Page:Democratic Ideals (Olympia Brown).djvu/17

Rh and her knowledge of the Bible acquired in her home, together with the merest rudiments of mathematics, geography and history, into the University. She possessed vigorous health, the habit of work, and an immeasurable zest for knowledge. She filled every hour with recitations and prepared for class by unstinted hours of study. She simply devoured her studies, and her mastery of each subject presented to her mind, languages, mathematics, philosophy, was the admiration and wonder of her fellow students. Her question as to work was not "Do I have to do this?" but "May I add this subject?"

Yet Clara was never a somber grind. No one else originated so many college enterprises. The literary society, Castalia, took on new life when she entered it. Debate was her delight, and she always organized every effort of a forensic character, leading one side generally to victory. The drama was especially dear to her, and scenes from the great dramatists were constantly a feature of the programs. I recall an acceptable presentation of a dramatization of "Our Mutual Friend," which Clara inspired. In all the valiant struggles of those days to secure for girls in the University opportunities and privileges equal to those that the men enjoyed, Clara was a dauntless leader. The suggestion of an injustice or lack of