THE HARVARD ANNEX 215 



commend ourselves to Harvard College and estab- 

 lish a definite relation with the University, we must 

 renounce our attempt for this time. And yet that 

 would seem a pity, for we believe there was never a 

 better opportunity for securing what is by so many 

 so greatly desired, a share for women of the educa- 

 tional advantages to be had at Harvard. 



Nor was there ever a moment when the University 

 could so safely grant us this boon. In the form in 

 which this effort in behalf of women's education has 

 been started and is likely to be continued, it stirs no 

 prejudices, excites no opposition, involves no change 

 of policy for the University. Our students themselves 

 manifest no desire for coeducation. The element of 

 competition with men does not enter into their aims. 

 They simply want the best education they can get, 

 and they seek it at Harvard because the means to 

 that end exist there. We only ask the College, there- 

 fore, in case we can provide for our own expenses, to 

 continue a work which has thus far been conducted 

 so quietly and inoffensively that it has hardly at- 

 tracted observation. 



It may, and no doubt will, be asked, why we desire 

 to establish a college for women in Cambridge when 

 several successful ones exist elsewhere; when we have 

 Vassar, the Boston University, Smith, and Wellesley. 

 We readily admit that such a college would be both 

 undesirable and superfluous, unless we can connect 

 it directly with Harvard College. Failing this, we 

 should miss the distinctive thing for which we have 

 aimed. 



