El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-05

~ y THE heights Oh the Cni -, :
{ Of New York. overlo oes R4s,, the oi
~ Harlem river. stands the Han OF
Fame. where recently has been engraN-
ed the name of Mary Lyon
hitherto this peristyle or avenue OF
immortaIs has been reserved for Amer
lean men.
The recognition Of an American wo-
man to a place among the revered OF
the nation is significant, Of the Won
derful change that has taken place IN
Modern standards.
When Mary Lyon was doing her pio-
neer work ard establishing a college
for women at Mt. Holyoke, in Massa-
chusetts. she metSwith chill and even
aggressive opposition. Among her few
male champions was a clergyman Al
though of the old school, he went about
proclaiming that "as woman had been
the occasion Of the fall. she ought to
have the highest possible education 70
undo the i'll effects of the fatal apple
This advocate is treasured uniquely IN
college annals as PA" Hawks
Two centuries after Boston opened
is schools for boys there was no wei
come there for girls Miss Mary e.
Woolley. now president OF Mt Hol-
woke. calls attention to the curious
for education were sometimes per-
mitted TO sit on the doorstep and hear
the boys recite-"
1t was not until the beginning Of the
third decade of the nineteenth century
that Rhode Island admitted girls into
the public schools. The present presi-
dent of Bryn Mawr, Miss NJ Carey
Thomas, encountered the survival Of
that prejudice in recent times. She
saws that before she went to college
at Cornell she was permitted to meet
a college woman who was staying at
the house of an acquaintance Miss
Thomas went to see her with fear. She
had almost expected to see the creature
appear in hoofs and horns. 1t was a
relief, however. to find this Vassar
graduate handsome and dressed like
other women.
For four following years Miss Thorn
as studied at Cornell and then went to
LEIPZIG But that browning ambition
succeeded in alternating her circle In
Baltimore. Letters received at Leip-
zic from her mother stated that the
girls name was never mentioned by
women of their acquaintance
ct was thought by them Miss
Thomas says, ito be as much disgrace
to my family as II 1 had eloped with
the coachman."
Now the education of girls and
young women in this country is one Of
the most important features Of our
civilization. Girl graduates are now
going in for public teaching, for pub
lie service, and, contrary to popular
belief. 90 percent of the total of edu-
Gated girls get married. And their
homes become intellectual and social
centers in the highest sense. They are
reviving the highest traditions OF the
salon.
Every educated woman is q benefici-
airy of the work begun by Mary Lyon.
She was a New England girl who earn
ed her own, way and Who at Is years
of age, was housekeeper for her
brother.
Throughout her career as a college
founder and president she introduced
the spirit Of service. She was the first
TO recognize that young people would
rise to the occasion If put upon their
honor. A statement made to her by a
student was accepted by her as final.
And truth and the search for it be-
came idealized.
Mary Lyon educated girls for teach
ers and sent them throughout America
and into England Spain. India and
Persia. Lake Erie college. in Ohio and
Mills Seminary. in California. were