3. That, so to speak, was her “job”; but she never grew one-sided; never forgot the man’s point of view. No woman ever took a saner and wider view of human affairs.

4. In spite of the heavy strain thrown by conflicting outlook and ideals on the relation between parents and child, the reader will see in the following pages how that relationship was preserved. This is perhaps the most remarkable thing in the whole history, and it is full of significance and helpful suggestion for us all in these critical days.

5. And lastly, it proved impossible to write the life in any other way. When S. J.-B. was a young woman, Samuel Laurence was asked by her parents to make a crayon drawing of her. After some hours’ work, he threw down his pencil. “I must get you in oils or not at all,” he said.

Those words have often been in the mind of the author of this book.

CONTENTS

[PART I]
CHAPTER I
PAGE
Childhood[1]
Birth, parentage and descent—Early influences—“Sweet Sackermena.”
CHAPTER II
School Life[11]
A “terrible pickle”—Home letters—Holidays—“Poems”—A confession.
CHAPTER III
School Life—Continued[24]
Indifferent health—Various educational experiments—S. J.-B.’s character as seen by her schoolfellows.
CHAPTER IV
School Life—Concluded[35]
Leaves school abruptly—Fresh start—Illness of her mother and sister—Letter from her father—Confirmation.
CHAPTER V
Life at Home[50]
Friendship with her mother—Dreams of authorship—Self-centred life—Makes acquaintance of Norfolk cousins.
CHAPTER VI
Life at Queen’s College[62]
Comes into touch with Feminist movement—Goes to Queen’s College—Friction—Hunt for lodgings—Is appointed mathematical tutor—Correspondence with her father as to accepting payment for her work—Certificate won “with great credit.”
CHAPTER VII
Friendship[78]
All-round development—Capacity for friendship and service—Friendship with Miss Octavia Hill.
CHAPTER VIII
A Step Beyond[95]
Confidence in her mother—Fresh dedication of her life.
CHAPTER IX
First Experience of Edinburgh[103]
The problem of realizing the vision—Goes to study educational methods in Edinburgh—Chequered experiences—Church-going and religious difficulties—Consults Rev. Dr. Pulsford—Letters from her mother—An “increasing purpose.”
CHAPTER X
Germany[117]
Miss Garrett’s efforts to obtain medical education—Comes to prospect in Edinburgh—She and S. J.-B. go canvassing together—Disappointment—S. J.-B.’s desire to study educational methods farther afield—Germany—Göttingen—Mannheim—Appointed English teacher at Grand-ducal Institute.
CHAPTER XI
Life as a Teacher at Mannheim[129]
Letters to her mother—Success of her work—Transient wave of unpopularity—Letter to her mother on Biblical criticism.
CHAPTER XII
Various Projects and Ventures[147]
Return home delayed by scarlet fever—Death of a college friend—Mr. Plumptre recommends S. J.-B. as founder and Lady Principal of modern Girls’ School at Manchester.
CHAPTER XIII
A Visit to some American Schools and Colleges[159]
Opposition of parents—Goes to Boston—Makes acquaintance of Dr. Lucy Sewall—R. W. Emerson—Dinner at the Emersons—Visits Niagara—Inspects various colleges (Oberlin, Hillsdale, St. Louis, Antioch) and schools—Correspondence with her brother—Views on American education.
CHAPTER XIV
Questionings[172]
Gets to know women doctors in Boston—Assists with dispensing in New England Hospital for Women—Gradual initiation into hospital work—Heart-searchings as to her own future—Law?—The Ministry?—Religious difficulties—Medicine?
CHAPTER XV
Pioneer Work in America[188]
Writes “A Visit”—Published by Macmillan—Good reviews—Begins study of medicine—Application to Harvard—Letters from Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes and Dr. Brown-Séquard—Obtains clinical teaching in Massachusetts General Hospital—Goes to New York—Obtains private teaching in anatomy—Summing up of three years in America.
CHAPTER XVI
Going Home[202]
Visit of Dr. Sewall to England—Rapprochement between S. J.-B. and her father—Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Emily Blackwell found Medical College for Women in New York—S. J.-B. starts house-keeping and medical study there—Illness of her father—Return to England.
[PART II]
CHAPTER I
Drifting[213]
Life at Brighton—Perplexities as to future education.
CHAPTER II
At the Gates of the Citadel[218]
Correspondence with Mrs. Butler, Professor Sidgwick and others as to possibility of University training—Goes to Edinburgh—Canvasses professors.
CHAPTER III
Success?[232]
Support of Scotsman—Formal application to Dean of Medical Faculty—Consent (a) of Medical Faculty, (b) of Senatus, to receive S. J.-B. as a student.
CHAPTER IV
A Check[242]
S. J.-B.’s run of popularity—Difficulties of situation—Decision of Senatus vetoed by University Court.
CHAPTER V
Opening of Edinburgh University to Women[253]
