccess, while great many men fail every year
ne ne professors still try 10 make the fail by
sElhs thern most severe examinations The
younger students also are beginning 10 look with
more favor on coeducation. Many of them believe
5 la lney can reach broader culture through the
soocstlon of their women. believe that the pres
.uos q american women students has had much
70 90 with this change Of feeling. And just here
-Ndnt 70 sound note Of warning to the American
~L.Heh "ho expect 70 study in Germany. They
.io.io oe most careful not 10 abuse such freedom
1l a9 - now accorded them. ] have heard OF girls
MO -o "ent 20 Germany with this idea, I viii see and
5 ST everything, whether they like IL not. What
ti care for their old fashioned rules and regula-
very little Of this spirit win do much foster
s1ss ttsle OF opposition. II will not only make IL
S54I 5.s,eu4I Tor American women who desire TO study
n Germany
4. lieloelberg is the dearest place Imaginable. II
gtlet old town. surrounded by green hills. and
--sis = absolutely nothing disturb ones peace of
~. AtieT spending few years there New-York
-" Us noises and hustle. seems all but impossi-
rs,L olo most OF my work there under Geheim-
60 IoIessor DR.. Henry Thode. who. his several
No. lholcate, is the first professor of modern
500 .s,SoIg 10 Germany. He Is very popular with his
Ate and his ability has been recognized in
maj i'y ways The Grand Duke OF Baden is build
n iaIse art institute for him Heidelberg II
- oe the finest building Of its kind in the world