The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-09-30
UNIVERSITY EXTENSION.
An ElktOn Lady Writes Concerning the
Proposed Lectures on "The Cities of


Italy and Their Gift to Civilization.
MIR. EDITOR: Will you allow me the
privilege of explaining the aim of our
University Extension Society in Elkon?
The time has come when this society
sends out its aids on the unpleas, mt duty
of soliciting subscriptions for another
course of lectures, to be given in February.
These lectures are purely educational,
are meant to guide course of study to be
pursued by grown people, the lecturer is
the teacher, How many people feel, or at
least say, there is nothing going on in
| Elk ton. Its sources of entertainment are
! limited, its field of observation narrowed
to the doings and sayings OF neighbOrs.
| Why not expand them? This lack in the
town may not he felt by our elders, who
started life with liberal educational foun-
dations, and whose occupations and tastes
| lead them directly into fields OF knowledge;
bat what Of the young, and those who
would gladly snatch few minutes from
daily toll to exercise the wonderful facul
ties of tie mind, while the weary muscles
are resting? Then another class-so weary
| Of leisure that they sigh for something to
do. The lectures are for these, as we'll as
ior the educated and generous ones who
have IN the past, made tEeu possibility
by their liberal contributions. They have
been over the ground before: or il not,
| have the time and mental training which
enables them to carry on their own inves-
| tigation.
Our town is proud Of its High School,
| grateful to those who made it possibility,
and TO those who are laboring to make ii a
success; and the interest all take in its
progress, and in the young people who,
each year, are sent forth with its diploma,
is amply attested by the numbers who
attend its commencement exercises.
What becomes OF these young people?
\ few 20 to college, some are scattered
through the country, many remain in
Elkton. Literary ambitions will not
| flourish without fostering care and is it
asking too much of those who have labor
ed, so faithfully, to SOW the seeds of knowl-
edge, to still tend the feeble plant until it
reaches maturity?
By lending their presence, and thus in
tluencing others to attend, as well as by
their contributions, they can assure success !;
and by joining in the discussion they can
make the lecture more instructive, thus
they can teach if they do not learn. 1t is
a cry that young people are ruined by SEN
sational literature. is natural for them
to take fiction, for they only know life
through the imagination, and it seems so
attractive in the unreal dress of novel
hero or heroine; but good reading, that
gives life as it is, and enlarges the mind, is
not much sought for at first Young peo-
pie need encouragement to read such books,
and that is what University Extension tries
to give.
The organization, by employing the
whole time of lecturer, insures to him a
| living, ana at the same time, by making
so many engagements, charges Centres less
for his services than they would have to
pay if they made arrangements for them
selves. The lecturers understand their
subjects; they are teachers rather than
orators, and their aim is our Improvement
rather than our amusement.
These lectures cannot continue without
popular support II you think they do
good, your help is asked; if not, we will
drop them. We claim they are uplifting
but by their own merits they must stand
or fall.
The proposed course is by DR.. Edward
II. Griggs, so well and fayorably known,
and the subject, THE Cities of Italy and
Their Gift to Civilization" Wherever he
has spoken he has been welcomed back by
larger and enthusiastic audiences.
THE SECRETARY.
ELKToN, Sept. 20, 1899