The Washington herald., 1907-06-04
To Honor Phoebe Counin..


One Of the most interesting features
Of the Jubilee commemorative Of the ff-
tieth anniversary Of Washington Univer-
sity. Of Missouri. which will begin on the
2oth instant, viii be the presence Of Miss
Phoebe W. Couzins, now in this city. Miss
Couzins graduated from the university in
1871 as the first woman to enter il and
receive the degree Of LIB Her applica-
ti0n for admission was presented by the
dean. Henry Hitchcock. a brother Of the
former Secretary Of the Interior, and was
unanimously approved, on motion Of
James z. Yeatman, Of the board Of d.
reCtors. This action opened the doors OF
the institution 10 women without any
distinction on account Of sex. Il created
something Of a sensation at the time.
and women were slow 20 take advantage
of the opportunity Il presented % them.
Miss Couzins' graduation was notable
event There was "A magnificent banquet.
az which tpasts We're given by Chancel-
lor Eliot Mr. Yeatman. Senator John
3 Henderson. Gov. F. O. Stanard. Prot
Reilly and many other prominent men.
In presenting Miss Couzins' diploma on
the evening Of graduation day. Chancel-
Tor Eliot paid her glowing tribute and
warmly commended the experiment OF
admitting women to the university. Again
and again he was compelled 10 pause
while the audience applauded and attend
ants heaped flowers around the object Of
the ovation. Finally a huge floral design
bearing the inscription. God bless our
gentle Phoebe. and sent by Gov. stan
ard and the late John W Kaufman. was
placed IN front Of Miss Couzins. where
upon the dignihed chancellor exclaimed.
smllngly: VI shall have TO wait until the
deck is cleared. as I am unable 10 see
the student for whom this diploma is in
tended Miss Couzius was urged some
time ago % attend the coming jubilee
but the state Of her health prevented q
final decision on her part until a day or
two ago. Special hon0rs viii be paid her
while in the Missouri metropolis.
Would Preserve Davis Home.
Two thousand dollars OF the sum OF
$500 necessary to the purchase Of the
home of jefferson Davis. president Of the
Corfederacy. during the time he lived ir
Montgomery. have been collected through
She efforts Of patriotic Alabamians. The
Davis home known locally as "the
White House Of the Confederacy." is now
used in part as an Office and in part as
a clearinghouse. Its owner refuses e
part with 1t for less than the amount
named, but interested Montgomeryites
hope that the spread OF the business dis
trict OF that city will soon make il posi-
ble for him to sell the ground on whicf
the house stands at a large figure for UsC
as a site for a modern building. In this
event. they think the old house may bt
secured for the sum now in the hands OF
the white House Association" That
sum. incidentally, was raised through The
sale Of souvenirs made from the trees
which formerly shaded the Davis home
and which the city authorities ordered
cut down some time ago. If possession
Of the house can be obtained. it will be
removed 10 q site in the city park. which
. has been donated for the purpose by the
municipality. The movement 10 save the
structure was set on foot some years ago
and has met with many obstacles, result
. Ing largely from a division Of local opin.
ion as TO its merit Once the Alabama
legislature passed a bill appropriatine
money for the removal Of the house c
the State capitol grounds. but Gov. san.
ford vetoed IT, Another similar bill failed
20 pass. and Gov. Conner. the present
executive. recently announced that ht
would veto any such measure should #
come to him. II was after these disap
p0intments that the city authorities were
Induced 20 donate the park lots to which
the building will be removed II tn,
white House Association secures pos
session of 1t.