Repository: UIHistories Project: Sophograph - 1889 [PAGE 44]

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T h e f5^lethcm*i Society.

HE University of Illinois was first opened to gentlemen only. After many heated discussions and much consideration, the trustees decided that the young woman of our land not only needed, but ought to have equal educational advantages with the young man. She, too, should be made acquainted with the sciences, literature, and the arts of civilized life, for the person who knows most is the most entertaining to himself as well as to others He will be the largest, live the longest and the happiest who is the best informed. The place assigned to woman in society has been rising since the beginning of civilization. The age of barbarism, when she was considered a mere slave and all intellectual pursuits were denied her, is long since past. For at that time it was thought to be a duty to keep her in the position of slaver degradation and ignorance. According to some of their religions she had no soul, nor hope for a future existence. Emerging from this low degraded state woman made one step forward into the stage of semi-civilization, when she was expected to be only an ornament to society, but was still considered an inferior Her true value was not recognized. But in the bright light ot the nineteent! century, woman is regarded with deference and respect, and is believe! to be capable of receiving equal education with man. The young 1 ly of the pi nt day is expected to receive the same mental instruction, to be able to reason as thoroughly and logically, and to possess the same strength of mind and in tellect as the young gentleman. The world invites to no grainier mi ion than that of the woman of to-day. Recognizing these facts the trustees admitted young ladi I the Unh ity of Illinois in 1871, allowing them to enter any of the » d permittii them to partake of, in 1 to enjoy all the pleasai and benefits to b ri\ from a course of study here. The young ladies organized a lit October n t h , of the same year, in order that they might I enabled to tt themselves in composition, elocution, debating powei and to enli tin >( general intelligence." The charter members compn ' all th young ladi

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