526 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



later, when so many, chiefly Russians, came with insufficient 

 preparation, a new law was passed regulating the admission of 

 " students " into the university, and formally recognizing women. 

 It had formerly been sufficient for foreigners to present good 

 passports from their Governments ; but the new law required in 

 addition testimonials of character and of sufficient previous men- 

 tal training. If this were not produced, the student must take an 

 examination. This examination, partly oral and partly written, 

 must evidence sufficient knowledge of German to read and to fol- 

 low a lecturer ; sufficient knowledge of mathematics and the sci- 

 ences to enable the student to understand the university lectures 

 upon these subjects ; knowledge either of Latin to read and un- 

 derstand an easy author, or to the same degree of French, with 

 either Italian or English. The Council supported the wisdom of 

 the university senate, and these remain the requirements of the 

 university. Swiss students present diplomas or reports from the 

 Zurich gymnasium or its equivalent ; and here girls are some- 

 what at a disadvantage, for, when the framers of new educational 

 privileges were establishing this canton school which should fit 

 boys for the higher work of the university, they made no such 

 provision for girls. During the early years, while education is 

 compulsory and the state furnishes all books and industrial im- 

 plements, boys and girls study together; but in the higher 

 schools they are separated, and the courses of study in girls' 

 schools are not so complete as in the gymnasiums for boys. As 

 soon, however, as girls asked for admission to university work, 

 good private schools sprang up, and the normal school was also 

 resorted to. The normal school in Zurich now sends out almost 

 every year, in addition to its well-equipped teachers, at least one 

 or two girls fitted to take the MaturiUits examination in either 

 the medical or the philosophical department of the university. At 

 present, moreover, a bill is before the school commission of the 

 state, asking that the canton school be opened to girls, and has, 

 it is thought, fair prospect of being at last adopted. 



It was in Berne as in Zurich. Women had studied several years 

 in the university before the question of their admission was ever 

 discussed. The Constitution used only the general term "stu- 

 dent," and naturally girls were accepted as soon as they presented 

 themselves. No one could have given any authority or reason 

 for rejecting them. There were five the first year, one of these 

 an American, it is interesting to know, who wished to study medi- 

 cine. The next year there were twenty-six. The attention of the 

 faculty was arrested : a question arose as to the advisability of 

 simply allowing them to study under the negative provision of 

 the university laws, and a difference of judgment was mani- 

 fested ; but the discussion finally resulted in the passage of a new 



