The Express.
London, England, 1864-04-01 00:00:00

LYCEtR.

THIS EMMY°. A DAY FAIR. Mr.Widdleozab
aad Mhos L Lmenue.—And BRL DRVONIO. Mean. Y.
Morton. Brougham. Emery, !foreland, Charles. and Jordan ;
Mama Terry. Lammas, and L.•oetbg. and Mn. Lee.

IIIirrANNIA.

Tnte Evrinto. THE 1117•liTiiiii.1.) MARRIAGE. arm M.
Lane and all the Comparo —THE GREkT OHO4T EFFECT.
-And THE FOUR fIOWBEATS Master Perc) Roselle.

RIOT WATT& AT LONDON BETOOK
TIT! DAT fterialrn, Sh. •Afternecio. Oh.
TO.NOMON— Morning, •JIL 4 'an— • Afternoon. iOn.

LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 1.

THE Report of the Working Men's College, in
Great Ormond-street, just issued, seasonably re-
minds us of an effort which, though comparatively
recent in its origin, and singularly unobtrusive in
its progress, is not only doing a vast amount of
real good, but is probably destined, in combination
with other recent movements, to elevate, and in
the end transform, the character of the Eng-
lish artisan. The notion of securing for
working men means of instruction and
recreation identical in kind with those
enjoyed by the classes above them is so essentially
modern, that it is still regarded in many quarters
as no better than a romantic delusion, if not a
downright social heresy. A few years ago the
proposal to establish Working Men's Clubs on
substantially the same basis as the aristocratic in-
stitutions which adorn Pall-mall—affording, that is,
the same kind of facilities for social intercourse, for
obtaininginformation on thetopics of the day, as well
as for refreshment and general recreation—would
have been scouted as the very climax of Quixotic
absurdity. But already artisan clubs of this kind
are not only established in most of the larger towns
of the kingdom, but thoroughly appreciated by the
industrial classes. In the same way many will no
doubt be still disposed to regard a Working Men's
College as involving almost of necessity a contra-
diction in terms, the traditional notion of collegiate
instruction virtually restricting ittothose who have
not only ample leisure, but liberal means. Such
educational conservatives would no doubt cheer-
fully allow the importance, and even the necessity,
of doing something for the improvement of the
working classes. They will admit that occasional
lectures, adult evening tuition, and even penny
readings, might be appropriately established for
their benefit. But the idea of providing a special
institution, with a thoroughly organized course of
instruction, for the exclusive use of those engaged
in daily labour, they look upon with astonishment
as a woeful confusion of things that are and ought
to be kept essentially distinct, inasmuch as in their
view any attempt at uniting them must produce
mischievous social results.

The founders and friends of the Working
Men's College wisely refused to recognise the
alleged incompatibility between a systematic or
collegiate scheme of education and the conditions
of daily labour. They believed it possible to
secure in practice, for intelligent artisans
bent on self-improvement, all the more sub-
stantial advantages, both mental and moral,
of a regular college course ; and belonging
to that supremely useful class of the community
who prefer deeds to words, instead of discussing
the question they established the college. The
motives which originally prompted the movement,
and the main objects which its promoters have
all along had in view, are incidentally re-
called and clearly stated in the Report
just issued "We have wished that the
" principle expressed in the word 'College' should
" be recognised ; that it should be accepted as a
" good principle for al! classes in the community ;
" that it should be shown to be available for those
" already engaged in manual toil ; that regular
" education should not be exchanged for the
" attraction of casual lectures, or lost in users
" amusements ; that instruction in special topics
" should not be exalted above human fellow-
" ship ; that the life of men should not be
" forgotten in a machinery for conducting
" examinations and producing tangible results."
The noble experiment made in Great Ormond-
street has in the main justified, not only the
practical wisdom and foresight, but the more
generous hopes of those who courageously ventured
on it, against the current of received opinion and at
the cost of many personal sacrifices. The move-
ment, it is true, has made no great noise,
nor has it diffused itself with any marked
rapidity. Its progress beyond the limits of
the metropolis has, indeed, been comparatively slow,
few colleges of the ormond-street type having
been established i❑ other large towns, and some of
these not being in a very prosperous condition.
This, however, admits of a simple and obvious ex-
planation. Comparatively few large towns could
at once supply the requisite materials and facilities
for the establishment of an efficient working
men's college. It is essential for this purpose
that there should not only be a considerable body
of intelligent artisans to keep up a regular supply
of students, but a lettered class of professional
men willing to undertake the duties of volunteer
or semi-volunteer teachers. Both conditions have
been amply fulfilled in the metropolis, and the
College of Great Ormond-street has, accordingly,
prospered from the first, and is now, in the truest
sense, a real success. The number of students not
only keeps up, but steadily increases ; upwards of
four hundred annually attending the classes, and
receiving solid instruction in various branches of
knowledge. The quality of the instruction given,
as well as the diligence of the student; is proved

by the certificates of competency in etsob enbjeoin
as Arithmetic, Euclid, Algebra, and Trigonomelity,
granted every year after an exitininsiien esoducisti
by eminent University men. The College aloe
supplies various means of social intercourse—
such, for example, as its admirably managed
rifle corps—which are fully appreciated by
the students. Those who have left the
College, indeed, look back upon the course of
instruction and social intercourse they enjoyed
there with substantially the same feelings of gra-
titude and affection that old University men che-
rish towards their Alma Mater. The financial por-
tion of the Report is, so far as current expenses are
concerned, highly satisfactory, the College being
thoroughly self-supporting. But we gather from the
concluding paragraph that ampler funds, in the
shape of donations for enlarging the college accom-
modation, would be gratefully welcomed :
" It will be seen that our receipts more than
" cover our regular expenses, and that something
" is done every year towards diminishing the debt
" which was originally incurred. But we have a'
" considerable interest to pay on the money which
" hes been advanced to us, and we are in great
" want of room for our classes. Could we honestly
" do it, we should at once begin to build in our
" garden, which is quite extensive enough for the
" purpose, and which, it will be remembered, is,
" like the house, freehold. But for this purpose
" we should need the help of donations, for which
"we have always been very reluctant to beg.
" Should they be freely bestowed by those who
" think we have administered faithfully the sums
" which have been intrusted to us, and that we
" are doing a little to meet a great necessity of the
" English people, we shall receive them with much
" gratitude."