The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-07

Houston. Secretary of Agriculture.
was prominently identified with both
institutions. | would like to see
statement from MIR. Houston on this
association OF young men and women
in these places. While all arguments
are in favor Of the establishment ~
this co-ordinated college at Charlottes-
Vile, the chief adverse opinion Is that
men and women ought not to be edu-
Gated together. Mutual interference
is presupposed by persons who be-
ljeve that girls can think only of ro
matte episodes. and young men are
mostly Romeos. But in this period
Of the worlds history, where woman
takes her place beside man in business.
IN the office, the public school, the
library, and hundred other occupa-
tons, surely those are asleep VINO hold
/ mat only in collegiate training women
ana men ought to he kept sacredly
separated lest there be some contami-
nation OF the one by the presence of
/ the other Women need no apologist
10 set forth the fact of their intellec-
tual force. their moral powers. their
poctical literary and scientific
achievements From the day OF AS
pasta until now, George Elliots and
Madame Curies, Sapphes and Mrs.
Humphrey Wards. Nay. Baediceas and
Nictorias have lined with light the
pathway of mans progress, and il
Illuminated his steps with their ac-
-taoiapaR&ins -radiaReeLTe argue against
the higher education OF woman is to
turn back the wheels Of time To
claim woman as unworthy constant
companion Of man is to prove oneself
a hopeless misogynist
Now up TO this point the matter has
been considered very briefly as to
the general question: Is collegiate edu-
cation for women thing to be de-
sired9
But the real kernel Of our problem
is this: rs the coordinate college
for women at the University OF Nir-
ginia to be desired? ." The way had to
be cleared first for woman's higher
education, Then the second consider
alton follows as a corollary. II women
OF the State are to have higher edu-
cation, what Is the center OF the
higher education of the State up to
this time This is what sticks in the
craw of opponents The University
Of Virginia is the radiating center of
the intellectual forces that have ema-
mated from the State. From jefferson
TO Wilson, the greatest OF Virgina's
sons have had their nourishment at
this great institution.
Then, II women are to suck from, the
breast Of the Goddess of Learning,
they must seek her where she dwells'
note one of two arguments against
placing the center OF women's higher
culture at this normal and natural To-
cation. The first Is that the expenses
viii be greater than to set II else
where. The ground of this opinion
Is that the tastes and habits of the
men of the university would neces-
sarily render the new institution q
luxurious sort Of place. The present
writer emerged from the university
with a masters degree and never
spent as much as three hundred dol
lars session while there Even IL
women could get some smattering of
a higher education somewhere else.
'even as now, by going to institutions
outside the state, they can get very
thorough courses) this Is no reason for
not giving them the right to the very
best the grand old State has to give,
at the very center and core of it's
intellectual life.
| If fun Intellectual development is
| sought for women. II must he sought
the old South and the new South can
! furnish is to be hers, woman must OBJ
! tain It from the same sparkling foun-
J tain as that from which men drink
! Let the University of Virginia have
the privilege OF conducting women into
| the realm OF the highest and best
truth.
sincerely yours.
/ WYTHE LEIGH KTNSOLVING
New York. FEBRUARY 5.