The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-27
PLANNING A LABOR COLLEGE.
English Promoters of the Scheme Ar
rive in Washington.

ENG tlsh frOmOtcrS Of TIC SCheshe }Nf-
rive in Washington.
Charles W. Bowerman. of London. Eng
land arrived in Washington yesterday
afternoon from New York. He was ac-
conpanied to this country by James Sex
ton, also of England, in which country
both for many years have been prominent
in labor circles.
Immediately upon Mr. Bowerman's ar
rival in the city he called upon Samuel
Gompers, President of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, with whom he held a
brief conference.
The object of this visit of the English
labor leaders to America is to start a
Ruskin Hall similar to the one estab-
lished in Oxford, England, by Walter
Vrooman, of st. Louis. The labor college
founded by the young American in Eng
land has proven an overwhelming success,
and it is Ito return the compliment that
the two men are sent here with $50, 600,
made up of contributions of from one shill-
Ing upward
Ruskin Hall was opened in Oxford some
fifteen months ago. the idea of its found
ers being ito establish an institution
where workingmen of every degree would
be able to spend at least one year in
Oxford; to put within their reach oppor-
tunities Of sharing in high branches of
education; leisure to pursue such studies
as interest them and a soiourn among
elevating and beautiful surroundings"
In their public speeches and printed cir
culars the promoters OF the movement in
England spoke Of ''implanting in the work
,..sh
TO their daily work wider minds and ar
tistic perception" Like Mr.. Yrooman, the
other leaders of the movement are ardent
admirers of Ruskin and aim at a realiza-
tion of his ideas.
The students at Ruskin Hall do their
own cooking. cleaning serving. and raise
their own vegetables. This enables the
managers to provide them with board,
lodging, and washing for ten shillings a
week per head. The great bulk of the
students is made up OF unmarried work
ingmen, but there is considerable minor
ity OF married men and these live out
side the premises. No one is enrolled as
a resident student for less than one month
at a time. and it often happens that
student leaves the college to return to his
bench until he has saved up enough for
another months stay at Ruskin Hall, and
then comes back TO resume his studies. In
many cases special leave of absence has
been given by employers sufficiently inter-
ested in the movement to keep places open
against the return of men who may be
expected to come back more intelligent
than when they left: In other cases the
men risk the future for the sake of a year
spent in pursuits which they have hither-
TO regarded as beyond theiE reach.
The curriculum of RuskiE Hall com
prizes history, sociology, constitutional law,
history Of modern institutions political
economy. industrial history, psychology,
and English literature
Besides teaching wOrkingmen who take
up their residence in Oxford and are thus
enabled to attend the lectures OF the hall,
the college gives instruction to hundreds
of nonresident students organized into
corresponding classes
The Ruskin Hall which is 10 be estab-
lished in St. Louis will be copy of its
English prototype.