The New York Herald Newspaper, October 14, 1873, Page 6

A UKASE Singular History of the Little City of Zurich, Unearthed by a Herald Correspondent. HE RUSSIAN WOMAN'S HOPE. ——_-—_——_ ‘Btudyi” z Medicine at the College and the Free and Easy at Their Rooms. GOR sCHAKOFF DOES “HIS DUTY.” The Lady Students Indiscriminately ' . %randed.as a Disgrace to the Russian Empire. ‘RANK INJUSTICE OF THE PROCEEDING, ‘The Great Tea Fight at St. Petersburg and the Frame of Mind of the Royal Family. \DISCOVERY OF THE MARE’S NEST. What the Envoy at Berne Ac- cepted as His Duty. RUSSIAN SPIES. «Proficiency of the Female Students at the Univorsity. ‘WHAT THEY ARE GOOD FOR. )Impartial Account by the Eminent Professor in Charge. GAN WOMEN BECOME SURGEONS? “Popularity of the Stigmatized Ladies Among the People of Zurich. RUNNING THE RUSSIAN FRONTIER. Alleged Political Conspiracies Between the Poor Students and the Russian Refugees. ‘THE STORY EXPLODED. The Liberal (?) Policy of the Sentimental Ally of the United States, ZURICH, Sept. 2, 1873, All well informed persons are of the opinion that there is no better gentleman among the shelved diplomatists, who are put aside like superfluous linen of overstocked housewives at Berne, than the present Russian Envoy in Switzerland. He may be wanted some day by his august master or by his august mistress when the envoys now in use are worn out, put there is no immediate oc- casion for lus services or he would not have been stowed away in lavender and da‘kness, Few or none of the diplomatic corps are able or Willing to understand that they are really placed on the retired list when appointed to such posts as Berne, where there is nothing to do but give DINNERS TO NOBLE TRAVELLERS snd diligently attend to their own health by regu- lar exercise and a milk diet, 80 that after a short residence in Switzerland they feel in danger of turning yellow and being forgotten. There is no court, no society to amuse them, or even to give them the harmless yet absurbing occupation of changing their clothes three times a day, as they Must do at Dresden, Munich and Stuttgart, in order to take part in royal festivities, mostly con- fined to music and uniforms, The professors and hotel keepers who rule the roast of the Swiss can- tons are rather duilcompany. They can only talk of refractory students, male and female, and of the latest prices obtainea from travellers for the three- bedded room, which isa new and profitable insti- tion just inaugurated in this picturesque country. Therefore the Russian Envoy and his colleagues Were not long ago at their wit’s end. In vain they got up early in the morning and took off their hats to each other; in vain they rode or drove about in the afternoon and took off their hats again, calling each other ‘Cher confrére’ and other endearing terms, or “Mon Prince” and “M. le Comte’ when they hoped that an international squabble might be brewing, and deemed it wise to practise a Stately reserve by times towards superannuated noblemen whom they might bave to observe with a cool and attentive eye at no distant period as enemies of their court and country, not incapable of the darkest machinations, conducted upon fools- cap paper. Belore the Russian Minister, however, set out, with rather a dejected aspect, for Berne, he con- sulted a private friend of great oficial experience as to what on earth he should do there to prevent himself being buried ative or PENSIONED OFF AS INCAPABLE. ‘His friend of great experience had first lighted a cigarette, for cigarettes are extremely well made at St. Petersburg, ot the finest kinds of Turkish to- bacco, and then he had hummed an opera air from “La Belle Hélene,”’ as though ne did not quite see his way to answering the question which had been put to him. But when the banished Envoy re- peated it, in tones of alarm, he lit another cigar- ette, and as the first whiff of blue smoke left his mustaches he turned sharply on his heel, as Rus- sian friends of great experience are apt to do, and riefy said, “Amuse the Empress.” “Egad!’ muttered the Russian Envoy to himself, ‘one fine morning, after he had got to his destina- tion, “Ill do it.” And he did it, The diplomatists of despotic courts really can only keep their places and win promotion by entertaining their sover- eigns, whereas the diplomatists of constitutional States find it pays better to interest the clerks in authority over them by early intelligence of lucra- tive contracts for public works projected, or rail- way concessions to be had by good management, or provable fluctuations in State securities, out of which desirable pickings may be got by the wary, Woll-advised, The business of a Russian or @ Prus- | an envoy, however, is merely to charm or to as- tonish his superiors; for there are no more INCORRIGIBLE WONDERERS im the World than eutocrats and their wives, It is @ Weary thing to be a king or an emperor; and no one need feel surprise if an absolute monarch is glad to hear anything which breaks the monotony of his dull existence and stirs him up irom the aneasy slumber into which he is constantly thrown by complaints, petitions and the endiess repetition of inane ceremonies. Not long alter the Russian Envoy at Berne bad NEW YORK HER. come to the determination of acting apon the ad- vice of his judicious friend, there was a grand tea fight at the Palace of the most charming of the princesses of the blood in the capital of his native country. Many ladies at St. Petersburg give ex- quisite yellow tea to their friends, and make it themselves with @ grace which is all their own; but there are no tea parties ike her tea parties, and the latest news and the brightest wit in the Russian metropolis are always to be found there. On the evening in question the mperor and Empress were both among her guests, for it was one of those anniversaries which are almost religiously kept by the imperial family; and @ notable treat awaited these illustrious per- Sonages, for the semovar, or tea urn, had scarcely been placed before the Grand Duchess when Prince Gortschakoff came into the room with lis remarka- ble neckstock and lofty manners, and he there and then made the astounding announcement that there was SOMETHING NEW AT ZURICH. The Empress, who bas very quiet manners, and lives much among the orthodox clergy, cast down her eyes on receipt of this intelligence. Her Impe- rial Majesty then opened her fan in an absent way she has, and then she closed it slowly. Her Majesty is not always edified by tae Prime Minister's dis- course, But the Czar raised those round eyes of his and put his right hand to his left mustache, which ia @ habit he has when desirous of hearing something farther upon a subject to which his at- tention has been pleasantly called, Prince Gortschakof being encouraged by & gen- era! murmur of curiosity, in which the soft, kind voice of the Grand Duchess was not inaudible, told the story of the female students at Zurich as only he could have told it; and as the Grand Chancellor of the Empire rolied out his magniloquent periods, and dealt with the question in the same exhaustive manner in which he once dealt with Earl Russell, the Emperor first smiled, and then laughed, while @ subdued chorus of merriment, amtably led by the Grand Duchess, and not too load to drown the Ozar’s expression of