New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-27
TIE EDUCATIONAL CAPITAL.

About this time" to quote the old almanacs'
there comes a forcible reminder Of the vast edu-
| cational interests and activities OF NeW-1ork'
| A .ght ago the public schools opened WIN
| an enrolment considerably exceeding hVe nun
dred thoI sa nd doubtless by far the largest pun
lie school enrolment in any city in the woTid.
We have not at hand figures OF enrolment ID
the secondary schools but they must De very
large, considering the number and size OF such
institutions Last week Columbia Univers y
oDeDed with a registration for the various de-
tartments of the corporation Of nearly two thou
sand and th. sc figures viii be doubled and per-
haps nearly trebled. by the addition of the en-
rolment in the allied institutions, extension
courses. ETC. outside of the university proper.
New-York University opened one of its depart
ments. the School OF Pedagogy, yesterday, and
VIII this week open all others, with probable
corporate registration of about two thousand.
There are in the metropolis dozen other inStl-
tut ons Of coll gate rank, including professional
schools with a total registration of at least six
thousand. II is therefore probable that New
York contains a larger number Of college and
university students than any other city in the
world.
Nor is that ALL This week will see the re-
opening of another educational system in this
city Of great import and in magnitude far ex-
ceediug the foregoing We mean that giant or
canization for the extension of popular infoTma-
ton and culture known as the public school
free lecture courses. These lectures are as
truly educational as any school or college cur
riculunl as inspection Of their scope and ar
rangement of topics will show, and as the au-
thoritative character Of the lecturers also indi-
Gates As for the magnitude of the system. 1t
NAV he recalled that last year there were 4,22l
lectures. delivered at 12S different places in all
parts OF the city from Williamsbridge to Totem
Vile and that there was gross attendance
upon them Of 1.2O4,126 persons-adults. since
children are not admitted. This year the num-
Der of places at which lectures will be delivered
is increased to 80. If the other figures are cor
respondingly increased may expect there
viii lie about 4,665 lectures, attended by 1880
600 persons The aggregate amount Of instruc-
ton, inspiration and helpfulness represented in
such statistics is great almost beyond express
sion.
1t is fitting that it should be so. The reproach
Of nate-ialism is often made against Americans
and against New-Yorlzers. They may deserve
it to some extent They do not deserve it to
any such extent as some critics seem to think.
in token of which this mighty array of educa-
tonal activities bears witness. 1t is. we repeat,
hong The city that is greatest in material
bulk should also be greatest in mind and soul.
The ritv that has most shops and factories
should also have most schools and colleges lect-
IRE halls and libraries. The city that is the
commercial financial and social capital OF the
country should also be the educational capital
That proud ideal Is to-day, we believe, realized
by New-York.