Sir Ludovic Grant in summing up Dorothea Beale’s claim to a national recognition gave an excellent epitome of her work:—
“No feature of the national progress during the last fifty years is more remarkable than the revolution which has transformed our girls’ schools from occidental zenanas into centres of healthy activity. In the great crusade which has been crowned with this most desirable consummation the foremost champion was the cultured and intrepid lady who guides the destinies of the Ladies’ College, Cheltenham. It was largely due to Miss Beale’s indomitable advocacy on platform and on paper, that the barriers of parental prejudice were broken down, that the ancient idols, venerated by a former generation—Mangnall, Pinnock, and Lindley Murray—were shattered, and that barren catechism and lifeless epitome were compelled to give place to fructifying studies, and the futile promenade to invigorating recreations. I need not remind you that Miss Beale’s apostolic ardour is equalled by her administrative abilities. When she went to Cheltenham her pupils were counted by tens: to-day they are to be counted by hundreds, and the institution in respect of organisation and educational efficiency will bear comparison with the best of the great English public schools. Among the collateral benefits resulting from the great movement for the higher education of women, in which Miss Beale has played so conspicuous a part, not the least important is the power which the Scotch Universities have obtained of conferring their honorary degrees upon women, and therefore it is with no ordinary satisfaction that the University of Edinburgh now exercises this power by begging Miss Beale’s acceptance of an honour which has been brought within the reach of her sex largely through her own endeavours.”
She wrote to the Vice-Principal a delightful account of the ceremony, which she seems to have thoroughly enjoyed.
“I am persuaded,” said she, “that my robes were far superior to any other.” From Edinburgh she went to Glasgow where she found herself in the midst of “Old Girls”.
“We are often in spirit in Cheltenham,” wrote she, “and I must send you a few last words to wish you all very happy holidays.... On Monday a large number of distinguished people were invited to meet us, and yesterday afternoon we had a party of about thirty Cheltonians. In the evening we dined with Professor and Mrs. George Adam Smith. I sat next to Professor Jones, who has written a book on Browning, and on the other side was the Rector, Dr. Story.... I think we shall come back refreshed and with some new ideas.”
She went from Glasgow to stay with other old pupils in Scotland, then to Newcastle, where she was asked to launch a ship. She evidently thought this would be a very damp proceeding and arrived in india-rubber shoes and a dress thoroughly looped up. “Much as she disliked adventure,” says Mrs. Raikes, “she was prepared to march into the Tyne if the glory of the Ladies’ College demanded it.”
This three weeks’ tour she thoroughly enjoyed, and came back refreshed and strengthened and warmed in heart by the love and kindness of her “Old Girls” and the appreciation shown her everywhere.
In the autumn of 1902 she was compelled to give up work for a time. Her sight was causing anxiety and she was not allowed either to read or to write. Miss Berridge went with her to Bath and wrote of their life together:—
“We brought with us Adam Smith’s work on the “Minor Prophets” and also Jane Austen’s “Persuasion”. At first we stuck to the “Prophets,” but at last Jane got a hearing and since then she has utterly ousted the “Prophets”. It has been rather amusing to note how many excellent reasons there were for giving Jane the preference. Miss Beale was—tired—or sleepy—or not very well and could not attend to anything that required thought, or it was near lunch—or tea—or supper-time and therefore it was not worth while, etc., etc., and I think she has really liked the story very much.... Miss Beale is very much better, though of course far from being her former energetic self. But we have still more than a fortnight before us and if she makes as much progress in that time as she has done in the fortnight just gone, we may be very well satisfied.”
She recovered wonderfully and was back at her work at the end of term. But from this time she seems to have realised the need for greater care of her health and the next summer she took a “Kur” at Oeynhausen.