New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01
EREE scHooLg ZOE ADULTs.

The closing, last week of the fourteenth year
Of the public school free lecture courses brings
a reminder Of one unique distinction which this
city enjoys. It IS not in our schools, for other
cities have them, too, from kindergarten to high
school; it is not in the lecture courses for other
cities have them, too, in some form; but it is IN
the fact that New-York alone Of all cities pro-
vides in its charter for this scientific system Of
popular education for adults through free lect-
ure courses That is a distinction Of which this
city may we'll be proud and which it should
surely endeavor TO maintain. Or, if it cannot
maintain the distinction Of being the only city
that is doing this thing a chartered basis
for others may one day put it into their charters
too-it can and it should maintain the distinc-
ton Of doing the work more thoroughly, more
Systematically and more widely than any other
city.
The need Of it is greatest here. A large part
o: this mission Of enlightenment is to our alien
population. Myriads Of men and women come
10 this country from places in which, in their
childhood they had little or no opportunity for
education. They are ignorant on most subjects.
and are especially ignorant Of matters pertain
ing to their adopted land. For the sake of the
community and Of the nation as well as for
their own sakes, they should be instructed.
New-York is the chief gateway through which
they enter America, and a far greater number
OF them remain here than go to any other city.
That is one reason why this system is so urgent
~ needed in New-York; also there are myriads
OF adults OF native or of alien origin, who have
had small opportunity for mental cultivation
and who now can do little reading but who
have a craving to know more of the world and
of those things which contribute to the great
ness and to the happiness of man. In no other
way can their wants be so well met as through
these lecture courses.
For it must be remembered that the lectures
are not mere entertainments given at random
and without plan. However entertaining they
may be, they are invariably instructive and
are given by men and women worthy to be re-
Earded as authorities and to serve as instructors
upon the various subjects. Moreover they are
given according TO a most judicious system No
school or college curriculum is more carefully
arranged than these lecture courses with a
view 10 covering certain definite departments
% human knowledge and 10 observing a proper
balance between the various departments The
attendants at a given lecture centre may thus
pursue regular courses in history in geography
I'm the natural or applied sciences, in literature
in music, in art, in sociology. That is what
they do. There is no more impressive feature
Of these lectures than the regular and constant
manner in which the same auditors attend
them, night after night, as faithfully as the
school children in their classes by day. Some
there are, Of course, who come irregularly and
by chance, and each night sees some new faces
OF misses some old ones; but the mass of each
audience is composed of those who have zen
listed for the war"
From the financial point OF view, there is no
other department Of education comparable with
this IA smallness OF cost IN proportion to magnt-
tude OF results. Among pay lectures 25 cents Is
a low admission fee. and even 30 cents is mod
crate. From 81 to 81 is often charged But during
the season which has just closed !. 10000 per-