S. J.-B. reinforced by Mrs. Thorne and Miss Pechey—Dr. King Chambers tries—and fails—to get women admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital—Edinburgh University Court agrees to admit women to separate classes.
CHAPTER VI
The Hope Scholarship[262]
More lady students—Cives Academiae Edinensis—Difficulty of getting teachers—Miss Pechey deprived of Hope Scholarship—Newspaper support and opposition—Differences among professors.
CHAPTER VII
Practical Difficulties[276]
Science classes—Efforts to get anatomical teaching—Correspondence in the Lancet.
CHAPTER VIII
The Riot at Surgeons’ Hall[285]
Women begin study of anatomy—Apply for admission to Royal Infirmary—Opposition and support—The riot—Defence of women students by “Irish Brigade” and other friendly students—Great newspaper controversy—Annual Meeting of Royal Infirmary—Crowded audience—Removal to St. Giles’ Church—S. J.-B. speaks—The first woman since Jenny Geddes to speak in that place—Professor Christison’s protest and S. J.-B.’s retort—Hubbub—“Fighting with beasts at Ephesus”—Formation of “National Association.”
CHAPTER IX
The Action for Libel[306]
Dr. Christison’s assistant brings action for libel against S. J.-B.—Her brother’s support—She speaks at suffrage meeting in London—Makes acquaintance of Rt. Hon. James Stansfeld—The action for libel—Damages one farthing, but heavy costs—Criticisms of the verdict.
CHAPTER X
Some Friendships and Holidays[320]
£1000 raised by public subscription to defray costs of action—S. J.-B. takes holiday in Paris—Commune—Visit of Dr. Lucy Sewall to England.
CHAPTER XI
The Question of Professional Examination[330]
Continued practical difficulty in getting teaching and as to professional examination—Counsel’s opinion taken by both sides—Friendly professors and others—Women refused entrance to first professional examination, but in response to lawyer’s letter are admitted and pass—Move and countermove.
CHAPTER XII
The Royal Infirmary[340]
Marriage of several of the lady students—Continuance of struggle in Edinburgh together with enquiries as to chances elsewhere—Sympathy of Professor Sidgwick and Mr. James Stuart—Rev. Dr. Guthrie—Infirmary Annual Meeting again—Success of the Women’s party—“Ring out the old!”—Question of legality of votes of firms—Litigation—Success—S. J.-B. a public character.
CHAPTER XIII
The Action against the Senatus[352]
Impasse—Friends and well-wishers advise appeal to Court of Law—University Court suggests that lady matriculated students should give up right to graduation and be content with certificates of proficiency—S. J.-B. and others bring Action of Declarator against Senatus to define position—Much searching of archives for evidence—Senatus decides to defend action, but six professors dissent.
CHAPTER XIV
The Lord Ordinary’s Judgment[362]
S. J.-B. lectures in London on the whole situation—Lord Shaftesbury in chair—Difference with Mrs. Butler—S. J.-B. publishes Medical Women—Lord Ordinary decides substantially in favour of women students—Widespread congratulations.
CHAPTER XV
Paying the Price[377]
Many claims, medical, legal, journalistic, etc., on S. J.-B.—Gift of £1000 from Mr. Walter Thomson—S. J.-B. is rejected in first professional examination—Newspaper interest and enquiries—Sympathy.
CHAPTER XVI
End of the Battle in Edinburgh[388]
Interest of Rt. Hon. James Stansfeld—Introduces S. J.-B. to some of his colleagues in the Cabinet—S. J.-B. works hard and successfully for first election of women on Edinburgh School Board—University appeals against Lord Ordinary’s decision—Persevering efforts of all the women students to get on with their education somehow and somewhere—St. Andrews—Durham—Ireland—Edinburgh Court of Session (thirteen judges) decides by narrow majority in favour of University—The judgment of the Lord Justice Clerk.
CHAPTER XVII
The Question in Parliament[398]
Increasing public and newspaper interest and criticism—Mrs. Anderson writes to Times, strongly advising women to study abroad and practise without registration—S. J.-B. replies—University censured in press—Apologia of Principal and S. J.-B.’s reply—Sir David Wedderburn’s notice of Bill to reduce vote to Scottish Universities by amount of salaries of Edinburgh professors withdrawn on hearing of Lord Ordinary’s judgment—S. J.-B. again interviews Home Secretary and members of Cabinet—Things looking well when Gladstone dissolves Parliament and appeals to country!—S. J.-B. interviews Mr. Russell Gurney and others—At Mr. Cowper Temple’s request she and her solicitor draft “A Bill to remove doubts as to the power of Scottish Universities”—She is summoned to London to discuss matter—Bill introduced and sixty-five petitions at once presented in its favour—Fails to get through—In debate on motion the two members for Edinburgh (Town and Gown) join issue.
CHAPTER XVIII
The London School of Medicine for Women[415]
