The New York herald., 1921-10-23

numbers to their ancestral homes and show
py means of their own development what
an admirable thing is true freedom for wom-
en-. such leavening of old habits is very
possible but this is the only means likely
to bring it about
Wnen college woman in Italy has by
ner deep and serious study arrived at tnv
hohor OF sdOdnte, she naturally engages
hersef with social and political problems
Politics has been affected by women in Italv
for centuries; it is an accepted field
Not SO with American girls whose studies
nave led them SO far; their concern it seems
10 me, is not politics. although they have
the right to vote. but economic questions.
The influence they bring into this economic
sphere is perhaps more useful.
Indeed, find, more and more as I talk
with the Vassar girl, an impelling thought
which is also compelling in her education.
making it take on the vocational aspect.
She wishes to do something essentially USE
full, and her choice of life work is most
frequently based on what she thinks she
might do to bring the best things in the
world to her and at the same time make her
most useful to her generation. These none
will deny are fine ambitions, howbeit lack
ing some of the poetry we are apt to look
Tor in young women.
Vassar draws, as all persons know, from
countries as well as from all parts Of the
United States. What their preparation for
college has been differs in wide degrees;
some OF these degrees are surprising and
often they are amusing. For my own
part find really fine preparation in litera-
ture which chiefly concerns me, but often
.he rioiculous side appears in lack of
knowledge OF elementary things. For in
stance, ! find that many girls are almost
mi 70 ,oI.-
ask myself if the subject is no longer
taught in primary schools
we talk together of the peace conference
and by Inference rather than by questioning
realize that half of my listeners do not
know where Geneva is Is that credible?
Il know, for I have read the excellent
educational articles that have been published
In The HERALD, that the public and primary
private schools fall under severe criticism.
1 can say nothing for or against because
do not know them but I can't miss this
opportunity to press the statement that a
college aspirant really ought to know where
is situated a city so famous as Geneva!
Set me down, however. as saying most
sincerely about the students of Vassar Col
lege that they are marvellous material. II
Is an amazing reflection to make. but one
justified by the progress that they are
making in handful of years what has takent
civilizations
Girls Sure of Their Ground
When They Undertake Study
nave lectured in thirty-five Of the col
leges OF this country and have become
acquainted with your young men and women
students My amazement at the facile way
the American intellect absorbed culture be-
gan with my earliest experience and has
oeen growing ever since. 1t has reached a
climax, think, in Vassar.
Some of the conservatism of old E,urone
still lingering with me prompts me to ask
whether we're not going little too fast?
Il don't answer the question nor do I
nnger over II. for the young women of this
coiiege almost persuade me to doubt If con
servatism in education is blessing
Neither the young women who are edu-
eating themselves simply for the joy of it nor
those who anticipate fitting into a vocation
which, roughly speaking, are the two classes
OF students we meet here ever evince the
slightest doubt about anything they elect to
study Both classes seem to feel as if by
instinct that everything educational will
serve them either for purposes of culture
or future work. believe their instinct is
more to be trusted than my old world in
grained doubt
The American girl is marvellous. How
happy am 10 De mere to direct some of her
thoughts in the channel where mine own
how most freely, to advise now book. now
a play or spectacle which bears on her
course of study, to serve her in what I
must call her vast strides in cul-
ture cannot too enthusiastically say
once L was unhappily quoted as a critic
OF some OF the Vassar ways. A simple re-
mark 1 made was garbled in the quotation.
and, as false things have way Of doing, 1t
spread widely
Il grasp the opportunity of saying that
where her institutions are filed every year
as by personal knowledge I am aware they
are, with the finest material coming from
every town and city this country. America
may safely dismiss as groundless all fears
for her future"