When the forts of folly fall,
Find thy body by the wall!’
All the weakness of the position was known to her. And she showed not only courage and daring, but patience and humility still harder to practise. On one occasion, after a specially difficult Latin paper, which had proved too much for many examinees, she wrote to another head-mistress whose disappointment was as keen as her own:—
‘The more I reflect, the more I think any protest unadvisable. No doubt some have passed (even in Class I.) in former years, who were worse in Latin than one at least who has failed this time. But then there are many things that may be urged. Perhaps the good have not done themselves justice, and the bad more than justice. Besides, I cannot myself, even in looking over one set of papers, unless I correct all at a sitting, mark them fairly even to my own mind; how much more difficult it must be when the examiners change, and the papers come in after a year’s interval. We, by submitting ourselves to examination, pledge ourselves in some sort to be content. It will never do, in my opinion, to impugn the justice of a University, and I really think they will do justice. Any expression of discontent would tend to throw back the granting of degrees. I believe the unification is more likely to take place soon, if we are patient. Remember, too, the decision has not been that of one individual examiner, but has been in some sort confirmed by the Senate.
‘My impression is that the papers will be very carefully set next year, and that we must bear our disappointment this year as well as we can. I am very sorry you feel it so much. Your candidates have done so well in other subjects, that if they should try again next year, you might be certain of a large measure of success, and then a protest, or any remarks from us would tell so much more. I certainly do not mean to send in a large number, but I am pledged to a few, and to those who failed, if they like to go in again.’
This conclusion showed special insight, willingness to bear, and readiness to learn; for the Latin paper was a far more real test of knowledge than any of the others. To have complained of it might have been to acknowledge inferiority which did not seek improvement. And looking back, it may be seen that the failures and mistakes were not of much moment. The real importance and the real triumph lay with the aim and effort. Miss Beale early foresaw what has been literally fulfilled.
‘It is clear,’ she said, ‘that it will before long be impossible in England, as it is now on the Continent, for any one to obtain employment as a teacher without some such attestation,’ i.e. as a certificate. If she could help it, Miss Beale would not let girls who were intending to teach, pass from her without one; she persuaded the pupil, she reasoned with the parent, she frequently mastered both; she silently bore contradiction and misconception. She refused to be thwarted by any obstacle, much as she might wish to change it—such as the time of year at which it was held, the difficulty of sending candidates to London, or by any hesitation on her own part. She might write to a newspaper, ‘it is to some extent an open question what education is most suitable for girls,’ but she inspired her class to prepare for ‘the London’ with zealous drudgery and in the power of self-denial, as the best they could do to fit themselves for work.
Yet the College list of successes was from the first good. In 1869, the first year of examination, eight in all England went in for the matriculation examination, and six failed. The only candidate from Cheltenham passed. This was Miss Susan Wood. In the next year, of the three who passed from Cheltenham one was the famous Greek scholar, Miss Jane Harrison, another bore the name—so dear to its generation—of Marian Belcher.
There was plenty of criticism. There were many to repeat the old complaint that women were being unfitted for their proper duties. It was Miss Beale’s delight to show that those who did well in examinations could also excel in domestic duties. She would tell how one successful candidate of the London examination proved first a helpful sister, then a devoted wife and mother. She would show with pride a letter she received from one of whose ability and success she had great reason to be proud, signed ‘Yours in flour and dripping.’
It may be mentioned here that there is a home distinction connected with the Ladies’ College, Cheltenham. In 1868 it was resolved at an annual general meeting that pupils who reached a certain specified standard in the College examinations, and whose general conduct was approved, should be entitled to receive certificates. The first certificates under this resolution were awarded in 1869 to four pupils. In 1875 it was resolved at a Council meeting that those who obtained the College certificate should be entitled Associates of the Ladies’ College, Cheltenham. These associates are, with the consent of the Lady Principal, allowed to attend any ordinary classes of the College without the payment of fees.