New-York tribune., 1900-09-03
ENGLISH EXTENSION. "
.,,-r FEATURES OF THE 1900 SUMMER
MEETING AT cAMBRIDGE-THE PRE-
poNDERANCE OF WOMEN STUDENTS.


,.-s,n Aug 24-To supply the culture OF the
80 70 University Extension students in the
-ss,sed form a four weeks meeting cover
= he not over cool month OF August might
= ssscrlbed By trreverent and 5aded critics as
,,-sotse process such is the operation at
'.-,s5 annually by various English universi-
y. this year by that OF Cambridge
ve-x. as 70 the movement: it may be de-
-.-ss.5 as chiefly resulting from two causes:
: -be lukewarmness OF the English legis-
- n the matter OF the higher education OF
= neopie 2 The large reserve forces
> oxford and Cambridge in graduates conpe-
- "a instruct. About thirty years ago peti-
- ard memorials were presented the govern
= bod- of Cambridge OF behalf OF manufact-
- towns Of the Midlands where no means
:, s;ehsr education existed, asking for as
,-.s-.e Il establishing courses Of lectures The
s-s,.v a. once and unhesitatIngly responded
: .ss popular demand by forming committee
: .,--s-fa-end the proposed work as an expert
- on A Limited scale. From this experiment,
=, n 1873 the Extension movement has
--,r and grown 70 great proportions: OK
=, Durham and Victoria universities have
- = the work initiated by Cambridge, with
=. -ss-,it that The number OF courses Of lee
=, delivered has risen from two or three o.
90 n about i've hundred last year. In 1890
=. new departure, q summer meeting OF
---.-.-sirv Extension students being convened
= rs-rh~tsEe that year with an attendance Of
=, -ss- dtty. the continued holiday gather
..s ms iuaugurated were continued and at
.--.,ss -lo-e and more students. until this year
.,,.l n about seven hundred has been reached
-s.ss sumner meetings. that are meant 10
- sd csntraliZe the yearly work OF the lect-
,.-ss snd classes, might not inadequately be
...--sse5 as Intellectual picnics at reduced
=. which being stated, it will not surprise
...r rbe.- predominant characteristic should
!. .ss.r Overwhelmingly feminine composition
!. .be openirg function. held in the Senate
-,rss On August .. there were about eight
L--s-z5 assembled. Of whom considerably less
- -z-o hundred were men But even then
- greater proportions OF these Two hundred
s-s nj Extension students, but members OF
,ss ursve-sity attracted by the fact that the
p,vH- E7r. 4 J Balsour was 70 deliver the
nszgU-zl address.
M BALFoUR's ADDRESS.
= r.s zDeecb the leader Of the House Of
-,,r7ns attempted 70 sketch The general scope
:, --s whole course OF lectures 10 be pursued
,--,grr re meeting. It's Official designation
vas Life and Thought II England IN the
xtnsrsentb Century" The lecturer appeared 10
- II The best O. rempers and pleasant moods
al aurroache5 his subject with a philosophical
serenity that mas not always been his OF late
= the more heated atmosphere Of the House OF
Commons Was Il thai the pillows Of bonnets
bs.ors hin were soothing 70 the sight after rne
raE hats and trowni1g faces ot the Opposition
sua that he felt more comfortable with the
Viee-Chancellor and the Master ct Trinity SIT
ing behind rim than with that exasperating ac-
ruse- NJ Bltrde---Coutts II the saune position?
Whatever Il vas, Nr. Baltour bestowed his
be1e6!c-!or OF the departing period n his hap
p.esr manner and with the blandest air. and,
seter cha-zcte-isricauy praising the eighteenth
a the expense q The seventeenth century after
corplacertly alludlng 70 the ''rurgidity q Car
vie and the thin luciGity Of Nil" he received
MS 1ue need of applause.
pu- sight q the one sided composition OF
ne zssenR3ggE that greeted Nr. Balfour.
though -z1E.nzry is. of course, ever grateful 70
tas masculine eye might be thought disap-
po.-..ng and might even lead one 10 consider
whether the University Extension movement, as
thus represented, reaches It's maximum Of ef-
.ectsveness O. even fulhls the aim Il has IN
view Al 6 meeting supposed 70 represent the
sz.snsioz q higher culture 10 the masses, out
q certainly less thar q hundred men. non-Hem-
hsrs O. the university. few, II any, could De dis
,.agutEaed who would be taken as genuine rep
ssssatstivss o. the people. This suggests few
reflections that may be worthy OF q short space.
TEE ORIGINAL AIN OF EXTENSION"
TIE ain q The Extension movement was 20
bring the means q general culture within the
range o. those who engaged il the uon-intel-
lsctusl pursuits Of life and possessing only small
means. we're unable 70 enjoy such benefits. The
grsst national utility OF the movement evidently
az Il reaching The large artisan class, the
oaekbons CT the country. and in trying 10 raise
tasr class 70 e satisfactory Intellectual and
wealth producing level. BY evening classes. by
general indication oS The range and direction
q literature. q history. of economics OF art,
ne workman would Eevelop q broadened intel
Agslce and become z happier and better citizen.
Tie intention was not SO much 70 enable
A1irs6 class oe brain workers in the educational
lad % Obtain the equivalent Of 4 university
saasarou a. e minimum of expenditure, but 20
asp ne Intellectual development Of that wide
Iss whose work was non-inteIlecruaL Il the
-1iFsr5.ry Extension summer meeting, held al
cambridge this year truly represents the work
accomplished. 70 which no opinion is offered,
must Oe pronounced disappointing. for IL is
~ -in'ee class that predominates among the
El-asnis tAs large artisan class is practically
-z--r-y LHp 44El44tr- ~Ao-~Ss 80
-~--o-s a1d the travellers from over the sea
-.e1opolizs the Advantages offered.
--s' g MS limited class? II appears 70 be
mostly made W Of school nistresses, govern
E1S@ Ane ethers ler Us say educational
7-- Iaey compose four-dfths or nine
--HS q ne meeting. and il is clear that. for
a. - s-pport they give they are anxious 70 OBJ
-st-, a. equivalent which the universities GER
s..s -s- 10 lce6 q giving al the srart-a
80 49, = L1e educational woman. unlike the
- eiass, The Extension lectures have
60 asDscI- they Slould lead 70 some
- SSeiH-. 70 something that viii help earn
60 - bread. 70 something better understood
!. -le gsneEgl rrrLLc - 3 80 dinIorna-that