New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-08
CONSTANTINOPLE COLLEGE.
Picturesque Account of Higher Education of
Women in Turkey.

Speaking before the Foreign Missionary Society
OF the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church yesterday fore
noon. DR.. Mary Mills Patrick gave a picturesque
account Of the higher education Of women as IT is
carried on in the American College for Women at
Constantinople, OF which she IS president
The American College" said Miss Patrick. is
the only institution in the Western Orient for the
higher education Of women. Il is situated about
a mile from the spot where Florence Nightingale
nursed her sick soldiers during the Crimean War
English IS the language OF the college. but besides
French and German. which are well taught, the
varied interests OF the pupils require that many
other languages shall also be taught. so that the
cost Of equpping the college is greater than II
would in this country.
"ConstantinopIe by reason OF its strategic and
political prominence in the Balkan Peninsula IS
a polyglot city. A friend OF mine in walking from
the Golden Horn TO Pera heard twenty-five dIfrer-
ent languages and dialects spoken II IS some
times a puzzle TO know what language to use IN
.peakin 10 stranger in Constantinople but II he
does not know Turkish you would probably turn
to Greek or French. once tried man met IN
Turkish without success. After trying Greek ana
French on him ne still looked blank he doesht
seem to understand anything I remarked IN de-
spair TO Il friend on. 90 you spedA I-'ls7'-'
returned the other.
LAS the college draws its students from all over
the Western Levant including the area bounded
by Greece and Albania on the west. the region o.
the Tgris and Euphrates rivers on the east I1sSp
and SYRIA on the south. and Rumania ana buI-
Rara on the north II is necessary include in the
curriculum. besides the languages already men
toned Latin. ancient and modern Greek. ancient
and modern Armenian, Bulgarian and Slavic some
thing OF Persian and Arabic and Hebrew. girl
who when she is received in September cannot
| speak word Of English will be able within six
months take written language IN not bueH
very bad English
zone great difficulty in conducting college in
the Ievant is the lack of training schools Although
| Turkey gives more education than is supposed IN
! this country. Turkish girls are seldom taught 10
/ do more than read and write. and Armenia since
its political difficulties in 1858. has been IN the
/ same position. The Bulgarians have well equipped
! gymnasia for girls. as well for boys, OAK II
! does not fit our ideas OF education that the girls
should be turned into machines, without iIn'A1'e
! students
In religion the girls Of the American College are
/ Roman Catholics Greek Catholics, many sects or
Pro-estants Gregorians. Mahometans and HeoreWs.
While the college is not sectarlan IL Ii sIIOIls1S
/ Christian among its activities being q AouHs
/ Wom.u's Christian Association. which SENDS now
Ci.bs 80 +b I.or in addition 10 its religious work.
hair have taught. and nearly all occupy positions
- rovrs- and fp--.erre one an Armenian, studied
nursing Inn london and Vienna and made herself the
nm. lr'4 LI - 80 -, ~ t-i1a 20 College of Ply
ecfarS aud Surgeons. and is now practising among
her people An Albanian graduate Is the pIlhtIpa1
Of a girls school i'm Albania our only HuLedt!4 "a a
EraduaItN l. rjLiEllE ih,o,,''r ,r 1++e for the
papers. and is married % a professor Al tie
at the head of the Princess Hospital ior Chliaren
in Athens while Of our Bulgarian graduates. three
/ have married members % Parliament ana one a
Miss Patricll saws the college has been ade-
quately supported II Is nov IN great 49,, q.
| new preparatory school building MS W'Ha COST
! about $4,000 Among the friends OF the school are
General Lew, Wallace Dr. Judsoa Smith MS, Mrs;
! Henry Willard. I1r John ? Peters oscar , StrauS
/ and DIT. James y. Angel