AfterhavingadmiredthegrandviewoftheharborsofNewYork,andhavingbeengreetedbygroupsofstudents,GirlScouts,andPolishdelegates,andwelcomedbymanygiftsofflowers,wetookpossessionofapeacefulapartmentintown.ThefollowingdayImadetheacquaintanceoftheReceptionCommitteeataluncheongivenbyMrs.Carnegieinherbeautifulhomestillfilledwithmemoriesofherhusband,AndrewCarnegie,whosephilanthropicachievementsarewellknowninFrance.ThefollowingdaywewentforavisitofafewdaystoSmithCollege,andVassarCollege,afewhoursfromNewYork.LaterIalsovisitedthecollegesofBrynMawrandWellesley,andIsawsomeothersonmyway.
Thesecolleges,oruniversitiesforwomen,areverycharacteristicofAmericanlifeandculture.Myshortvisitcouldnotpermitmetogiveanauthorizedopinionontheintellectualtraining,buteveninsuchavisitasImadeonemaynoticeimportantdifferencesbetweentheFrenchandAmericanconceptionofgirls'education,andsomeofthesedifferenceswouldnotbeinfavorofourcountry.Twopointshaveparticularlydrawnmyattention:thecareofthehealthandthephysicaldevelopmentofthestudents,andtheveryindependentorganizationoftheirlifewhichallowsalargedegreeofindividualinitiative.
Thecollegesareexcellentintheirconstructionandorganization.Theyarecomposedofseveralbuildings,oftenscatteredinverylargegroundsbetweenlawnsandtrees.Smithisontheshoreofacharmingriver.Theequipmentiscomfortableandhygienic,ofextremecleanliness,withbathrooms,showers,distributionofcoldandhotwater.Thestudentshavecheerfulprivateroomsandcommongatheringrooms.Averycompleteorganizationofgamesandsportsexistsineverycollege.Thestudentsplaytennisandbaseball;theyhavegymnasium,canoeing,swimming,andhorsebackriding.Theirhealthisundertheconstantcareofmedicaladvisers.ItseemstobeafrequentopinionofAmericanmothersthattheexistingatmosphereofcitieslikeNewYorkisnotfavorabletotheeducationofyounggirls,andthatalifeinthecountryintheopenairgivesmoresuitableconditionsforthehealthandthetranquillityofstudying.
Ineverycollegetheyounggirlsformanassociationandelectacommitteewhichhastoestablishtheinternalrulesofthecollege.Thestudentsdisplayagreatactivity:theytakepartineducationalwork;theypublishapaper;theyaredevotedtosongsandmusic;theywriteplays,andactthemincollegeandoutofit.Theseplayshaveinterestedmeverymuchintheirsubjectsandtheexecution.Thestudentsarealsoofdifferentsocialconditions.Manyofthemareofwealthyfamilies,butmanyothersliveonscholarships.Thewholeorganizationmaybeconsideredasdemocratic.Afewstudentsareforeigners,andwehavemetsomeFrenchstudentsverywellpleasedwiththecollegelifeandthestudies.
Everycollegetakesfouryearsofstudywithexaminationsfromtimetotime.Somestudentsafterwardsdopersonalwork,andacquirethedegreeofDoctor,whichdoesnotexactlycorrespondtothesametitleinFrance.Thecollegeshavelaboratorieswithmanygoodfacilitiesforexperimentation.
Ihavebeenstronglyimpressedbythejoyoflifeanimatingtheseyounggirlsandexpanding
oneveryoccasion,likethatofoneofmyvisit.Iftheceremoniesofthereceptionwereperformedinanearlymilitaryorder,aspontaneityofyouthandhappinessexpresseditselfinthesongsofgreetingcomposedbythestudents,inthesmilingandexcitedfaces,andintherushingoverthelawnstogreetmeatmyarrival.ThiswasindeedacharmingimpressionwhichIcouldnotforget.
BackinNewYork,severalceremoniesawaitedmebeforemyleavingforWashington.AluncheonoftheChemists,areceptionattheMuseumofNaturalHistoryandtheMineralogicalClub,adinnerattheInstituteofSocialSciences,andagreatmeetingatCarnegieHall,wheremanydelegationsrepresentedthefacultiesandstudentsofwomen'scollegesanduniversities.AtallthesereceptionsIwasgreetedinwarmaddressesbyprominentmenandwomen,andIreceivedhonorsveryprecioustomebecauseofthesincerityofthegivers.Neitherhasthepartofnationalfriendshipsbeenforgotten;theaddressofVice-PresidentCoolidgewasanoblerecognitionofthepastwhereFrenchandPolishcitizenshavebeenhelpfultotheyoungAmericanRepublic,andisalsoastatementoffraternitystrengthenedbythetempestofthelastyears.