The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-18
BETTER THAN A FAIR.
The Steps by Which London Has
Achieved Eight Great Poly
technic Schools.
consolation for New York, If She
Will Profit by the
Example.
n,o, Features Of the Notable Institu.
tions-Their Usefulness as factors
in Public Education.

+;ors-Their Usefulness as Factors
in Public Education.
Mr.. Albert Shaw's article in the June
Canturv on London Polytechnics and Peo-
n1a.s Palaces ought to make profound
immersion on New Workers, says the New
York Evening Post. 1t is the narrative OF
progressive steps. beginning only eight
years ago. by which the city OF London has
come into eight polytechnic schools on a
Grand scale. with the early promise of four
more, together with one great peoples pal
ace and a number of others on smaller
scale-al these institutions being designed
for and applied to the instruction and en-
tertainment of the poor, and all of them
hiohlv successful in carrying out these
aims. At the beginning, and serving as a
model and an inspiration for all
the others, is the Regent. Street
Polytechnic, founded and still largely
supported by Mr.. Quentin Hogg., Most
conspicuous OF all is the Peoples palace OF
East London, which owes it's existence
mainly to the exertions of Sir Edmund
Cnrrie. helped in remarkable way by Mr..
Besant's novel, All Sorts and Conditions
of Men, which happened to come from the
authors brain just as SIR Arthur was
the rich people of London.
Mr., Besant was in entire Ignorance OF Sir
Fdmund's plans when he wrote his novel.
1t was a rare and happy coincidence that ne
touched the heart strings of the people at
the same time that his fellow-worker was
moving upon their purse-strings. The
joint result is the Peoples palace on the
Mile-En road, contiguous to the
parishes of Whitechapel, Stepney,
Bow, Stratford and St. Georges-in-
Il >nHS % II ,I-r,-
venient of access to nearly two millions of
people who had previously no amusements
whatever except those of the gin shop.
They have now concerts, picture galleries,
flower shows, poultry and pigeon shows,
swimming baths, reading rooms, lecture,
rooms, social rooms cricket, foot ball and
tennis grounds, all at prices within the
reach of the poorest, generally for one or
two pennies. None of these institutions, it
should be remarked. are absolutely free.
People do not prize that which costs them
nothing. Let the charge be ever SO small,
every one who pays for admission will be
sure to get his moneys worth, and will go
away with feeling of contentment and
self-respect. Even if he has paid only
penny, his entrance has been a matter of
bargain, and he knows that he has all the
rights that anybody else has in the place.
The educational features of the Peoples
Palace are the same as those of the other
polytechnics, being on the model of Mr..
Hogg's Regent street institution. They en-
brace both theoretical and practical train
ing IN the industrial and decorative arts,
including bookkeeping, modern languages,
music, chemistry. metallurgy. photography,
electricity. etc, etc. The age limit is from
sixteen to twenty five. and both sexes are
admitted on the same terms, except that
the social rooms of the two are separate.
These are the general features, recreativt
and educational, of these great institution
that have sprung up almost by magic in tn
various quarters of working London. M
49, wonder Mr.. Shaw saws that with the un
broken traditions of a very old country
England has all the vitality and construct
i've energy of new one. They
do not welcome change for the sak'
of change, and they set about their neces
sary reforms tardily and reluctantly. But
once fully convinced, they move with ire
sistible decision and force. u The,
have led the world in the stupendous indus
trial achievements of the past century ant
they seem not unlikely yet to lead thu
world in those social reforms that tn,
modern economic system has made so nee
essary.'
Only the merest outlines of this grea
achievement, or series Of achiev ements, Ca
be brought within the compass of news
paper article. What we wish to impress
fact that they are tagging far behind tn
British metropolis in the element o
progress i'll which quarter of
century ago we were far in advance
j. e., public instruction. England has owe
taken us in the matter of prlmar
education, and has now outstripped us
technical education for the people, IN
even more has she overpassed us III provit
ing wholesome entertainment and recre
ton for the poor. What have We in Ne
York that corresponds in any degree wit
these great London benefactions? We ha,
the Cooper Institute, noble monument .
the generosity of one man and his immed
ate family. We have the technical scho
of Mr.. Auchmuty, another noble institute
supported by the care and munlhcence
one man, fit to be the nucleus of People
Palace if New York has the public spirit
make it such. These are the only instit
tons that we have comparable in spirit al
intention to the series of London Polytec
MICS that Mr.. Shaw has SO carefully d
scribed.
A few months ago subscription of me
than So OOO, 900 was raised for worlds +;
in New York, which at its best would
only temporary affair. Leaving out
only five or six months. Then it would
only heap of debris requiring much {
pense to cart away. Why may not Il
money, or SO much of 1t as was ever cole
ible, be turned to the account of i'eopl
Palace, which would be u thing OF bea'
and JOY forever? We hear much talk
aHarchism and socialism as things to
combated in the near future by oursel'
or our children. Is there any other v
given under heaven among men to com
socialism except by education? Is there
other weapon with which to meet those
rors but by teaching the would-be social
and anarchists how to be wiser and bett
Neither science nor politics has devised {
other remedy or ever will.
Sunday Excursions.
Attention is called to the fact that
and after Sunday, May 4th, train No
which leaves Helena in the morning
Butte. will leave Sundays 9 O'Clock
stead of 9:l5 as heretofore and will c
tinue to depart at that time until furt
notice for the purpose of accommodate
the large number of excursionists who "