delight, was heard all over the room. At this moment the Empress, who had never once looked up from her fanor relaxed a muscle, satd something, ta rather a dry way. to one of her ladies in attendance, and retired to a table where some exquisite views of the Cri- mea, which is her favorite residence, had been placed for her inspection, They were painted in water colors, by a French artist who enjoys the patronage of the Grand Duchess, and Her Majesty appeared for some time to be deeply concerned with them. The Emperor, however, and Prince Gortschakof, conversed together long and 1ntl- mately, and the courtiers remarked that His Ma- jesty had not looked better pleased since he last heard the fiddle of the Duke of Edinburgh. There happened at this time to be a general out of employment at St. Petersburg. Of course,in a country like Russia, where there are so many gen- erals, more than one of them is permanently out ofempioyment; but the difference between this general at leisure and other generals in similar cir- cumstances was, that Prince Gortschakoff, tirea of hearing that the general had called on him every day at one o'clock for twelve years, in search of an addition to his half pay, had determined that he should have something else to do, at least for the next few months. Therefore the Prince, having the opportunity, told him to GO TO ZURICH, as who should say, ‘Go to HMailifa: Accordingly he went to Zurich, with instructions to institute a searching oficial inquiry into the garrets of an un- Known number (supposed to be a multitude) of Russian girls, whose principles were deciared, ta a diplomatic despatch, to be emancipated, and whose behavior was alleged to be of that free and easy character which could not be contemplated with- out pain and surprise bya paternal government, Poasibly the Empress, moved thereto by ecclssi astical influences, may have had a voice in the General, for that was the true purport of them, ‘The emancipated Russian ladies at Zurich vowed, in shrill tenes, that they were POSSESSED BY SPIES, when the General came among them and inspected the jack boots which they wore as an improve- ment upon the female costume of the period. But, mercy on us! if Russia were to keep up the army of spies which she 1s often said to do how could the tchinovniks, or governing clerks, at St. Petersburg drive bigh-stepping Orlom trotters, worth £300 a tail, and three abreast, along the streets of St. Petersburg, and throw mud frem their hoofs upon the faithiui iteges of the Czar? Spies in England, spies in India, spies in New York and Kentucky, spies at Berlin, spies in Austria, Spain, Portugal, China, Saxony, Bavaria, Timbuctoo, and aiso in Zurich, would eat up ali the finances of the empire, which are not large, as at present administered. The fact is, that if Russia has a spy in the world he is not worth arubie, and certainly does not get it. When a Russian Minister wants to take leave of a troublesome iriend or an unfortunate relative he acts as other Ministers do on like occasions, ME TRANSPORTS HIS BORE at the public expense. Perhaps he sends hintto Bath, perhaps to Jericho. But if he makes reports eet ever reads them, and ail the spying worth doing Is done in private letters from Princess Wal- koffska to Princess Staatomska, which are first read in the boudoirs of great ladies, Pooh! m: friend; what could a spy, prowling about wit hang-dog looks in society, ever learn which 18 not known to town criers and newspapers? I knew one of the chiefs of the secret police in Russia very intimately. He Was a delightful old man; very innocent and harm- less; @ brave and honorable soldier too, ‘Ihe only apy, he pi a Ard was @ volunteer Englishman aMicted with the lumbago, and who vastly resem- bled an old woman of distraught wits, both in manners and intelligence. The chief of the secret police, who was my friend, never gE any informa- tion from him save that Lord Harktorward, an English peer, or some other person equaliy unim- portant and dear to the elderly female mind, had recently been heard of in the neighborhood. No- body wants secrets nowadays, and the late Sir Charles Stewart used to say very sensibly to the attachés of bis mission, “Pray do not tell me any- thing which is not generally known. I shall get into ® row with Palmerston if I put it in a de- spatch.”” The EMANCIPATED GIRLS AT ZURICH were certainly not worried by spies; and the of ficial person who wen* about paying them domi- ciliary visits was —— @n agent of the Russian government, whose object and intentions were open and avowed. What he undoubtedly found, after patient investigation and research, was a mare’s nest, and nothing more. It appeared to him, a3 to many other people, that there, indeed, existed a sort of POLITICAL COCK AND HEN CLUB at Zurich. A dozen or two of harebrained women, unacquainted with decent manners, had cropped their hair short, put their legs into butcher boots and their shoulders into pea jackets; and they were constantly on the rampage, spouting balderdash in the streets to hulking louts of their ownnation, wuo drank too much beer and brandy, upon the pretext that they were studying at the local university, and who Were in that respect very much like Mr. Bob Sawyer, of tmmortal memory, and other medi- cal students in all ceuntrics. Besides these rowdy girls of Zurich were aiso some female students of the higLest character and the purest lives. How the Russian geperal found out these facts, and how I found them out as soon as the notice of the European agent of the New YoRK HERALD was di- rected to them by the riot which commenced around them, pad ad to tell forthwith. I left Grenoble on my miasion to Zurich in tt midst of a tremendous row made by Mr. Rob son, who wanted ail the windows of the public dining room at the Three Dolphins Hotel closed in a tropical heat. Mr. Robinson sald that he had the rheumatism, and therefore everybody else should fear cool air in August. A pushing young man, who was @ commercial traveiler, declined to be afraid of refreshment when he w jtiding; where- upon Mr. Robinson calied in the dior sly, sleek man Of sidelong glances, cross-bred between Swiss and French parents—and directed him to send for four gendarmes, or cocked-hatted police- men, to take the pushing young wan ito custody for Wanting fresh alr. Mr, Robinson was so loud, Mr. Robinson was 80 emphatic that ali Grenoble was filled with rumors of Mr. Robinson, and 80 I asked the landlady—a quiet, nt body—who aud what was the man who thus oppressed us with his behavior. It turned out, to my great surprise, that Mr. Robin- son is @ hero, witaout the rheumatism, and that his pretence of having the rheumatism was merely @ sublime falsehood or invention, intended to save the feelings Of a stranger aMlicted with pulmonar: symptoms, and whom he had picked up and aske: to dinner, Moreover, said the landlady, “MR. ROBINBON IS A SAINT, and, what is better for us, @ saint who has taken Grenoble under his protection. He was a provi- dence to the poor here during the war, and his charity was 80 unwearied, his be- nevolence so universal, that when he ar- rives here, a8 he does very often, a mob fathers round the hotel duor, and Pa, cheer ir. Robinson as he goes forth to take his coffee after dinner.’’ Much flattered by this information, and feeling some not unnatural regret that this saint had resolved to stew his fellow creatures, if necessary, for a stranger's benefit, while I was one of the party, aud lamenting that saints are gen- erally such obstreperous folk, 1 went my way in the Motel omnibus and read statistics to soothe ings till the loveliness of the landscape Grou nese the ue of railway told me i was in concluding part of the instructions given to the | | their morality and | the summer term of 1) Switzerland, Had 1 wanted any other announce- ment of the fact, which | did not, I might have haa it from an easy-mannere reson in a shoot- ing jacket, who nudged me in the ribs*and asked me itl had @ passport, as he blew some rank to- bacco smoke Irom a wooden pipe into my {face through the open carriage window and looked another way while waiting for an answer. Itoid him | had a passport, and then he said it was of no consequence if | was ‘Dglishman, and having imparted this information he slung himself on to another carriage and probably worried some one else {uw the same unnecessary way. I found Switzerland as beautijul as I had lett it some years ago; but much changed in other respects. “here were no Parisians to be seen anywhere, playing at travel; but many of the EXILES FROM ALSAOB-LORRAINB have made it their home. ‘The hotels, instead of being the pleasant places where one got such good cream and honey at such low rice’, have become national institutions and are as ig as moderate-sized Villages, The Hotel Gibbon, at Lausanne, where | first stopp because Swiss railway trains do not run by night, and which us to be one of the best hotels im Kurope, is now dear and bad, having been snuifed out ry hotel near the water side, dear and bad also, The prac- tice of dining at tables d’hOte has somewhat gone out of fashien even in Switzerland, and out of a full hetel containing several hundred travellers only twenty-one appeared at table, aud those got nothing but the drumsticks of departed towls for their sustenance, the breasts and the wings having been all served to rich Americans and Eng- lish people, whe dine in their own apartments. I took whatI could get, however, eating up the miscellaneous leavings of bygone travellers with contented mind; but my bill was nevertheless ex- orbvi(ant, being twenty-two Nance for a bedroom on the fourth floor and one detestable meal, There were no amusements at Lausanne, where Gibbon pondered for so many years, and WHERE DICKENS WROTE ONE OF HIS BEST STORIES, save such as were to be got out of the Café du ‘TnéAtre, where a few people go of an evening to drink flat beer and doze over stale newspapers to the sound of drowsy billiard balls bumping sieepily against each other. The Lausanne people passed taecir time in standing at their doors and stalking travellers. When they marked one down, they took him in. Not long since 1,000 francs or £40 was considered enough for @ moderate man’s expenses during a tour in Switzerland. Now double that amount would not suffice, ard living in all the Swiss towns is much dearer than in Paris or New York, which are indeed the cheapest places in the world for experienced residents. What struck me most favorably on my return to Switzerland was that the Swiss are unquestionably a tree people, little BOTHVRED BY THEIR OFFICIAL AUTHORITIES. They are not ruled over and commanded on rail- mae steamboats and public places, as folks are in rance, What appeared to me most offensive in them was their coniounded impudence. Every one seemed to say, “lam fa good as you, and a great deai better, too;’’ which appeared to be their mode of asserting their equality mone chance ac- quaintances. “/oint d'argent, point de Suisse” is an old French proverb, which points to their coolness and avarice, and ts almost as old as their national existence. But now the inhabitants of the cantons are unwilling to give @ remunerative amount of civility even when overreaching a cus- omer. ARRIVED AT ZURICH, which has greatly increased in importance o! late ree, and 13 now said to number nearly 6 000 in- habitants, towards six o’clock in the afternoon of the 29th of August, and half an hour alterwards found myself jace to face with one ei the partners in the firm of MESSRS. FUSELI & CO., among the first booksellers in Europe, to whom I had an introduction. Messrs. Fuseii complained to me that their name and iame had nos received due notice from the compilers of the latest editions of the English guide bvoks, and I promised to call attention to their merits in the NEw YORK HERALD. I, therefore, begin my account of an tuterview With them by redeeming my promise. They are civil and inteiligent peopie, worthy ofa visit ron travelling Americans, Tasked these gentlemen if anything had been published deserving of note on the question of THE FEMALE STUDENTS; and they gave me some pamphiets issued by thtir own firm, Then a Jair, silent, Man, Wiio seemed to be the active business partner, took me into his private room and gave me some unpubiished papers, with along list of people whom I might find it desirable to consult. ‘o these valuable presents he added a packet of letters of intro- duction, which he wrote rapidly a3I waited. He informed me in a few words that the townspeople eneraliy liked the female students, because they id mot get into debt as their brethren did, and that Zurich tradesmen would trust them impucitly, and regretted that they were going away. As to ehavior, opinions he gb- served, were divided, but the sympathies of the townspeople inclined much toward the female students, because a belle: prevailed that they Were oppressed by a ukase which had recently ap- péared in the Opicial Garette of St. Petersburg, de- bouncing thei a6 Vagabunds and criminals, Llooked at the papers which Messrs. Fuseli had given me asI drove back to my hotel, and noted Les soloing facts, which have not yek been pub- ished :— “The thing began in the winter university term of 1364-5, when a solitary Russian woman entered her name on the college books as @ medical student, This Beppenea shortly after the emanci- pation of the serfsin Russia had upset many for- tunes, and sent the poor relations of an embar- Tassed landed aristocracy upon their travels in search of something to cat, which they had not much chance of finding much longer at home. In another female student came to study medicine at the University of Zurich, and in the summer term of 1867 one of them van- ished into space. But in tae winter term of 1867-8 there were THREE FEMALE MEDICAL STUDENTS, ofwhom two were English, on the books of the University. In the summer term another English lady arrived, and in the winter term of 1869 anotner Russian lady; and yet another in the following summer term appeared to swell the number oi female medical students. In the beginning of 1870 there were seven, and at the end of the same year nine Russian jadies entered on the University books as medical students, while the number of English ladies had decreased from thrce to twoat the commencement of 1571. There were twelve Russian ladies studying at Zurich, but two of them went away before the year had closed. In 1872, however, their number increased rapidly to seven- teen in the first University term, and to forty-four during the second term. in 1873 it had again risea before Easter to sixty-nine, and the