“Although woman’s education is being pushed forward with considerable force, for many years to come the girls will still be a small minority in comparison with the number of boys.  Besides, in two or three cases where Indian girls have had the privilege of studying with the boys, they have told me that, in spite of immensely enjoying the competitive spirit and broadminded behavior of the boys, they always felt a certain strain and strangeness in their company.  One student attended a history class for full two years and yet she never got acquainted with one single boy in her class.  There is no social intercourse between the two parties.  If each side does not stand on its own dignity in constant fear of overstepping the bounds of etiquette and courtesy, their reputation is bound to be marred.”

The arguments for the other side are presented as well.  The American reader may be interested to see that the Indian college girl does not consider Western ways perfect, but is quite ready to criticize the manners and morals of her American cousin.

“Co-education cannot burst upon India like lightning.  It has to grow gradually in society; and until there is a perfect understanding and sympathy between the sexes, this system will not work.

“Again, co-education should not begin from college.  The girls come in from high schools where they are locked up and have no contact with the outside world; and if they come into such colleges when many of them are immature, there will be not only a complete failure of the system, but the result will be fatal in many cases.  So the system should be introduced from the primary department and worked up through the high schools and colleges.

“First, there is the question of chivalry, which is a problem that Indian men should solve for themselves.  But how are they to solve it?  If they study with women, chivalry would become natural to them.

“On the other hand, a woman has to learn how to receive a man’s attention—­how far to go in her behavior.  The question now is, where can she learn this?  Isn’t it by mixing and mingling in a place where she feels that she is not inferior to man?  It is in an educational institution that this equality is most keenly felt.

“Closely allied with chivalry is the question of modesty.  It is commonly said that Indian women have a poise, quietness, and reserve different to that in Western women.

“Boldness in women is another fact connected with the above.  Indian men and women should not try to follow Western manners.  They have hereditary manners which should not be deserted.  Indian women can keep their modesty and reserve even while mixing with men.  If co-education is made a slow development this difficulty will not appear.

“Secondly, this system will give more facilities to woman for various kinds of occupation.  She will then realize that her education is not confined to her home merely, but that she has a right to contribute to humanity just as big a share as any man.  With this realization there will come efforts on her part to better the condition of her country by doing her little share.  How much a woman can do who has a firm conviction that she is not inferior to any one in this life, but that she is a contributor to her country, whichsoever vocation she follows in life, in that she can do her share!