COEDUCATION IN SWISS' UNIVERSITIES. 525 



that it was desirable to obtain closer connection between the 

 higher schools, at once established two important institutions. 

 The old gymnasium the Carolinum, as that theologico-classical 

 school had been named after Charlemagne was enlarged and de- 

 veloped in two directions, scientific and literary on the one hand, 

 and industrial on the other. A still higher school was organized 

 with theological, law, medical, and philosophical departments, 

 which was at first modestly called a Facultats-Anstalt an institu- 

 tion for higher study. This latter school became in 1833 the 

 University of Zurich, founded by the state " that all her citizens 

 might develop themselves freely, according to nature, in science 

 and art. ... Its purpose is partly to increase the sum of knowl- 

 edge, partly to further the interests of Church and state through 

 higher scientific culture of professions." So the university was 

 organized, the canton school by its side as a helper, both under 

 care of the state through the Educational Council, whose presi- 

 dent is one of the governor's staff. In similar manner the Poly- 

 technicum the national school is under the care of the General 

 Government. The professors in the university are appointed by 

 the Educational Council, and an educational synod, once a year 

 or oftener, if especial need arises, gives opportunity for free dis- 

 cussion. 



The Swiss universities are broad and liberal in the highest 

 degree. Statutes are passed in their senates with simple refer- 

 ence to elevation of character and usefulness, and with no appar- 

 ent thought of the sexes as separate. These statutes, when pre- 

 sented in council, are treated in the same spirit, and the question 

 as to the advisability of coeducation came first in every univer- 

 sity after women had already entered and studied. The original 

 statutes excluded no one, and consequently when after generally 

 a remarkably long time women applied for admission, their 

 names were taken exactly as those of their brothers were taken ; 

 they took their places among these and worked there undisturbed 

 until some other consideration brought the question forward. It 

 is difficult to see why it should have been so long after the estab- 

 lishment of the universities before women asked to work in them. 

 In Zurich it was thirty-one years, in Berne thirty-eight, while 

 Basle was disturbed first last year by the question. Lausanne, 

 however, which begins its career as a university this autumn, 

 begins with women students. In Zurich and Berne it may have 

 been the development of the universities from schools originally 

 founded for the aid of callings as yet unthought of for women 

 which caused the indifference on the part of women toward 

 them. However that may be, when in the sixties women applied 

 for admission in Zurich the first one was a foreigner no ques- 

 tion was raised; she entered and took her degree. Ten years 



