Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-07-10

know. We should have not less than
$4,000 year for library purposes, and
until endowment for that purpose is
had, the most essential part of our
equipment will rest insecure.
This Commencement is the twenty
fifth anniversary of the opening of
Middlebury College to women. When
in 1883 the Corporation voted that
the privileges of the College should
be open to women on the same terms
as to men, there was doubtless con-
templated only the sharing of class
room privileges by few women from
the vicinity, whose presence would
not complicate college problems, nor
increase appreciably the labors of
instruction. We are now ten years
beyond that situation. While there
are to-day third more men than
women, there are also twice as many
women alone as there were men in
College when women were admitted.
We have Women's College larger
than the entire Middlebury when the
first woman came. Women are here
in force sufficient to make separate
classes necessary in the non-elective
courses. In some departments an
entire duplication of work is a neces-
sity. With inadequate endowment for
College for men, we are to-day
sustaining College for women also.
During these twenty-five years we
have received but $4,000 specifically
for the education of girls. No monies
have been received for the general work
OF the College because of the presence
OF women as students. The position
might therefore be taken that since
the needs of the men over-tax our
resources, the action of 1883 should be
retracted and the doors closed to
women. have looked longingly and
afectionately at every argument tend
ing in that direction. No man of
common-sense could do other than
hesitate to undertake the administra-
ton of two Colleges with half the
endowment of one. B ut consider the
situation. We are just at the begin
ming of the movement for the higher
education of women. There will be
more women's Colleges, larger and
better ones, more specifically adapted
to their work. In all northern New
England and New York there is no
College distinctly for women. The
excellent institutions for women to the
south are already insufficient for those
who seek them. Expenses there are
necessarily large. The daughters of
the frugal homes of New England can
no longer attend the institutions spe-
officially founded for them. We can
not shut our doors in the face of such
need and opportunity. We have gone
too far to 90 back. We must go on to
build up College for women, suitable
to the needs of women, with no fear
lest it become too prosperous, but at
the same time Strengthening and
broadening our work for men, and
keeping our rank and station as a
College for men, not by keeping the
women down or out, but by bringing
the mems work up. A good woman's
College, under the liberal charter of
1909, will not injure us, nor detract
from our time-honored position a
poor one, treated with scant JUS
tice, will forbid US always that self
respect with which alone we can con-
tinue our way to success.
The first step must be building.
We would all like to see a beautiful
residence hall for women, near the
campus, not less attractive than other
recent buildings Of the College, costing
perhaps $4,000, serving as a center
for the social life of all the girls of the
College. Such building is to-day
within our grasp, and with it a consid-
cradle increase of endowment. hold
in my hand letters from one of the
most generous benefactors of Ameri-
can education, DR.. D. K. Pearsons of
Chicago. These letters are so charac-
teristic and of such unique interest
that l wish to read them just as they
came to me. In reply to my appeal
for $4,000 for a Woman's Building,