The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-10-22
THE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION MAN
UALS.

Learning is becoming aggressive as
well as liberal. 1t goes out to seek its
own instead of waiting to be sought.
The American Society for the Extension
OF University Teaching, recently organ
lied as it is, Is already attaining national
importance. Nowhere is its progress
greater than in Rhode Island nowhere,
perhaps, SO great.
IL is n highly successful attempt to
adapt to American needs n system which
has been in operation in England since
1874. The main feature of both the
English and the American idea consists
in systematic courses of lectures in liter
ature, science and art, delivered by pro-
fessors sent ont from the different col
leges. for the benefit of those who have
not the time or the means for a regular
collegiate course.
One outgrowth of the university ex-
tension movement is the simultaneous
publication in England and America of
a series OF mammals which shall supply
the same kind of teaching as is given in
the lectures TO those unable TO attend
them. They are edited by Prof. Will
liam Knight, and the different subjects
have been assigned for the most part to
extension lecturers connected with the
English universities.
'The Use and Abuse of Money" by
DIR. w. Cunningham of Trinity College.
Cambridge, is "a treatise on capital in its
relation TO social progress. Under the
headings, Social Problems, Practical
Questions and Personal Duty, the au-
thor lo k at wealth in all its phases,
though the illustrations and applications
belong TO English rather than American
economics. The book differs from other
works ON economies in that it lays
greater stress on the idea of personal re-
sponsibility, placing the human con
science at least on a level with the law
of supply and demand, and thus making
the science Of political economy some
thing more than an intricate piece of
machinery. The volume is provided
with helpful syllabus and list of books
for reference.
The second volume, "The Fine Arts"
by G.. Baldwin Brown, professor of fine
arts in the University of Edinburg, has
nothing TO do with the annals of the art.
But the author has written rather a
treatise on the philosophy of art, consid-
ering first the origin of art in the free
expression of popular feeling" Play
under the influence of the principle of
order" and then showing this natural
expression of dancing, personal adorn-
ment and decoration gradually expand
into the great movements in sculpture,
painting and architecture. The subject
is treated fully and clearly, and with
some originality.
POINTS OF VIEW; BY AGNES REP
PLIER Sl.@5 Houghton, Mifllin *
Co
Miss Repplieris the most delightful essay
list of her day and generation. Her work
is feminine in its exquisite finish and
delicacy, but not at all characteristic of
her sex in that il lacks the stress and
strain and terrible anxiety 10 read moral
meanings into everything which seems
10 be- the marked features of feminine
endeavor in these closing days of the
nineteenth century.
Miss Reppher, on the other hand. is n
Hellenist, a Greek from New England.
She feels the tonic properties of Joy. the
beauty of life, the wholesomeness Of sun.
shine and fresh air. In the name of
truth, she cries, let us see the world as
Theocritus saw IL, and tell our stories
~ Homer told his for delights sake,