New-York tribune., 1903-11-04
THE AMERICAN WOMAN.
Her Opportunities for Education, as Viewed
by an English Writer.

IF could be born again would shout at the
top Of my voice, oh. make me an American
woman" This Max O'Relrs aspiration. and
the words are quoted by writer in The Ladies'
Field" an English periodical by way Of introduc-
ton TO an article on women in the United States
1T does certainly appear" says this writer. that
women in America are more completely the first OBJ
5ect in the scheme Of life than in any other country
Parents consider the education OF their daughters
to be at least as important that OF their
A comprehensive and thorough scheme OF educa-
ton is open to the young girl Of every class. The
teachers throughout the States have access to the
newest ideas, and acquire the best technical
knowledge. AL the elementary and high schools
admit both sexes to study In common. IF college is
not obtainable, there capital secondary schools
and evening classes maintained by local taxation;
exactly the same education is given to girls as to
boys. In no country in the world the private
schools so many and good. All the equipments
ana fittings are lavshly provided; there libra
ries. art collections. gymnasiums and swimming
baths and teachers fitted to infuse originality
into their subjects. The rise Of social distinction
has had much 20 DO with the development Of these
private schools in which the fees are very high.
and very few children are educated ct home by
governesses.
AT the present time the universities specially
for women enroll more than twenty-five thousand
OF every social class. All the mems colleges
admit them as well, with the exception Of Harvard.
which, however. has annex, and which gives
them a certificate. but not degree; Yale, which
only admits them as graduate students, and the
university at Baltimore.
THE desire for college education has spread like
wildfre through America, and girls go to college
much more q matter Of course than with US.
Great eagerness is shown TO make full provision
for women and the residential houses in which the
students live under the charge OF a lady equal
in their appointments to those OF England, though
it is remarked that there is not much of the
pleasant social life between students which is so
marked feature Of English colleges.
Girls with small purses and large ambitions are
forced to resort to most ingenious expedients TO
cover their expenses. Farmers daughters save for
the purpose while still at g district school-gar-
dening keeping poultry or rearing and selling
calf to make provision II tnese metnoIS S fe Iii
is made for helping in service Four hours work
oI OF Ilhen ana te ansMeIs o. Cg -a5 GUo % n16er
wants and line is drawn between girls working
their way and others The former are generaLy any
fession in view Determined students have even
more decided methods. All over the United States
they may be found in the summer. in parties of
ten to thirty, acting as mattresses IN the hoteIs @
them through their college year 0Girls part at
a life OF amusement and luxury, the worker enters
class par excellence in America large number
look forward 10 becoming teachers. and. except IN
~ IN me haho5 oL r-b@ hours are Consider
a6Iv longer Al school and college than in England.
bDt' the freedom which is the keynote TO the edu-
esaon % OF 5 5he oi1ge life She studies because she
wishes to DO so, and because sne unoersdsnasr tre
admirable. and there is no attempt to shirk or
stof late years more attention has been given 70
gymnastics and drill, and much time ana thought
are expended introducing them. but we 90 not
see the same spontaneous love Of games and out
door fun as in England. - - So. &,
America They become sTchi5ects ensRHe5' ey more more
sicans and ministers OF the eh9rcnes mes iyad i5y o az
IA
clerks and secretaries by the government, oy t
year women Clerks secretaries and typists reached
the enormous number OF 1900 Ger -SieIgy , women
number LIZ. and the medical profession accounts
for nearly eight thousand" ,,,- 49,.
Fashionable Efe in Ameilca rs 4oI a u ~ ms
OF England. il is never-endlng TOW. OF ~ ~aHlusS.
rnent Dress and expenditure carried TO even
money is being followed by the craze for rank;
and. though some Of the god o.a u faiheS h Tomen
Tbe wife knows but little of her husbands bust
ness but is satisfied to receive and spend TN, the
money he passes his time in making her tastes tastes
decide the whereabouts Of the home ana me h oli for
ton q travel; in fact it Is no unusual thlng 10; is
the breadwnner to be left worklng, oegug @ trav Az,
cling IN Europe for year or two AIner.caF , 1t
~ English woman who spends her life IN t ou
country neghborhood because her husband "aIie va
tSe season because he cannot get away --t.,.
"Among the women Of most conntaleS, S,a % where
society is kept up by and for women II - n N -
No Is paramount Everything IS ordered Tor h her
W %iio n An her relatives combine TO give heT
a good tine. Her dress and oTnaIIeiaI oTnaI aTd ebouId
TaSSsCpoe as those Of married woman ~ bs,d
sbe elect not marry-as numbers ol olo,;1,ct - -
@---.r, and most attractive 0O--heF ..E =
-i,-s 70 surprise. and she goes her 49,. ~ ''' u"
1.-t.e5 fvfcuenderce and social eIJ'f -. -
h.ss7-t ,oer,can woman has largely the lacuIty OF
ry31g in the ent-she IL .attrrsi ssIf-co,
and self-assured. with charming; = of ea-resf
eIr,re and she has her tuH shaIS ts Srr-o,'.s
ress and simplicity Of character, me abserCe oe
ffecfation makes her the inost inet s3Is on. ,t
,,1- 50 that rs ". Paul Bourtet s"FSi 9He ot
49, l-arrv nu English iT'I a-t H' ".e
i aver suess thai hef -'G % ST.
. -f,y- herself 10 grow Old , glL W "eI efes5ed
S filI of vivacty. goes on "otAins anu enjoying
as long as life lasts