The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-03
Tells Graduates at Bryn Mawr
That He Is in Favor of
Higher Education.
MAKES WOMEN BETTER
FOR WIVES AND MOTHERS
Does Not Entertain the Theory
That Housewives Should Be
Uncultured.

PHILADELPHIA, June 2.-Presi-
dent Taft told the graduating class OF
young vomen at Bryn Mawr college
today that he favored the higher edu-
cation of women, and said he utterly
dissented from the suggestion that
higher education untitled them for the
duties of wife and mother. One of
the great advantages Of the higher
education for n woman, the president
said, is the independence that it gives
her in the choice of the kind of life
which she is to lead.
The president, upon arriving at the
college, was enthusiastically received
by the faculty, the students and their
friends. After greeting his daughter,
Helen, who is student at Bryn Mawr,
and will be graduated next year,
the president, with Miss Cary NJ
Thomas, president of the college. led
the. procession from Taylor hall to the
Cloister garden. where under an i'm
mense awning the commencement exer-
cises were held
The presidents s Endorsement OF higher
ducatiOn for women was greeted with
Vociferous hand clapping.
nounced that the college had more than
mado up the $4,000 required TO re-
ceive the $250.000 awarded to Bryn
Mawr by the general education board.
Mr.. Taft was entertained at luncheon
at the deanery after the exercises. The
president spent the afternoon at the
college, and will leave for Ada, O.,
late IN the day.
Taft's Address.
The president said in part:
''Your president has asked me at
this commencement to say something in
respect to the higher education of wo.
men. 1t is, of course, theme most
relevant and germane to the occasion,
but 1t Is one Of which / hesitate TO
speak In the presence of those who have
made it their life study and whose
opinions In regard TO the matter are OF
so much more weight than my own
The president reviewed the advances
made IN educational advantages for both
sexes since 1900.
Continuing the president said:
Il dissent from the view that an
academic education unfits n man or
woman for business. 1t may be that
the tastes that lead one 10 an aca-
demic education are not those which in
sure business success, but that the men
tai discipline, the power of reasoning,
the cultivation and comparison of ideas,
are not of assistance in business trans
actions IN which the highest quality of
mind are acutely in action, can hardly
be true.
"But it is said that women arc not
all going into the professions, so that
the education necessary as a basis for
professional career is not needed by
those who have a competency or look
rH tp
as the chief ends of woman.
Dissents From One View
"It is even suggested that the high
er education of women rather units
them to discharge the dutios of q wife
and mother; that in some way or other
it robs them of r charm and gives them
an intellectual independence that is in
consistent with their being the best
wives and mothers,
60 utterly dissent from this view. The
companionship of married life is the
chief charm and reason for it's being, so
far ms it relates to the two persons
concerned. The enjoyment of the home,
with children, and the training of them
are, of course, among the most import
ant duties and pleasures Of married life
and 1T certainly does not detract from
the power OF a woman 10 mako a good
companion or to teach and train her
children up to high ideals that she
should havo the advantage of the higher
education.
cit is not essential that a woman
who knows much must conform to the
unattractive manner and ways Of the
conventional blue stocking; that she
should make the extent of her know
with whom she associates or that she
should lose her interest in the senti-
ment and emotions of life or fail to
have an appreciation of beauty and
romance.
II am quito ready to concede that
marriage and motherhood are a normal
status FOR woman. and other things be-
Ing equal, she Is happier In that condi-
tlon than In any other. But this is far
from saying that a woman's life is
failure because she has not married and
that her life may not be a failure be-
cause she has married. The home and
the family are the nucleus OF the high
such "s'to'f as 70 force w5nen To- ' accept hGs u.s.
bands whom they do not respect and love
and whom they would not marry except
and the family are not likely TO be
model or 10 furnish an ideal.
Value of Education,
"One of the great advantages of the
higher education for woman in my judg
meut Is in tho independence Mat IL gives
her In the choice OF the kind of life
which she is TO lead.
I'm the profession OF teaching the
women already have the advantage over
the men in point OF numbers. 1t is true
that they do not receive the same com
as mon. don't know how this
can be rsmedied. ! presume that the
salaries received are affected by the
same law as that which controls prices |
I'm other markets. TO wit; The law OF |
supply and demand. and there are |
more female teachers than male teachers. |
and as the common opinion is in many |
Instances that there ought 10 be some |
men teachers. the men receive higher |
salaries,
1--WE cannot be blind to tho general |
movement In favJ. OF opening more and |
more occupations not dependent on physi- |
cal strength To the female scN.
Il don't think we can estimate the |
Continued on Page Two, !