Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-02
TAFT AT bRYN MAWR
Delivers an Address at Com
mencemenf Exercises.
FOR WOMEN'S EDUCATION
Learning, He Says. Does Not Unfit
Them for Duties as Wives.
IS ENTERTAINED AT LUNCHEON
Seventy Young Women Reeeivs
Diplomas-Taft Leaves This AT.
ernoon for Ada, Ohio. u

PHILADELPHIA, June 2-Prssident
faft came to Bryn Mawr College TODAY
and delivered one OF number of COM
mencement addresses he is to make thi.
month. Bryn Mawr and all the other
nearby fashionable suburbs were I'm ,
fiutter early today I'm anticipation Of the
Visit of the President
Al the college all had been put In order
Tor The coming of the President. whose
daughter, Helen, is student at the insti-
tuition anu Will be graduated nlxt year.
Inc commencement exercises were held
shortly before noon. and seventy young
women received diplomas
The President arrived here at 1872,
from Washington, and his car was
switched TO local train and taken 10
Bryn Mawr, ten miles west of this city
The President spokc on "Woman's Col
lege Education. and iolloWinC the oxer-
cises he was entertained at luncheon at
prt sident of the college. There were $50
guests at the luncheon.
This afternoon the President leaves for
Ada, Ohio. where he will attend another
commencement.
Remarks Of President.
In opening his address at the COM
i "
Young ladies Of the graduating class:
Your able and distinguished president
has asked me at this commencement TO
say something in respect to the higher
education of women. 1t is of course q
theme most relevant and germane to the
occasion, but it is one of which / hesi-
tate TO speak in the presence of those
who have made II their life study and
whose opinions in regard to the matter
OF fhntp
my own.
THE marvellous progress in material
and other ways made by the world in the
nineteenth century is only less wonderful
than the ease and rapidity with which
We forget the steps in the progress, the
difficulties in its attainment and the con-
dltion that existed prior to its coming
The President reviewed the advances
made in educational advantages for botn
sexes since 1900. reciting the growth from
the two small schools in Pennsylvania
that offered opportunity for even "A gram
mar school education for girls In that
year TO the magnificent coiieges Of the
present day, turning out women capable
Of teaching in its highest form.
Does Not Unfit for Business.
Continuing, the President said:
II dissent from the view that an aca-
demic education units man or woman
for business. 1t may be that the tastes
that lead one to an academic education
are not those which insure business sue
cess: but that the mental discipline. the
power of reasoning, the cultivation ond
comparison of ideas are not of assist
ance in business transactions i'm which
the highest qualities Of the mind are
acutely In action, can hardly be true.
but 1t is said that women are not AL
going into the professions, and SO that
the education necessary as basis for
professional career is not needed by those
women who have a competency or who
look forward to marriage and mother
hood as the chief end of woman.
1T has been suggested that the higher
education of women rather units them
to discharge the duties of wife and
mother; that In some way or other 1t
robs them of a charm and gives them
an intellectual independence that Is in
consistent with their being the best wives
and mothers. I utterly dissent from this
view. The compa nionship Of married life
is the chief charm and reason for its
being, SO far as 1t relates to the TWO per-
sons concerned. The enjoyment of the
home. with the children, and the training
of them are, of course, among the most
important outies ana pleasures Of married
iife. and it certainly does not detract from
the power OF woman to make 5000
compauion or to teach and train her
children .up to high ideals that she should
have the advantage of the higher educa-
ton.