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Alexandra College, Dublin.

LEXANDRA COLLEGE, founded

in 1866 for the higher education of women, has now (in 1887) attained its majority. For this and other institutions the citizens of Dublin are indebted to the stimulus given to bene volent effort by the meeting in their capital a few years previously of the Social Science Congress.

Mrs. Jellicoe, a widow lady gifted with energy and insight, entered into the discussions at the Social Science meeting, and brought before it the idea of securing for her sex in Ireland a more sound and systematic education; one which should fit them to adorn an exalted position, or enable them under adverse fortunes to enter on a career of usefulness and independence. She desired that a solid foundation should be laid, so as to prepare young ladies for higher attainments than mere surface accomplishments, and train them for that struggle for existence which would seem to be thrust on the weaker sex by the exigencies of modern civilisation.

Mrs. Jellicoe's clear and practical mind commended her views to the eminent persons to whom she addressed herself. Foremost among these was his Grace Dr. Richard Chenevix Trench, Archbishop of Dublin, who, when Dean of Westminster, had taken a personal interest in the cause of women's education. His wise and experienced counsel, his wide influence, and his readiness to become the Visitor of Alexandra College, as well as his generous pecuniary gifts, afforded essential aid to the cause which he had at heart, and made him the central pivot of progress in Dublin, as he had previously been in London. Nor were others behind in zeal and goodwill. The Very Rev. the Dean of the Chapel Royal, who became its Warden; the Rev. Robert Perceval Graves, who filled the more onerous office of Vice-Warden, devoted to the infant institution much anxious thought. They have ever since filled these important positions, to the great advantage of Alexandra College, and have ungrudgingly given time and energy, as well as sagacity and experience, to promote its interests. The Provost and Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin, not only subscribed liberally, but rendered other services of value. Many of the most eminent scholars of Trinity College, Dublin, devoted time and labour to the cause of the higher education of women, seeking for no other reward than the advancement of learning and the intellectual elevation of the sex. It would occupy too much space to publish the names of the citizens of Dublin (both men and women) who contributed towards the general expenses of the foundation, advancing money for the purchase of the premises at Earlsfort Terrace, and subsequently for

their enlargement; or the names of the distinguished men who have sat on the Council and Committee of Education. It is surely an evidence of the generosity of men of culture that so many were found willing to impart freely from their stores of knowledge to their sister-students, and that professors, lecturers, and examiners were available, actuated by higher motives than mere hope of pecuniary reward.

Alexandra College was soon frequented by the élite of Dublin girlhood. The daughters of the upper and professional classes mingled with the children of business men. Nor were young married ladies, desirous of mental improvement, unknown among the ranks. has been estimated that from the first up to the present time about one in five of the students have been preparing themselves to become teachers; the remaining four-fifths have merely aspired to general culture. Most of them are diligent students; the idle and indifferent have formed but a small percentage. The honours which have been won in open competition are a fair index of the success with which knowledge is imparted.

The daily work is preceded by prayers, in accordance with the doctrines of the Church of Ireland, which are read in the Jellicoe Hall. No religious instruction, however, is compulsory on students. The minority (not members of the Irish Church) are free to devote their time to secular knowledge only.

The Lady Principal is Miss Louisa Digges La Touche, who was elected to that important office on the lamented death of Mrs. Jellicoe in October, 1880. She is a member of the much-respected family of La Touche, resident in Dublin since the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Miss La Touche had herself been a student both at Alexandra College and at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Her personal charm of character, her high attainments, and social position peculiarly fitted her for the important post to which she was elected, and which she has for the last seven years worthily filled.

No student is admitted to Alexandra College under the age of fifteen years. Younger girls are received at Alexandra School, Dublin. This school was established in 1873 by the Council and Committee of Education of Alexandra College. It is designed to prepare, by careful elementary instruction, for the more advanced studies of the College. It is working successfully under its able Head-Mistress, Miss Mulvany, B.A., and a competent staff of teachers. Its average number of pupils is about 160. The students of Alexandra College during the last session ending June 30th, 1887, amounted to 210. By far the larger number of these reside in Dublin and its environs; and of the small proportion contributed by the Provinces, more than half come from Ulster.

As Alexandra College and Alexandra School receive day students only, provision has been made for young people coming from a distance by the Residence Houses

-close to the College- which are, as we are informed, admirably managed.

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The fees paid in Alexandra College during the session, which consists of three Terms, are, for compounders, who go in for all the classes, including instru mental music, £22, or £8 10s. for a single term. music be not included the fee is £15, or £5 10s. per term. But in the case of students who take the course of instruction recommended by the Committee of Education, which consists of six subjects, the terms are £14 for the session, and £5 for a single term; and if the student should desire to add to this any additional classes, the charge for each will be £2 10s. for the session, and £1 for a term. It will be apparent, therefore, that the annual cost of a student of Alexandra College, who is contented with the course of instruction recommended by the Committee of Education, will amount to £14. If to this sum be added the expenses of a boarding-house, plus laundry, the total yearly charge for residence, board, laundry, and College fees, will amount to £72, at 5, Earlsfort Terrace, or £67 at 4, Salem Place, Adelaide Road, Dublin.

