Woman's enterprise. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1921-19??, 1921-07-22
RENDER UNTO CAESAR THE
THINGS THAT ARE
CAESARS.
MARY Coleman Herget>

that this little article may be some
what of ramble, but the reader may,
Iperchance, see some connections, and
here's hoping its vagaries will be kind
ly received.
Many years ago, when girls col
Ileges were first organized in America,
the majority of the people shook their
heads declaring that womanliness
would certainly disappear from woman
she she be allowed to attend these in
stitutions; that wonan's place was
in the home, and should she step out
of it she would knock the props from
under society and religion,
A woman who could discuss Brown
ing was looked upon as freak, liable
to have knobby forehead. and sure
to be a dowdy, unkempt looking indi-
vidual. Somehow the opinion seemed
to prevail that an educated woman
couldn't possibly be the mistress Of
happy home, a contented, sociable
wife, loving, thoughtful mother.
Notwithstanding these dire predic-
tons and headshakings, as time has
Ipassed and the furnishing schools"
have improved, what has been the re-
suit? The skeptical have been con-
Iverted! The "staying power" of the
woman-in body, in mind, and in
womanliness-has been given the acid
test and HELD.
Now comes the great hue and cry
against co-education. Descendants Of
those doubling Thomases, those Pro-
phets of "dire disaster" to God, and
Home, and Native Land, should wom-
en- be allowed to attend colleges, are
shaking their heads and declaring:
"Co-education is cheapening our girls!
It is making them bold and brazen! It
is encouraging them to smoke ciga-
rettes, and 60 joy-riding at untimely
hours of the night" ! am afraid that
all the sins catalogued against the
|present day girls are accounted for
on that score.
Just by way of parenthesis, let me
digress from the main thought and
make the declaration that the adop-
tioon of the 10Th amendment is big
WHY for co-education. When that
article was passed, every woman in
this country, will she or nil she, was
pushed out of the narrow protected
home life into the lime light Of public
life. The same problems men have
been solving all these years were put
up to her. Why shouldn't the sister
have the same education, shoulder to
shoulder, with the brother in the
same class rooms, under the same
professors, out Of the same books,
etc. The parenthesis is closed.
It must needs be admitted that
things have gone to the extreme in re-
gard to "female apparel" "young
peoples morals, and believe, older
peoples. There is more disgrace than
grace in the toddling, shimmying mod
ern dance. 1t is deplorable fact that
at most of the so called exclusive af-
fairs, many Of the participants feel
ing the need Of Popping up" after
twelve, indulge in frequent sips of the
juice of the forbidden fruit. Even a
casual observer may notice, on ride
Of any length, car after car, parked
silent and dark miles from home and
on out of the way paths. But
are these miscreants always college
boys and girls? Do they always be-
long to the so called younger set? If
50, is it true simply Of co-educational
Institutions? So WHY blame co-edu-
cation! WHY blame the boys and
girls entirely! WHY put it up to the
mothers as does the 9th of July Lit
erary Digest! Ever since the apple
eating party of ancient times the
sins both of omission and commission
nave been deposited to Ewes credit.
Poor Mother Eve! Why not, believ-
ing in equal rights, ask the question:
Where are the FATHERS as we'll as
he mothers? II
In discussing this with one of my
brightest little goods she remarked
With wise shake of her pretty head:
We'll, Dean, if the fathers and moth
RS would only stand pat on daughter
md sonny boy you would not have
my trouble about unchaperoned
lances, and suppers and swimming
PARTIES, and absent class and tardies."
Our wonderful America took part
n the late war with the avowed pur-
,ose Of making the world safe for
women. After the countless last
acrifces" were so willingly made,
hall our boys be turned into beasts in
ome town dens? These home towns,