The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-14
By JULIA S. TuTwILER
Some Ancient History

, 'hslf of the youth of the state" had been deprived of their share.
 I was visiting at this time in the
 hospitable home of Governor Watts the grand old war governor of Ala bama. He became much interested in my statement of the wrong done to the girls of Alabama, and we planned tosether a convincing argument on the subject in something of an allegorical fashion. An account was to be pub lished as authentic of a lawsuit by the girls of the state against the uni versity for repayment of the half in come of which they had been deprived
 for more than so years. The dear old governor entered into the plot with great glee. He said he would furnish all of the law terms, and would write the final judicial decision-of course, in favor of the plaintiffs. We thought this. apologue, if cleverly written, would call more attention to the state of things than any mere formal state
 ment Somehow this plan was not car- ried out In the nineties, when I was attending the commencement exercises, I urged the case upon that genial whole -souled trustee, Mr. James Ed Webb. He regarded the matter as a joke-somewhat as King George is said
 to regard the militant suffragettes Now" he said, you plead your case very earnestly,f but you wouldn't come before our board and tell all this to them?" Indeed. I would I said with fervor He laughed at the idea ofssuch an unheard-of proceeding, and said if would do this, he would come for
 me and introduce me to the board.
 Such Short While Ago
 Oh, dear women of Alabama, can you realize that the dark ages was such a little while ago? Now that you beard [ loo tc1a t.,,.e thai, hnI1 nrn at the street corners, sit on boards of education and influence the actions of municipalities? But strange as 1t seems, not long before that time, for the first time in the history of the state woman had been invited to pre-
 rare paper for the State Educational
 association, but read it herself! Oh,
 no! She had to hear it read, and I
 am sorry to say, very badly read, by the superintendent of education. Just see what your woman's clubs have
 done and in less than generation.
 often say I have lived 100 years, and
 if things progress much more, l shall
 have to say 300.
 So at last with a beating heart l
 stood alone before that august body
 the trustees of the state university
 No woman before had ever asked or
 obtained such privilege. The members
 seemed to regard my appearance be- |
 dent, and exchanged quisical glances
 but I was determined to show them that it was no joke to be robbins
 earnest and ambitious young women ot
 opportunities to which they were justly
 entitled, and which they so much de-
 sired. I wished also to free the girls
 colleges in the state from the neces-
 sity of obtaining their highest teach
 CTS from institutions outside of the
 state. Their smiles ceased and they
 began to listen with attention and with
 interest. The result of the interview
 was the appointment of committee to
 consider my request. This committee
 unanimously advised that the univer-
 sity admit the young women of the
 state to all of Its advantages. In or
 der not to compete with the girls col
 leges of the state I urged that no girl
 be admitted under IS years of age and
 prepared to enter the sophomore class.
 There were two reasons for these pro-
 visions. First, that they should not admit girls too young for discretion;
 second, that the university should not, compete to their injury, with the so-
 called girls colleges of the state.
 These provisions were adopted.
 Getting a Place to Live s So our great purpose was gained, but with what result? No building was
 given for a residence. So only a few day pupils from the city entered For several years our apparent victory
 seemed only a defeat During the ad- ministration of President Powers, asked him to assist me in finding cottage near enough to the university for a party of girl students who- wished to live inexpensively and do cooper ative housekeeping. With some outside aid I thought they could pay the rent, as we'll as meet their household ex- penses. President Powers was quite interested, but rather skeptical, and asked me if I could really bring a party of girls to enter in the fall. "I wi1is bring 10 of the finest girls you ever saw. pr. Powers. if you will only find me an inexpensive cottage that we can rent" Well, if you can really bring the girls" he said, "I will give you rent free, the use of vacant pro- fessor's house quite near. the univer sity, but you will have to furnish 1t yourselves" "Oh, yes. we will do that" --so there was another step nearer the goal.
 Soon afterwards I was in Birming ham poking around in a second hand furniture store, to see how we could get the absolute necessaries with very 1 small means. Our good friend. MT. James Ed Webb, came again to the fore. What on earth are you doing | here," he said. as he passed the door, l and saw me among the household wreckage. When explained my mis- sion he said he would see the other | trustees and insist that this expense should not fall on me so four bed rooms and dining room and kitchen | were plainly and very sparsely fur nished by the trustees.
 Now to get the students. Oh, what | mountain to climb! This happened a | gentry ago in everything but years | The parents were shocked; the general l public was even more shocked. You | would have thought, from all of the objections that were made. that the students of the university instead of being well bred young gentlemen from the best southern families were Mex | ican brigands or Malay head hunters i