To an able and industrious student there are prizes to be won, with pecuniary advantages attached to them. The Calendar contains in a long and closely-printed list, a roll of honour, the names of the ladies who have won, in open competition, certificates from Alexandra College, and exhibitions and scholarships, of which many have been founded; and of the successful candidates in the examinations of the Royal University of Ireland. In these there is open competition of both sexes, and students of Alexandra College have won, during the years 1882-1886 inclusive, four scholarships in modern literature, seven exhibitions in the matriculation examination, six exhibitions in the first University examination, one in the second University examination, and one in the B.A. degree with first place. Miss Story's brilliant success in winning the Literature Scholarship is, no doubt, fresh in the minds of many of my readers, and when taken in conjunction with Miss Ramsay's great victory at Cambridge, makes the year 1887 memorable in the history of woman's education.

The Calendar records also the distinctions won by students of Alexandra College at the examinations for women held by the Universities of Dublin and Cambridge, and the Queen's University, also at the intermediate education examinations, and the certificates and prizes of the Government School of Art.

It is to be hoped that the useful work done by Alexandra College may be enlarged and increased before long by a permanent endowment. Hitherto it has been straitened by lack of funds; depending as it does solely on the fees paid by its students, and on the liberality of friends, too often at present cramped by the pressure of the times in Ireland.

No better evidence can perhaps be offered of the interest felt in this institution than is afforded by a simple enumeration of the donors to its library; and by some account of the voluntary work undertaken by ladies of position, as well as by gentlemen, to encourage and stimulate the higher education of women through the agency of this College.

Presentations of books to the library of Alexandra College, Dublin, have been made by H.R. H. the Princess of Wales; Dr. Ball, Ex-Chancellor of Ireland; the Rev. Maxwell H. Close; Lady Cox; Sir Samuel Ferguson; the Rev. R. P. Graves; J. K. Ingram, LL.D., S.F.T.C.D.; W. E. H. Lecky, Esq.; the Rev. H. Lloyd (the late), Provost of Trinity College; Arthur Palmer, Esq., F.T.C.D.; Professor Selss; Miss Margaret Stokes; the Most Rev. R. C. Trench (the late), Archbishop of Dublin; and by Lady Trevelyan.

A society of former and present students, including as honorary members the Lady Principal, the Lady Visitors, and previous and present Professors, Examiners, and Lecturers, and entitled "The Alexandra College Literary Society," has been formed to act as a connecting link between these friends of the institution, and to promote especially the continuance of studies after students have left the College. It has meetings-in a room appropriated to its use at Alexandra College-for special studies. That of Church History was superintended, before her marriage, by Miss Edith Chenevix Trench, now wife of the Bishop of Colombo, and is at present conducted by Lady Stokes. Another class meets weekly for the study of Shakespeare, under my own guid. ance; and dramatic readings of the plays are occasionally given, in which the class are assisted by the Professors of the College, and to which each member of the Literary Society has the privilege of bringing one lady friend. Miss Honor Brooke conducts a class of students of art, and Miss Henrietta Digges La Touche a similar class, having for its subject the History of Music.

The Literary Society has had on these and on kindred subjects the benefit of lectures gratuitously given by the late Archbishop Trench, Miss Margaret Stokes, Professor Dowden, the late Mrs. Hutton, Professor Mahaffy, Mr. Tarleton, F.T.C.D., Canon Smith, Professor Neilson Hancock, and other well-known writers.

The Literary Society has also, from its funds derived from the annual payment of 5s. by members, been enabled to bring from a distance special lecturers; for example, Professor Waldstein, of Cambridge, who delivered two lectures in 1886 on Greek art; also a lecture by the Rev. Mr. Cotterill on Dante; and, under its auspices, a course has been given in the present year by Professor Selss on German Literature.

It will interest our readers, in connection with the charming portrait of the Princess of Wales in her robes as Doctor of Music, prefixed to the present number of THE WOMAN'S WORLD, to give some account of the brilliant scene on the 10th of April, 1885, when this degree, honoris causâ, was conferred on Her Royal Highness by the Royal University of Ireland.

The Prince and Princess of Wales with their sons were then the guests of Earl and Countess Spencer at Dublin Castle, and having signified their intention to visit the Royal University, the Senate asked permission to present an address of welcome and to confer honorary degrees on their Royal Highnesses. They convened for the afternoon of the 10th of April a special public meeting in the large hall of the University. Before

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THE PRINCESS OF WALES IN HER ACADEMIC ROBES AS A DOCTOR OF MUSIC.

