St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-12
woRKINGmEN,s COLLEGES.
Dr. Dana i'm a Lecture Advocates
One for ST. Paul.


one for ST. Paul.
The ST. Paul Social Science club met in
the lecture rooms of Unity church last even
ing to listen to discourse from DR.. Nj.
Meg. Dana on Workingmen's Colleges in
England and Their Suggestions to Us. The
following is an abstract of the speakers re-
marks:
Living as we do amid many dark portents
in the industrial world, il is pleasant to turn
TO some of the encouraging signs that may
he deserted and gather hope from what they
promise There is a noticeable and growing
desire on the part of the best-hearted and
noblest of every class to Seek to make tins
better and happier world for all. The labor
organizations of the present are raising tue
standard of intelligence and thrift among the
wage-class and teaching them the great les
son of self-help. Toll is taking on new Dig
nitv and consequence, and workingmen are
stepping into positions of honor and trust
Every man must depend mainly on himself
TO better his condition and selt-control tenn
perauce, pluck and persistence are
cardinal virtues upon which success must
depend. We should all welcome those grand
social helps which promise so much. viz: CO
operation. arbitration and wiser taxation.
In England much has been done to improve
the mental condition of the laboring classes
and give increasing intelligence. better labor
of a Workingman's college first occurred TO
Rev, 7. ID. Maurice of London in 1858. In
lS4S peoples college" had sprung up at
Sheffield the result of spontaneous move
ment on the part of the working people, but
Maurices venture was great advance on
that He formed an association and worked
with full faith and determination for the sue
cess of his scheme. The result is the work
ingmen's college Of London, Of which Thomas
Hughes is president. In the building Is an art
room, science room,
LARGE MUSEUM,
and library of 5000 volumes. There is also
a coffee and conversation room open every
evening, where a lunch can be had by stu
dents and their friends at low prices. These
institutions are very numerous in England,
and are the most effective counter agency TO
tine saloon. The college is attended by 500
meuA ers, Of nearly every trade. OF these
l31 aie studying French, 45 Latin and Greek,
45 physiology So art, 81 shorthand, ~ arith-
metic, 81 electricity, % law, 2S bookkeeping
and % biology. Others are studying German,
history mechanics, drawing, etc. The fees
range from % cents to 81. 80 per term for the
different classes. The teaching is all
voluntary. and among those who
aid the work in this way are such men as
Ruskin, Huxley, Tyndall, Seeley, and others
of the brainiest and most learned men of
England. Programs are printed. giving the
subjects, time of classes and instructors.
Maurice and his compeers have the art of
lecturlng to workingmen so as to combine
instruction and inspiration. Similar colleges
have been established in London and other
English cities, for it is demonstrated that
there is a field for them and the experimental
stage has been passed. One has heen es-
tablished in London for workingwomen and
another which receives both sexes. Several
hundred women from workshops attend
these. The social side of life is care
fully nurtured and is regarded as a
valuable feature. For twenty-siX years this
college has been the center of an active, in
tellectual and social life to the working
classes of that city. In 1880 the expenses
were 81, 73S, the receipts S2,23s, and the coun-
ell expects to see it self-supporting. There
are also literary and scientific institutes es-
tablished for the same purposes. In the
same line may be cited the fact that many
large English firms provide for the intellect
ual wants of their workmen in various ways,
such as lectures. libraries and free periodi-
Gals. Industrial education is becoming one
of the social problems of the time. Increased
intelligence means increased productive
power. 1t is in the direction of workingmen's
colleges that we need to advance.
IN THIS COMMUNITY.
Such an institution as a sort of headquarters
would be an immense social force. 1t would.
through its lectures, lyceum, its coffee and
reading room. supply intellectual and social
advantages which would inure 10 the benefit
of the working class in a thousand ways.
What few brave, self-sacritcing men and
women have done in the English metropolis
could be done here. 1t would be good in
vestment for the citizens of St. Paul, for
whatever would improve the thrift and intel
lgence of the laboring class would pro-
mote the general welfare of the city.
II some of the labor organizations would take
hold of the project and put their Endorsement
upon it, it would certainly contribute TO its
success. If our men of means would realize
its value they TOO would support it, and we
have public-spirited citizens who would
emulate their British cousins in serving as
instructors and lecturers. Given building,
and the contribution of devoted men and
women in the form of personal cooperation
and professional service would be forthcom-
ing at once. This is no Utopian plan. There
is call for it here, and if the project was
promptly and earnestly befriendcd, it could
be started by another fall. Beginning mod
estly, the needs of the field here would in
dictate the future course. A combination of
the college and trade school might be pos
sible. There is an eagerness for knowledge
on the part of this class, and they will APP
precatively utilize such an opportunity