CHAPTER XXIII 



"COEDUCATION" AND AN UNSECTAEIAN PULPIT 1871-1904 



STILL another new departure was in some respects 

 bolder than any of those already mentioned. For 

 some years before the organization of Cornell, I had 

 thought much upon the education of women, and had grad- 

 ually arrived at the conclusion that they might well be 

 admitted to some of the universities established for young 

 men. Yet, at the same time, Herbert Spencer's argument 

 as to the importance of avoiding everything like * ' manda- 

 rinism" the attempt to force all educational institutions 

 into the same mold prevented my urging this admission 

 of women upon all universities alike. I recognized obsta- 

 cles to it in the older institutions which did not exist in the 

 newer; but I had come to believe that where no special 

 difficulties existed, women might well be admitted to uni- 

 versity privileges. To this view I had been led by my own 

 observation even in my boyhood. At Cortland Academy 

 I had seen young men and women assembled in the class- 

 rooms without difficulty or embarrassment, and at Yale I 

 had seen that the two or three lecture-rooms which ad- 

 mitted women were the most orderly and decent of all ; but 

 perhaps the strongest influence in this matter was exercised 

 upon me by my mother. She was one of the most con- 

 servative of women, a High-church Episcopalian, and gen- 

 erally averse to modern reforms ; but on my talking over 

 with her some of my plans for Cornell University, she 

 said: "I am not so sure about your other ideas, but as to 

 the admission of women you are right. My main educa- 



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