3 o'clock it was filled to overflowing by the élite of Dublin society in their gayest attire. The Senate, Fellows, and Examiners of the University, and a large number of graduates, entered the hall in procession and took their places on the daïs. The Royal party were received on their arrival by the Duke of Abercorn, K.G., Chancellor of the University, and Lord Emly, the ViceChancellor; and having robed, a procession was formed to conduct them to the daïs. Their arrival was the signal for enthusiastic cheering, and the National Anthem was played on the organ; and as the Prince received his degree, "God bless the Prince of Wales," followed by the Danish National Anthem when Her Royal Highness was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Music.

In his address, the Duke of Abercorn alluded to the successes of women in the examinations of the Royal University of Ireland as follows:-"All our Examinations, Honours, and Prizes are open to women students on precisely the same conditions as to men, and we are glad to be able to report to your Royal Highness that in this academical competition women have been eminently successful. Several of our highest distinctions, including Mathematical and Literary Scholarships, and Degrees in Arts with Honours, have been carried off by females; and as the result of the last Autumn examination, the Degree of Bachelor of Music was conferred on a young lady, being the first time such a distinction was obtained by a woman in the United Kingdom."

In the reply made by the Prince of Wales, he remarked, "By the admission of women to your degrees, you have supported the view that the gentler sex are capable, not only of severe competition in Science, but of enjoying the benefits and using the power which a well-considered scientific education bestows. It gratified me to learn that you were willing to confer upon the Princess of Wales the Degree of Doctor of Music, and Her Royal Highness wishes me to state on her behalf that she accepted that offer with pleasure, not only because she felt that it was an honour to herself, but because she wished to show her approval of the action of the ladies of Ireland, in accepting the facilities and advantages which you have offered them."

The beautiful and graceful Princess, the cynosure of neighbouring eyes, showed to great advantage in her rich and picturesque costume. Still greater was her charm of winning manner and gentle courtesy. Her sister graduates, who had on that occasion won their degrees and honours, aided her to disrobe, and received her sympathetic words of encouragement and congratulation. All hearts present felt as did the poet of "The Widow's Cloak" when he spoke of

"Denmark's gracious daughter, at head of that array

Our darling, ever welcome as flowers that come in MayGod, shield the precious creature beneath Thy angels' wings, And send her lovely nature

Down lines of kings!"

It will be apparent how great should be the influence for good, how improving to the general culture and tone of society in Dublin, must be an institution doing a

Nor can

work such as we have here briefly sketched. we over-estimate the importance to the community of having in its midst well-educated women, superior to petty gossip and puerile pursuits, to which the vacant mind is especially prone, and secured by an intelligent interest in higher topics from that ennui, fruitful of so many and grave evils to the sex. These young people are to be the wives and mothers or the unmarried women of the next generation. Whatever their destiny-whether as companions of life to educated men and the wise and competent trainers of their children; or whether, having survived their own parents, theirs is to be in the future a lonely course-lonely, but not necessarily forlorn-how important is it to themselves and to society that they should be competent to enter on other spheres of usefulness, for some of which single women, untrammelled by home duties, are pre-eminently suited. Is it possible to over-estimate the value of a disciplined judgment, a calm and steadfast mind, habits of application, no less than acquired knowledge, so indispensable to the success in life, and to the true welfare of women, as of men?

Nor should we omit another aspect under which this subject may be considered. Dublin, like Edinburgh, is now a provincial capital only; but, like Edinburgh, it may be made the chosen home of literature and of science. To this distinction it would do well to aspire. As a place of residence for families not prepared, by personal taste or large wealth, for the cosmopolitan life of great cities, it already possesses many attractions. The brilliancy and gaiety of a Viceregal Court, the natural grace and courtesy of Irish manners, and the genial refinement which prevails in the upper circles of Dublin, already make it a delightful abode. We may point out, in addition, the moderate expenditure of money at which these advantages may be obtained; the educational facilities afforded by Trinity College, the Royal University, and Alexandra College; and the learned societies which Dublin possesses for those interested in science, art, and antiquities. The Irish people would do well to increase to the utmost the attractions of their city; to spare no effort to cleanse and beautify it. With its charming environs (so easily accessible that a short drive in any direction- —a railway journey not exceeding half an hour will bring the traveller into the midst of beautiful scenerysea, mountain, river, or wood-into the heart of a pleasant land, full of attractions for the lovers of sport, of natural beauty, and of historic and antiquarian interest), Dublin ought to afford one of the most enjoyable spots on earth to residents desirous to combine the refinements of life with but a moderate expenditure of money. It is not true at least in Ireland-that plain living and high thinking are no more. For the bright, healthy, morally wholesome tone which pervades Dublin society we are largely indebted to the studies and pursuits cultivated at Alexandra College; and we anticipate for it, when it receives the well-earned recognition of a permanent endowment, in addition to the Charter recently conferred, a still further extended sphere of usefulness.

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M. C. FERGUSON.

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