Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1905-10-08
WOULD EDUCATE
AMERICAN GIRLS
ENGLISH CULTURE is TO BE
ACQUIRED
Yankees In London Develop Scheme OF
Scholarship for Young Women
Similar to That Established by the
Late Cecil Rhodes
Special Cable to The Herald.

Special Cable to The Herald
LONDON, Oct. IF the ambitious
scheme initiated by the Society oil
American Women III London meets with
the success anticipated by its promot-
ers, American girls will be afforded
facilities for obtaining educationa,
training at English universities similar
to that now afforded American boys by
the Rhodes scholarships. 1t will neces-
state an endowment fund of $1O'OOO.OOO,
and it is proposed the entire amount
shall be provided by American women.
Il am sure we shall get 1t, said Mrs.
Webster Glynes, president of the
society.
II am confident we shall succeed in
raising it," said Mrs. Thayer chair
man of the society's educational COM
mittee.
There was something peculiarly i'm
pressve in the calm assurance with
which these two American women
talked of obtaining a sum which
chancellor of the exchequer would
hesitate to demand of the imperial par
lament. l murmured something about
its being "a pretty big thing"
Il never have failed in anything l
have undertaken" said Mrs. Thayer
placidly. And it always has been my
experience that the more you ask for
in a good cause the more you get
1T may take three or four years, per-
haps longer" observed Mrs. Glynes.
but of the ultimate success of the
plan 1 have not the slightest doubt"
The object aimed at is to do for the
women of the United States what the
Rhodes scholarships are doing for the
men. The idea was first suggested by
an address delivered before the Society
of American Women by the Hon. Mrs.
Bertrand Russell. wife of Earl Russell's
oh Of
Smith, a well known American philan-
thropist
To Rival Rhodes Scholarships
After cogitating over the matter for
some time the leading spirits of the
society came to the conclusion that this
scheme was not big enough and did not
go far enough to rouse anything like
enthusiasm In America. 1t would have
been but feeble imitation of the great
empire builders benefaction, and In
these days women-especially American
women-do not take kindly to back seat
parts. 1t was then proposed that a
fund should be raised for the creation
of ninety three perpetual scholarships
a English universities, so distributed
that two women from each state in the
union and one from the District of
Columbia should be sent here for a two
years postgraduate course. But Miss
Thomas, president of Bryn Mawr col
lege. and a cousin of the Hon. Mrs.
Bertrand Russell, suggested in n letter
that a three years undergraduate
course would be preferable to two
years postgraduate course.
Benefits of English Education
I'm what respects" Mrs. Thayer was
asked, would the American girls OBJ
tain greater educational benefits from a
three years course a English univer
stiles than they would obtain from a
similar course at American institutions
of learning"
THE answer to that question would
be somewhat beside the mark" replied
Mrs. Thayer. 1T is not on the ground
that American girls would learn more
at English universties-more book
learning than they would acquire att
home that we ask for support for our
scheme duCation-Culture-in the
broadcast sense is not a matter of the
acquisition of mere knowledge. Eng
land has much to give which we Amer
lean women need for our spiritual and
physical betterment-a broader and less
personal outlook, mental poise and
calmer nerves-and it is only environ
ment that can give these things.
From what I have read and have
learned from his personal friends, Mr..
Rhodes considered the scholarships
founded by him not so much from the
educational point of view as from a
social one-the cementlng of bonds be-
tween England. her colonies, and Amer
lea. That such work lies distinctly
within a woman's sphere no one can
gainsay. If the English and American
temperaments could be blended into one
the combination would be unequaled II,
the world.
How $to,ooo,ooo Is to Be Raised
There is something contagious about
Mrs. Thayer's enthusiasm. But that
So 000, 600 still bothered. How do you
propose to raise the necessary funds?"
she was asked. 1t was Mrs. Glynes
who answered the question.
so far as the Society of American
Women in London is concerned" she
said. I'VE can of course do compare
lively little. The scheme will be sub
mitted to the forthcoming conference of
the General Federation of Women's |
clubs, which meets next May. 1t would |
be difficult to set a limit to what an
army of women now 100000 strong |
could accomplish.
NThe Society of American Women In
London has only $50 members, none |
of whom are millionaires. but we are
not going to content ourselves with |
merely asking others to raise money. |
We expect to contribute something |
hnf Ha fotr hop