“I am glad to understand that you have bought, not the first bit of
ground, but another near it. I hope Carry will soon send me some idea
of her plans, though, of course, we can’t build for some months. I
enclose a very rough sketch of what would be my own idea of a
schoolroom with gallery at one end and with classroom at the other,—
and besides the class room a sort of lobby with second entrance and
with stairs leading to the rooms above for Anne. The porch to have
places to hang hats, etc., as also under the gallery (as at Hastings).
I can’t remember about dimensions, though I have a sort of idea that,
when we spoke of building before, we planned our schoolroom at 18 ft.
by 28, and 10 ft. or 11 ft. high, the class room to be perhaps 11 ft.
by 8.
Ask Carry to see how that agrees with the standard space for 100
children.”
The school was actually built in 1869, everything being done in a
fashion characteristic of the Jex-Blake family. They gave what was
needed, but not in such a spirit as to discourage the generosity of
others. The landlord gave the site—for a purely nominal rent,—together
with permission to take what stone was needed from a neighbouring
quarry. Farmers and others did the carting for love. For years the Jex-
Blakes had been educating a competent girl—a former pupil—as mistress.
Local sympathy and appreciation, combined with the persevering interest
of the founders, were the very life-blood of the school. How much finer
this than the building of an ornamental edifice that should hand down
the name of the donor to future generations.
* * * * *
In March 1868 S. J.-B. gave up Boston in despair for the moment, and
went to New York, where she had the support of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell
and her sister Emily, both of whom had plans for the more adequate
medical education of women, and were organizing special classes. S. J.-
B. also persuaded the Head Demonstrator of Anatomy at Bellevue to give
her and another woman student a course of private lessons in Dissecting
and Practical Anatomy.
“March 28th. Saturday. Began dissecting with Dr. Moseley ... oh, dear,
isn’t it good to have some real teaching at last!
By-the-bye, the Blackwells think they could get us into Bellevue if
Harvard refuses. New York for 3 winters? Shall I bring Alice or what?
They want English ladies to come and make a class, and offer to
receive them into the Infirmary. (But English ladies are not given to
dine in kitchens on poor kitchen fare, etc.)
Is my old idea ever to work out by O. H. studying medicine? _Wouldn’t_
she be a good doctor!
By-the-bye, challenged by the Blackwells as ‘to whose management (in
re English Female University) would inspire me with £1000 confidence,’
I say, O. H., Miss M., etc.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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