number of female medical students was greater than that of the males. Meantime certain Russian female students, who had NO TASTE FOR PHYSIC, entered their names on the books of the University of Zurich as students of philosophy. First, only one lady thought proper to philosophize, in 1869; and up to 1872 only three other ladies had the will or the courage to follow her exampie; but in 1872 there were ten Russian female students of philoso- phy, and at the commencement of the present year, 1873, there were twenty-six female philoso- phers—ali Russians. They were not quite alone in their giory. A British female was there to keep them im conntenance, and two independent- minded Germans of the adverse sex joined the aah within the last twelve months, ‘The num- per of British temale medical students varied be- tween one and three, and from 1869 to the present time there has been ONE AMERICAN PEMALE MEDICAL STUDENT at Zurich. Hungary has sent first one, then two, then one again, during the last five years; and Germany has sent first one, then three, then four female medical students to Zurich dur.ng the same period. Among the Russian ladies is aisoa soll- tary female student of political economy, andl dare say it would be a very funny sight to behold her at work, with jack boots and a pair of specta- cles on. It is @ melancholy tact for the enthusias- tic advocates o1 ‘vomen’s rights who object to well ordered houses and desire to see all womankind in jack boots and spectacles, that out of no less than ONE HUNDRED AND SIGHT FEMALE STUDENTS 80 very lew have been able to take @ university degree, or that 80 many have scorned to do so, a% an unworthy concession to the rules and reguia- tons set up for the conduct of the interior being, man. ‘Thus only one lady out of all the female members of the University of All Nations took a degree as Doctor of Medicine in 1868. One lady only took & degree as Doctor of Philosophy and Science, also, in 1368. Then there was an interval of two years, during which no lady took any degree. But in 1870 one more lady took @ degree as Doctor of Medicine. In 1871, again, another lady took @ degree as Doctor of Medicine in the summer unl- versity term, and another passed her examination during the winter term. in i812 two more ladies took their degrees as DOCTORS OF MEDICINE in like manner—that is to say, one lady passed her examination in each term; but up to the present dave in 1873 no jady has taken a degree in medi- cine, nor has any lady, at any time, taken a degree Irom the University of Zurich in philesophy, law or science. Altogether only six ladies have taken their degrees in eight years, Before dinner calied at the United States Consulate, which is situated in a convenient office next door to the Hotel de Bellevue, which is the best inn at “urich, and that most irequented by American travellers, of whom there are a great many just now in Switzerland. The United States government is the only government which appoints @ consul to Zurich, though the appoint ment is @ good and a necessary one. | called on the United States Consul, therefore, because | had heard @ ry high character of his abilities and courtesy, and because men belonging to the same ee) understand readily each other's wants. ‘he door was opened by a dreary young man, whom I immediately recognized as the sort of clerk whom Consuls are generally obliged to pat up with, because, as Karl Russell once wrote with agreeabie frankness, BFFICIBNOY 18 NOT THR CHIRF POLNT to be considered in the consular service, and intel- ligent clerks are not to be had in the present state of the labor market without bign wages, The dreary young man tnformed me briefly that the Const! Was not at home, and he evidently then thought that he had done enough for mankind on that day. But Just as I was going away, not ox- actly seeing my way to profitable conversation with the dreary young man, a kind, lady-like voice, with the pleasant American accent, said, “1 am wee? my husband is not here, but 1 am Mrs. Before me stood a Naina little person, in the fall bloom of womanhood, and she looked up with & Very sweet SIDile a8 BC SDOke, and ipvited me ta sit down beside her. I asked Mrs, Byers if she knew any of the female students at Zurich, because if she did I should consider that the honor of bd acquainted with her would be a suficient certufi- cate of character, Mrs. Byers replied, with much good taste, that the female students did not go into society, ‘bein, occupied with their studies, but that she bad heal very good accounts of some of them, especialiy since they had gone away. She thought, too, that the sympathy Of the Zurich people was with them. She told me, algo, that Miss Dimock, of Boston, had graduated {n high houors at the’ University and was esteemed by all who knew her, Another American lady also took her degree, but the American female students generally only attended @ single course of studies at Zurich, passing on aiterwards to more famous universities. “A youn; Irish lady, @ Miss Morgan, was one of the drs female students who graduated here,” concluded Mrs. Byers; aud, having thus told meall thata well-bred lady could, perhaps, conveniently recol- lect on tue seject, our conversation ended and [ lett her, carrying away with me the recollection of a beautiful face and genial manuers—not often found together in this disappolating world of con- tradtctions, The next person I saw was Dr. George von Wyss, rector of the University of Zurich, He wasa well informed man, with the somewhat absent look which one might expect to find in a Doctor of Philosophy, but be met my questions with ex- treme frankness, “It is,” said he, “very easy to understand why 80 many female students came to the University of durich, No matriculation examination has hitherto been required there, though we are about to passa law which will henceforth render such examinations compulsory. Moreover thi is noshibe in our laws which exclude women from the University, and they are on precisely the same footing as other students, The first ale students who came here. were excellent womer, They studied earnestly and profitably, They aid great attention surgery and anatomy, and they could perform very delicate operations, I think, better than men. ‘Their in- fuence on the schools here was decidedly bene- ficial, Their presence softened the other students’ manners and made them dress becomingly. If I may use the expression, they purified the dissect- ingroom, There were no such pranks played as that of sticking candies into the eye sockets of skulls in their presence; no boyish tricks, no in- decorous levities. “Then too many female students came. The good among them were very gvod—too good, for they wore themselves out with overwork. But there were some light-headed girls, who only looked on their studies as a pretext tor misconducting them- selves, Likewise, about two years ago, certain agents of the republican party in Russia thought proper to select Zurich as their temporary head- quarters, and certaim of the female students of their own country associated with them readily enough. That was not our business. Zurich is a democratic city, and the local authorities saw no reason to imterfere with theni, 60 long as they aid nothing criminal and obeyed the laws.”’ From Dr. Wyss I went to Professor George Her- mann Meyer, lecturer on anatomy at the University oft Zurich and one of the {poet Seoeumes sur- geonsin Europe. He was laid up with a bad foot, and I found him stretched in pain upon the sola in his study; but he received me with extreme cor- duality and kindness, 60 much, indeed, that I assed three hours under the influence of his learned and friendly conversation before I knew how fast the time had slipped away. A grave, courteous, dignified gentleman is Professor Meyer, aware that he bas a Kuropean reputation and be- comingly careful of it; yet his smile has at times the light-hearted joyousness of a boy, and there is a fine Bayar or humor in his talk, very pungent and reireshing. “With reference to the crisis which has occurred in the question of female students’ studies at Zurich,” said Professor Meyer, in very good Eng- lisi, “1 must tell you what I told : MY FRIEND HAND HANDYSIDE, of Edinburgh. The calling away trom Zurich, by an imperial ukase, Of all Russian females studying at the University and Polytechnic School here is a roceeding which strikes far beyond the aim, and Rite paimiuily those who are in no way accessory to the doings which have caused it. THE SENATUS ACADEMIOUS of Zurich has endeavored for many years to make the conditions for matriculation of female students more dificult, im order thereby to exclude light- minded and unsuitable persons, Only two montis ago a law was passed for that purpose, but it is altogether insufficient, and it has not yet even been romulgated. Now, it was on account of the great facility in obtaining matriculation that unwelcome students have begun to tntrude into the. Seabepei to which access was absolutely iree and is ai nearly 80. “There is, moreover, at Zurich, a colony of Rus- sian political refugees. and their views, which are contrary to those prevailing here, make them ob- Jects of general dislike and suspicion ; nevertheless, 80 long 98 they do not come into conflict with the police ‘they have aclaim upon Swiss hospitality, Should it be really the case that these reiugees maintain an organized POLITICAL AGITATION IN RUSSIA it would be very questionable whether such doings would be compatible with their enjoyment of the right of reiuge. ‘Now, with wet pone) to female students here, I have long observed that they are divided into two classes. A certain number of them gre highly re- spectable in their behavior and appearance, thoroughly ladylike 1% their manners, most dili- gent in their studies, and they strive with deep earnestness to attain the object they have in view. These women enjoy the highest esteem ot ali the teaching staf and students of the University. ‘The public does not know them, because in character and bearing they are modest and unobtrusive, 80 that they attract no attention in the streets or in public piaces, On the contrary, a certain number of other jemale students here are not proficient in their studies and are decidedly careless in their conduct. In appearance they are slovens, their behavior js indelicate, they eat and smoke in the streets, and are much seen in com- pany with political relugees, with whom they walk about, conversing m a loud tone. If Imus’ not call them slovens, suppose we agree to call them jo Cole of a very energetic and enterprising sort. “To me and others it has been clear for a long time that this latter class of women does not be- long to the FEMALE STUDENTS OF SCIENCB, but that they are merely hangers on of the refugees, and that matriculation in tueir cage Is merely used as a pretext for obtaining them per- mission to reside in the town. If the colony of olitical refugees were not here, neither would the be here. “It is, however, to the ways of this class only that the Russian ukase points; and in doing so it paints things in colors far too black. The principal fault of the misrepresentations made in the Russian ukase, issued in consequence of some private re- ort made to the imperial government, lies less in ts general exaggeration than in the two followin, points:—First, an accusation is brought forwar against female students that the study of mid- wilery must serve principally to qualify them for medical malpractices. It would be diMcuit to find any support whatever for this most insulting charge. Second, the ukase is expressed as if tie charges in it applied alike to all the female Rus- Bians studying here; and thereby GROSS INJUSTICE 18 DONR- toavery large number 0! them, and a stain, cal- culated to damage the reputation of many clever and estimable women, is wantonly thrown on them. How can the Russian government answer for marring honorable lives in this cruel and un- necessary manner? “And how does the University of Zurich stand towards the insinuations made in the ukase against her? Her position isa plain andavowable sition, She knows pupils only and merely dis- Pnguishes between those who are more or less diligent in their studies, As for the Russian female students, the great majority of them the most diligent, talented and eMicient upils of the institution. That among such a jarge number there are aiso some of mean talents and careless conduct is no wonder. To condemn the whole of them as unfit for study on account of some persons of loose lives is neither just nor proper, and we cannot accept any responsibility for the unladylike behavior Of female students in rivate life, Moreover, as regards their conduct in other respects, it is the business of the police to watch, not ours; but 1 am bound in truth.to de- clare that the behavior of Russian female students, whatever tt may have been, has never rendered the interference of the police necessary.. Lastly, with reference to their political opinions, neither tne university nor the perce have any control over them, It was not, therefore, in our wer to hinder what the Russian government james in the conduct of Rassian women studying here, even if it had been so bad and 80 notorious as it was alleged in the akase to have been. “The reception which the Russian ukase met at Zurich, especially in university circles, is. this: We see some of our students depart without re- ret; but we feel a sincere Boh for the large num- bor of honorable and estimable persons into whose plans and existence a rough hand has struck so in- considerately without any punishment having been justly incurred on their part. Moreover, we do not understand what the Russian Government wants. Does it desire to annibilate a political spirit disagreeable to it? The spirit goes along with the ersons and is not bound to any particular place, Those Russian female students who have dis- jeasing opinions at Zurich bave brought them fither trom Russia," They have not learned them here. Why, then, does the Russian Government call back Objectionable political women to thelr native country and leave objectionable political men free to remain here? For the capttal QUESTION OF FEMALE STUDIES this question has been rather favorabie. The Rns- fian blunder has nothing whatever to do with women students, but is merely a silly political demonstration of the Russian Government, which has made a mountain out of @ moienill, aud the the studies of females, at least iu this place, has been only thie—that people declare more generally and more freely than they have hitherto done that clever