Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/582

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Women as Philanthropists
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and it is for these girls and to teach the girls of the people scientific culture and domestic arts that Mme. Grouitch and certain noble women of Belgrade determined to found a boarding school in the city of Belgrade. The wives of the representatives of the Servian Government at the various courts of Europe are helping Mme. Grouitch to raise the money for this work. Mme. Grouitch's niece was educated in Belgrade and went from that University to England and took high rank in mathematics, met the senior wrangler at Oxford and vanquished him. Mme. Grouitch is particularly anxious to establish an agricultural course for girls in connection with the University of Belgrade, for the reason, as she says, often where a son cannot be spared to go and study agriculture, because the sons must enter the army, a daughter could be spared and then return to her home and teach the family what she had learned. Among the Servian peasants the women work with the men in the fields. Servian land has great possibilities. Tobacco, for instance, is so fine that Egypt takes Servia's entire output but the farming methods are very primitive. Another thing which these women plan to do is to re-awaken interest in the national needle work. Everybody knows the wonderful embroidery for which Servian women have always been noted, but in the last thirty years Servia has been flooded with cheap things from other countries and art has declined. Mme. Grouitch says the Servians are the cleanest people she has ever known; nothing can be taught them as to housework and sanitation. Eighty girls from the provinces are now studying in Belgrade and boarding at this home established by Mme. Grouitch and her associates. The Servian Government has given the land for the school and the building is under construction. Mme. Grouitch has raised a large sum of money from her friends in this country. She is a gifted, cultured and charming woman, one in which America can feel a pride at having her represent her country in the various parts of Europe to which her husband's official positions may call him.

JANE LATHROP STANFORD.

Philanthropist and Social Leader.

Mrs. Jane Lathrop Stanford was born in Albany, New York, August 25, 1825. Mrs. Stanford is well known as the wife of Leland Stanford, of California. During the early years of Mr. Stanford's struggle and varying fortunes, she proved herself a worthy helpmeet and is one of the type of American women produced by the early days of California's mining history. Mrs. Stanford's public career commenced when Mr. Stanford was elected governor of California in 1861. Mr. Stanford occupied different positions of prominence and was finally elected United States Senator from his state, California. After the death of their only child, Leland Stanford, Jr., Mrs. Stanford and her husband erected to the memory of this boy the university which bears his name. The "Leland Stanford, Jr., University"—at Palo Alto, their country seat, situated about thirty miles from San Francisco. Not a building of this great university was erected without Mrs. Stanford's advice and wishes being consulted. She erected at her own individual expense a museum which contained works of art and a most valuable collection