Discussion in Parliament calls all latent opposition into play—S. J.-B.’s failure to pass examination used as weapon against the women—She questions justice of rejection—A great mistake—Reproaches—By advice of Dr. Anstie and Mr. Norton she founds the London School of Medicine for Women—Miss Irby’s visit to it.
CHAPTER XIX
The Russell Gurney Enabling Act[423]
Difference between S. J.-B. and Mrs. Anderson, who nevertheless joins Council of School—Mr. Cowper Temple brings forward his Bill again, and, after defeat, brings forward a “Foreign Degrees Bill,” which is also defeated—Lord Sandon on behalf of Government admits importance of question—Mr. Simon suggests that women should qualify by means of examination in Midwifery only, as was then possible—This agreed to after legal enquiries, and the women students send in their names, but examiners resign—S. J.-B.’s longing to break away and do rough hospital work in Bosnia—Deputation to President of Privy Council—“Foreign Degrees Bill” again defeated, but Government intimate to Mr. Russell Gurney that he should bring in an “Enabling Bill”—Though late in session this passes and becomes law—Miss Pechey and Miss Shove induce Irish College to avail itself of ability conferred by new Act—The Woman Hater.
CHAPTER XX
At Last[436]
S. J.-B. and Miss Pechey study and graduate at Berne, and obtain Licence of Irish College.
CHAPTER XXI
The Royal Free Hospital[441]
Hospital training still refused to the women coming on—Mr. Stansfeld introduces S. J.-B. to Chairman of Royal Free Hospital, whom he has already interested in the matter—R.F.H. opened to women—Opening of London University to women—In organisation of London School for Women, S. J.-B. is set aside—Mrs. Thorne becomes Hon. Secretary—persona grata—Retrospect.
[PART III]
CHAPTER I
Early Days in Practice[455]
Special difficulties of women doctors in general and of S. J.-B. in particular—Opens Dispensary—Assistance of distinguished Edinburgh doctors—Early success—Letters to colleagues and friends—Views on Suffrage and on life in general.
CHAPTER II
Last Illness of Mrs. Jex-Blake[470]
S. J.-B. called south for last time—Unavailing efforts—Death of Mrs. Jex-Blake.
CHAPTER III
Patients and Friends[476]
S. J.-B. removes to Bruntsfield Lodge—Letters to old friends—Interest in education of girls—Views on problems and mysteries of life—Paying and non-paying guests—Beginnings of Edinburgh Hospital for Women and Children—Her love of poetry—Her books.
CHAPTER IV
Public Life[490]
Interest in all public questions relating to women—Too masterful and uncompromising in working with others—Publishes The Care of Infants—Her coöperation much in demand in parliamentary business—Assists Edinburgh lecturers in their efforts to obtain charter—Efforts fail, but examinations of Conjoint Colleges thrown open to women—Re-publication of Medical Women—The Englishwoman’s Year Book—Health Lecture to Women—Founding of Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women—Its difficulties—Opposition.
CHAPTER V
Re-opening of Edinburgh University to Women[502]
S. J.-B. writes article for Nineteenth Century—Views on marriage, etc.—Her Hindu students—Appointed a lecturer on Midwifery in the Extra-Mural School—Death of Dr. Lucy Sewall—S. J.-B.’s renewed efforts to gain admission for women to St. Andrews—Final appeal to her own Alma Mater “to decide a question which has been under consideration for twenty-five years”—Success—Congratulations from members of “National Association”—S. J.-B.’s characteristics as doctor and as citizen.
CHAPTER VI
Driving Tours. Animal Friends[513]
CHAPTER VII
The Sabbatical Year[523]
Search for a suitable house—Send-off from friends in Edinburgh—Windydene—Life in retirement—Fruit-growing—Dairy—Friends—Books—Winters abroad—Interest in public affairs—Distrust of Germany—Suffrage—Death of Professor Masson—S. J.-B.’s religious attitude—Health—Last illness.
APPENDICES
A.Pedigree of the Jex-Blake family. Origin of compound surname[543]
B.“Words for the Way.”—No. 2. Rest[544]
C.Conclusions from “A Visit to American Schools and Colleges”[548]
D.The Edinburgh Extra-Mural School[551]
E.Letter to the Times in reply to Mrs. Garrett Anderson[552]
F.Letter to the Times in reply to the Principal of Edinburgh University[555]
G.Permanent Memorials of S. J.-B.[563]
Index[565]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Sophia Jex-Blake[Frontispiece]
From a painting by Samuel Laurence
Thomas Jex-BlakeTo face p. [70]
From a drawing in chalks by Henry T. Wells, R.A.
Maria Emily Jex-Blake”[384]
From a drawing in chalks by Henry T. Wells, R.A.
Sophia Jex-Blake”[484]

PART I

Our great interest in biography is due to the desire to see that the “child is father to the man”; in other words, to see how, from boyhood to manhood and from manhood to old age, through all change of circumstances and all widening of intellectual and practical interests, we can detect the same unique, individual nature, and link each new expression of it in speech and action with that which preceded it.