The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-08
The MOST LEARNED WOMAN

Fraulein REM is the most highly edu-
Gated woman in The world.
This is perhaps sayisg a great deal
bur II is extremely doubtful whether any
other woman now Iving would care &c
announce herself as . rival FOR edGca-
tionaI honOrs against this e-ud-te Ger
man lady.
The amount OF learning she has alb
scrbed and digested would Rgt 10 tbs
blush the college bred women Of America
and il is because Of her polished education
that she has been appointed Germany
first woman librarian
To De appointed TO pest IN the sreaI
state library OF Munich is an honor foI
which hundreds OF men would be glad 10
compete. yet it was won by woman
The classics, the sciences, the -'OiOgSes,
and even the dead languages must be as
familiar 10 the person occupying this po-
sition as the three RS 10 the school
teacher.
But. in spite Of her learning. her APP
polntment 10 this ancient insti5ution-ono
o. the most famous libraries in the world
raised a mighty storm of objection in
the conservative element Of Bavaria
DR.. Renz's opponents based their OBJ
jections On the grounds that her studies
| had been carried on mainly out CT Ger
! many: that younger Librarians were more
! desirS ble-Dr REM having reached the
venerable age of SS.-and that she lacked
| the necessary qualifications.
To the first objection. DR.. REM re-
Piled that such a course of study as she
| wished TO pursue. not being open 10 he
in any university in Germany. she was
| forced to seek opportunities elsewhere
| To the second objection she answered
| that no younger women candidates for
such positions would be forthcoming, SO
long as such difficulties were put in the
| way OF the young women students.
| In answer to the third objection she emu
merated the subjects in which she passed
| examinations at the University Of Rome
| IN six of which she obtained the highest
possible marks
The list of subjects IS a long one. COW
ering fourteen branches. some on such
| ahstruse objects as theoretical philosophy.
philology. comparative grammar OF the
classics and Sanskrit languages, Italian
and Latin grammar and moral philosophy
She adds casually that she further pass
/ ed severe examinations IN Greek and va
rious scientific subjects in the United
( States, where she held several university
/ pests. Furthermore. the examinations
were all taken in Italian or English. and
not in her native tongue
The American librarian. man or wO-
man, might well be astounded at the
qualifications required. The doctor. by
I this able reply, appears 10 have silenced
/ her opponents. At least she has won the
| position.
/ While yet a school girl in braids and
! short dresses her teachers in the little
1 Bavarian village where her life began
/ recognized her great ability. but her fam
! lily opposed her devoting her life 10 what
! they considered improbable study Com
! PEELED after the first few years TO do
| without teachers. she mastered Latin,
( Greek. French. English. Italian, Spanish.
| history, literature and mathematics with
out help from any one.
When she was 70 she studied in Munich
4 for time and passed the teachers ex-
aminations in the French and Italian Ian
gUages and llteratures. Afterwards in
Zurich she took the examinations Of the
/ gymnasium. which cntitlc the student
10 enter the university. Wiring then 70
Rome. she inquired If the Roman Royal
university would receive her as 9 regular
| student. Receiving an affirmative reply,
she started for the Eternal city with
Jest so much money in her pocket as SUI
feed to pay for her ticket.
Entering the university as q student Of
philosophy. there were years Of Incredible
pTivations and strenuous study before
her. But she persevered. and. IL due time.
passed examinations in thirteen differ
ent branches, comprising science. logic.
metaphysics. pedagogy. moral philoso-
ply. physiology. ancient history. modern
history. history Of philosophy Latin
Greek and Italian literature. ulathemati-
cal geography and Sanskrit in 1902 the
ROYAL University OF Rome granted her
the degre of Phi. d. Her thesis FOR the
degree was written IN the Italian Ian
guage. the subjects being The Cosmic
Principle in the History Of Philosophy"
Her next move was 70 come 10 America
tc see what that land Of promise held
for ambitious women. She landed In New
York in 1898. and lived there five years
devoting herself 10 sociological studies
Al the university in New York she passed
examinations in sociology. history Of thu
German drama and in Greek literature
Not finding here exactly the position that
suited her. she returned 10 her native
land. IN Germany she gave lectures aril
founded an ethnogra phical review. Prin-
cess Therese Of Bavaria herself a Pm. D.,
became interested IN her and took her un-
der royal protection.
Not long, however did peace brood over
the scene. In March, 1892. Princess Hhe-
reese broke the social edict that hitherto
had excluded women from all scientific
employment in the German empire By ef-
fecting theeadnission Of Dr. Rentz into
the royal court an state library of Bs-
varia, at Munich. AS soon as this fact
became known a vehement battle was
portance brought forth articles pro and
con relating % the innovation. DR.. REM
made reply. as before stated. ard the
open Letter" in which II appeared. be
came known all over Germany. Gradu-
ally the doubters became silenced. Po-
stions in the Munich library are for life.
and DR.. REM. now being firmly estab-
lshed. there Is every reason 70 believe
she VIII not again be- disturbed.
This sta 70 library Of Bavaria IN which
she spends her DAYS IS a remarkable In
stitution. dating far back into the middle
o. the Sixteenth century. founded and
protected by reyal favor The building IT,
self IS magnificent ana contains lncalcu-
labl6 treasures fn the lire % books and
manuscripts. II ranks FIRST among al the
IbraEes Of the German empire. ard third
among all the Libraries If the civilized
world. London occupying the FIRST place
and Paris the second. Beside the chief
hibhotheclry and the director. who ls 70
other thai the royal secret counselor. ara
twenty-five assistants. among whom Or.
REM s. the only woman Iu addition.
ecute the orders 81 the assistants cor
corning the giving out ~ The books 20
the public fregusnting the reading halls
and ~ put heck tie book onto the vafi-
ous shelves The number ~ volumes ia
the library. now amounting 20 - millions
IS constantly -ecrsasing and aII must be
cared for and axe daily additions care
fully classified ant registered ~ the
Philadelphia Enquire