and thoughtful women should be adowed to pursue thetr useiui labors unmolested. “The Kussion government,” pursued the Prores- for with a gentle smile and jelong 1@ok, as if he were trying to see his way round & dificulty, “perceiving that they have been betrayed by some unwise reporter lnw an absurdity, protest that they have never called howe or intended to cail home the female studen's of Zarich, and this pro- test hasa sham air of trath about it; butin like manner it might be argued that no crise is for- bidden by the law. Persons are merely warned by the law that they commit crime at their own ris! and peril, under iiability to certain grievous pains, fines and puniauments, In like ‘manner the Kus- gan women Yow studying at Zurica aro not outcome of all the noise and nonsense, a8 regards | ALD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1873—QUADRUPLE SHEET. by the ukase, nor is studying at Zurich called for! them. They may continue their studies forbidden to Zurich, 0 @t Zurich, as THEY MAY COMMIT MURDER; and are simply iniormed that if they do so the: may expect such and such disadvantages and sha! never attain in Russia any of the legitimate objects of PROFESSIONAL, AMBITION, “The aspects of the question beiore us,’ resumed the Professor, with that quaint and not anpleasant exactitude of expressicn which is often observa- ble in distinguished foreign scholars who have tly uired their proficiency in the English language by help of dictionaries—“the ‘aspects of the question before us are various and important. Ido not hesitate to declare my conviction that the subject of female studies is the great actuality of the present time. It is what the French call in that language, which is above all others made up Of telicitous phrases, ‘Ak PALPITATING QUESTION.’ “The University of Zurich was for some time the only medical school in Europe which received female students upon equal terms with other students; but I think I may venture to con- ratulate myself upon having had some share in introducing @ more just and liberal feeling to- Wards women in some other universities which are now open to them. “Some time ago, as you are probably aware, the University and colleges of Edinburgh began to con- sider the method of admitting women to study medicive; and friend Handyside, tae eminent lecturer of that city, me a list of questions on the ‘subject, which may possibly interest the READERS OF THE NEW YORK HERALD. “These are the questions put to me by my worthy and excellent iriend Handyside :— “1. Do the female students of Zurich average greater ago or more advanced time of Life the male students of medicine? "2, Do the women dissect in the same apartmeat with the men? “3, Do the women dissect the male as well as the female body ? “4, Do the women attend the same lectures in the faculty of medicine and alt the anatounical lectures, on male as well as female structures, in the same manner as male students dot “6 Do tue women dissect as well or better than the men ? “6, Are they, on the whole, more attentive? “1, Have any difficulties arisen in consequence of the two sexes pursuing their studies together ? “8, Are the male students improved in their habits of application to study and diligence by their association with female students ? “9 Do women dissectors require as much or More superiutendence than men ° “10, Have you any separate hour or place of meeting for women students? “I answered these ten questions,” said Professor Moyer, “after consultation with my colleagues, in manner genoraily favorable to the women. friond Handysia a wrote ome with handsome Trapkness to say that be hau adopted my Views Oa the medical education of women. show you his letter and you may read it.’” Proiessor Meyer then took from a drawer of his study @ packet containing his correspondence with the jamous Scotch surgeon and placed it in my hands, Let me now say that it was most honorable to both ofthem. I could not read without emotion and @ higher opinion of mankind the letvers that these two illustrious surgeons had penned to each other with such cai pains, and which one of them preserved so rently. I felt a hearty ad- miration for the anxious and patient thought they had both given to a subject which concerns almost one-half of the human species, and which can on}; be Ghee with levity or contempt by fools an gots. evel,” resumed Professor Meyer, “my friend Handyside’’— (he never mentioned the great Scotch surgeon in any other manner, andi thought it a fine title to be called a good man's friend)—‘“my friend Handyside and his colleagues at the Ce vereey, of Edinburgh, naving decided to act upon the information I had suppiied, began oy ad- mitting six women as dissecting and lecture stu- dents for the session of 1871, and three more ladies immediately alterwards applied for admission to their classes, “The experience of my friend Handyside corrobo- rated and confirmed my own. On the yery first day of the session in which the Scotch doctors had agreed to admit female students to their Schools he set two women to dissect the female perineum, and tour others to dissect the extremi- of the same subject. They dissected in the same apartment with the male atudi d their influence Was at once apparent as favorable. My friend Handyside forthwith observed a more guiet and studious appearance among the young men, He found the womon superior in indystry and ap- plication to the men, and perceive that they ex- rted a humanizing influence over the idier young fellows by their good example. “Moredver, Dr, Watson, Surgeon to the Royal In- firmary of fessttad ll py and lecturer upon syste- Matic surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, together with my friend, who ts lecturer on anat- omy, anatomical demonstrations and prectical anatomy, each lectured with COMPLETE SUCCESS on their several branches of education to mixed classes of male and female students. They aliuded, as we do at the University of Zurich, in their or- dinary professional language to the healthy and morbid states of the various organs without exce; tion, and in the practical anatomyrooms the male and female perinwums were dissected by female students, ‘without,’ reported my friend Handy- side emphatically, ‘the very slightest discomfort, and, indeed, with 'NO DIFFERENCE WHATEVER from the manner in which our male students for- merly behaved.’ “The University of Edinburgh, acting through my friend Handyside, again dressed me certain questions alter the satis{actory issue of their first experiment, and these were the questions put to me:— “}, Have you admitted female students to your hospitals ? “2, If so, are they allowed to visit during the game hours with the male students? “3, Can you state what is the result of this ar- rangement to the male student? ‘4, Have any other projessors in the medical faa ulty of Zurich or Vienna or elsewhere admixet tale and female students to mixed classes ? “5, With what results ? “My answers to these five questions having been satisfactory, my friend Handyside informed me that ne felt greatly strengthened by them, and that his class had increased to eight female stu- dents. He then opened all his prizes equally to males and femaies as a just encouragement to the latser. He discovered, however, as I had done, that the female students, though MORE MINUTE DISSECTORS than the males, were wanting im despatch; in other words, they are too slow for prosectors, Two of the eight women in my friend’s class were mar- ried, and about forty years of age; the other six. were between the ages of twenty-two and thirty- five. The average age of the pupilsat Zurich much younger. I find the elder women more dili- gent, but the young learn quicker and more easily to themselves, “My friend Handyside was not allowed to proceed in his liberal course towards female students with- out that odd but resolute sort of opposition which always confronts a new truthor anew idea. He was opposed by the pupiis of MR. TURNER AND OF DR, CHRISTISON, of the University of Edinburgh; but Dr. Matthews Duncan and Dr. Heron Watson ardently supported the education of females in mixed classes. “The tees paid by women, at Edinburgh as at Zurich, are exactly the same fees as those Bae dD men, Dr. Matthews Duncan; Dr. Heron. Maxwell and my friend Handyside are satisfied that their lectures are better, being addressed to women of mature intellect and to young men more diligent and attentive than in former years. “Nevertheless thirty-six, being a majority of one, out of the seventy pupils of my friend Handysido signed a petition to the College of Surgeons against mixed classes; but the pretences set forth by them were frivolous, and the college decided that it could not interiere. However, the coliege came to a vote eight days aiterwards opposing the mixed classes by a large majority, “My friend Handyside determined to persovere, the decisionof the college notwithstanding, and ad- dressed me & third list of questi lere they are :— “1. Do the female students of Zurich dissect the whole subject ? 2, Have any male students left the dissecting rooms 0: Zurich on account of the femaies dissect- ing publicly * “3, Have the male students ) ha an, tion against the females to the heads o! the sity or to the Minister of Public Instruction? “4. Are the prizes in anatomy common to the male and female students, or are separate competi- tive examinations held and separate prizes set apart for the females? “I answered all the points submitted tome by my friend Handyside in such a manuer, as, he assured me in his next letter, enabied him to meet his op- ponents without flinching, though they had grown into @ formidable body, Among them were the Directors of the Hospital in Edinburgh, who refused to admit fem to the advantages of the institu- tion. The representative of Edinburgh the General Medical Council, which meets in London, was also very violent in his opposition to the prin- ciple of iemales being admitted into. nospitals and mixed classes. “Among the female students of my friend Handy~ Bide wasa lady who afterwards studied under me. Her name 1s Miss Bickford, a native of the United States. My friend reported thus of her:—‘A better student than this American lady, Miss Bicklord, I, never had. She is more scientific than any of the other nine female students I have had, and she seems disposed to follow up the profession of anatomy for life.’ My own experience of Miss Bickford’s diligence and abilitiea fully confirmed tnis high testimoni Indeed, when my friend Handyside was toile for @ time, by the obstinacy of the College of Su ons he advised ali his female stadents to study at Zurich, and that fact alone would be a sudicieat answer to some of the gravest chargos ef the Kus. #ian ukase, and to ail of them whieh are worthy of serious refutation, For my friend. Handyslde re- on to ine generally of the female students who ad ‘studied under him + never had such do-. voted and successful students, and had my cr. leagues of the Uollege of Surgeena not refured them permission to study with me L would gladly have had them with me now. In fact, | experience a blank in the absence of such good students,’ “Students recommended by such certificates as this were an honor, no @ disgrace, to any Univer. sity, and it is dificait te characterize the oficial document whicu bay insulted them. “ ‘Hut,’ wrote my friend Handyside inyone of his latest letters, ‘lv ia ridiculous, ty our profession, eti- niver- to endeavor to stem the tide, Women are doubt- | less admirably fitted to oxcel In aagtomy, surgery, midwifery, and every de; lent of the medical profession.’ is perhaps for that reason so many obstacles are thrown in their way by jealousy or ignorance. ‘I hoped,’ added my friend, ‘to have naa the honor of carrying my female students through their studies ‘and seein; their ultimate success, Their example has proved Of the utmost value to the young men, in making them more earnest in study, less idie and trifing, and more regular in their attendance on lectures. The more I see of female students the more do I believe that well behaved, intelligent women are highly fitted to adorn the medical profession; and I trust the time may s00n come when all our medical brethren may become convinced o1 this,’ (Alas! my philosophic Handyside, tnat time is very lar of, and the bistory of every numaa error w dreadfully long.) “My own personal opinion, which can only be taken for what it is worth,’ resumed Professor Meyer, Heoneeay, “43 that women generally will not succeed in the learned professions; but that is no reason why they should not have every fair chance of doing #0. LET THEM TRY IT is all I would desire to say on the subject. Let them try it, by all means. For the universities and schools of medicine or science their admission is merely a question of discipline, No mau can answer that question who not had to deal with it practically, We hada great many women ras at eae! and we have had no reason to Ind fault with iemale students, either in the dis- secting room or in mixed classes. They cut up a body more decently taan men. Prolessor Spaath, who was rector of the University of enna, seems to me to bes when he bases it whether femal learned profession: not, but tnat has into @ common error, and has clo! it tn etrik- ing language ; but it is an error, nevertheless, “There 18 & point to whioh my attention has often been directed in @ somewhat ludicrous manner, and that is the insuMciency of the preliminary education general among female students. They have seldom any solid foundation mn which to build the weighty superstructure of the higher sciences, They can rarely understand the terms commonly in use, and which are mostly derived from the Latin or the Greek, sometimes from the Arabic, lor the Moors of Granada were among our teachers in chemistry, You may urge that men also not unfrequently experience some diMculty when deep _ scholarship is required of them; but the average standard of education among men is jar higher than that among women. What the female students want, 8 a rule, is previous preparation to enable them to understand technical terms. Therefore, in the interests of the question of female education, some Testriction shuuld be enforced upon iemale stu- dents, and they should be peremp! required to pass a creditable examination for matriculation at @ Unlversity, ‘hey should know something of | Latin, something of Greek, something of matye matics 4% far trigonometry and stereometry. They should, moreover’, thoroughly understand the language of the university at which they study, The female students who came to Zurich did not always comprehend German, and stady, phexerore, in that language was impossible to them, Ne doubt that they mixed themselves 4 Typ @ silly sect of people who call themselves nihilists. Some of them lived here, because living is cheap at Zurich for persons who reside in private lodging: and most of these nihilists were more or less ou! elbows. Had we passed a law making matricu- lation examinations indispensable for admission to our university, we should never have had the influx of light-headed creatures who made them- selves ridiculous here. Their litical machina- tions were beneath attention. They consisted in drinking republican héalths in beer. It is satd that they fetched and carried tor the nihilists, and that they went backward and forward to Russia two or three times a year with letters and parcels and distributed seditious writings. What on earth were they to fetch or carry deserving notice? They nad a Reining: press—two printing pipers, I think—but they had not a man of average Intelligence among them. The leaders of free thought in Russia were not here; the rebel cap- tains who led the Poliab revolt were not here; and all that the Russian government did with so much noise and unreason Was to explode a nest of rack- ety girls who made themselves conspicuous by dress- ing too badly and talking too loudly, Was their conduct morally infamous ? is a question which no one can answer. hey lived with the young men oO! the emigration, HOUSES WITH TOO FEW ROOMS, but nobody held a light to see what they did, My impression is that thelr conduct was unladylike, not indecent. Tho best female students I have known at Zurich were Miss Frances Elizabeth Morgan, who is now employed in an infirmary tor women and children; Mra, Louisa Atkins, who is employed at Birmingham in the same ca) ity; Miss Eliza Walker, who Is fulfilling similar functions at Brighton, and Misa Susannah Dimock, of Boston. All these four ladies have taken highly creditable degrees as Doctors of Medicine at our University. The course of study. Decessary for a degree at the University of Zurich about five years. Our female students, however, generally vanish in the first year. Agreat many Of them have vanished. Tne first Russian girl who came here was Susiowa Nadischda, of St. Peters- burg. She married a Dr. Erisman, 8 nihilist and a person of some note. She wasa clever woman, and took her degree as Doctor of Medicine. With her came a ~person who called herself Princess. She vanished into space, Then came Maria Bokova, a Russian lady, who likewise took a degree as Doctor of Medi- cine. Miss Walker, Miss Dimock and Miss Fechtiin, however, were the real pioneers of the advance ee ‘tne most diligent student now at Zurich is iss Farmer, & Swiss lady, but no female student at present here has resided at the University long enough to take a degree, “It was a to from St, Petersburg who bronghe that wonderful Russian ukage down upon us, or whose naine, at least, has been frequently men- tioned, semi-oMicially, a8 a colorable pretext for it. She was caught crossing the Russian frontier with some radical nonsense in her carpet-bag. had not been printed at Zurich, and was possibly a Belgian production. Our press here is free enough, in all conscience, but it does not seem to have been up to the mark for this lady. I am‘in- chned to think that the story about her ts an in- vention, When the Russian government had allowed themselves to be deeeived by an unwise Teport they were obliged to say something, and they said that. “The behavior even of the frisky sisterhood was absolutely blameless in the lecture room. When treating certain questions in anatomy, and while they were making examinations at the same table as the male students, there were no tricks among them, no laughter, no teasing, such as often goes on herchaye ea students, 2 male and femaio students behaved like people who have met in railway train, while on a journey. They were civil end Natl Se in their intercourse with each other, but not intimate.” One of the children of Professor Meyer, a bright- eyed littie thing of eight years old, put her head, ali curls and smiles, into the room, just iresh from her lessons, and though the courteous gentleman never turned his head, yet I saw the er’s look of welcome steal into his eyes unbidden, and I was reminded that [ had already trespassed too long upon 60 much goodness and learning. ART MATTERS, Mr. Julio’s Pictures. The Southern Club of New York has rooms at No. 37 Bond street. They were recently thrown open to the public, inorder to allow it to inspect @.number of oil paintings by Mr. Julio, an artist, who comes hither irom New Orleans, and who, we believe, intends in future to make this city his home. One or two of the paintings are very large end ambitious. The one which, from its size and importance, receives most general attention, rep- resents “The Last Meeting of Generals Lee and Jackson,” the hour indicated being the eve of Chancellorsville. AS ® clever piece of por- | the case upon @ false issue upon an inquiry as to rospel atudents will r in the traiture, having historical relations, the paintin; is not: without interest, though we shall not be misunderstood when we add that in the Southern States, where we learn that it has been exhibited and greatly praised, it was liable to be more highly appre- ciated than here. It was originally intended as @ gift to General Lee; but its present destination is the Lee Memorial chapel, at a point immediately above the General's grav There are nine other paintings by the same art- ist, who displays some talent as a genre painter, and considerable skill in indiesting the character- istics of Louisiana scenery. His “Picayune Times,” “Louisiana Stock Tender,”” “Bayou Plaquemine,”’ ‘Forest Primeval,” ‘Forlorn Hope’ and “Ave Maria” evince the possession by Mr. Julio of @ very genial and pleasant range of humor and serious sentiment, and a respectable mastery , of some of the more important technical details of his profession. “THE BEST SOCIETY.” The Rev. Washington Gladden will leoture this evening on ‘The Best Society” in the chapel of the Chureh of the Strangers, for the benefit of the Free Dormitory for Women. This institution was established about three months ago by a soctety calling themselves “The Fraternals,” during which time it has given shelter to hundreds of women “who would otherwise be compelled to walk the ‘eets or sleep in police stations with from fifty to @ hundred other women who may be reeking with the ‘umes of drink with which they have become sodurated. The Dormitory is the only piace in the caty where a truly respectable woman, without means, can find temporary shelter, Besides @ “pight's lodging, each woman ts allowed to take a bath, and free medical attendance in case of sudden proceeds of the above lecture will go towards the support of the charity, Tbe admia~ sion fee is only twenty-five cents. Coroner Whitehill yesterday held an inquest in the case ot Adam Meyer, @ native of Germany, & tallor by occupation, at bis late residence, No, 149 Stagg street, Willlamaburg, who died without med- ical attendance, It appeared from the evidence that Meyer was a man of dissipated habits, and that he committed suicide by taking Paris green. Tie leaves a widow and three amali Guildre in doa titute clroumstanccs,