New-York tribune., 1905-08-26

way with the work or function of the public and
private secondary school. college or university?
30 one unacQuainted with the classes of people
reached. but familiar with some of the methods
used, this proposition might seem worthy of
some consideration To one who has seen il in
operation. the raising of the question has some
resemblance TO the raising of a man of straw
for the sake Of taking shot at him
The development of this branch of education
Is one of the most interesting which has taken
place in the public school system IN this coun-
Try Originating in New-Yorz City nearly
score Of years ago, ii has attained its greatest
development here II is so self-evidently valu-
able antidote to the evils incident to the
Capitalization OF population in q nation gov
erned by the win Of the people that a number
OF cities in other parts of the United States
have adopted the idea, and are providing educa-
tonal lectures for adults at the expense of the
public purse Chicago, Boston, Milwaukee.
Yonkers. Mount Vernon. N Y: Jersey City.
Newark New-Rochelle, n. Y. and East Orange,
N T. some OF the cities in which the free
lectures" idea has been adopted With two or
three exceptions these cities are the homes Of
large numbers who have been obliged to leave
school al the earliest possible age in order to
help supply the larder at home While not in
tended in any sense for this class alone, yet the
free lectures have been of especial value to it,
Of instruction. but opportunity to spend an
evening profitably-
The .-free lectures" are the child of a union
OF the old New-Engiand Lyceum lecture course
and the university method Of instruction by
means of lectures AS conducted in New-York
by DR.. Leipziger, the supervisor of lectures, the
lectures are open only TO those who have reached
the age of fourteen years, and are therefore
beyond the age when they are Obliged TO attend
school The object, defined by Dr. Leip-
ziger is: To afford to many as possible the
fruits of a liberal education; to make educa-
ton a life purpose. and TO apply the best
methods OF study to the problems Of daily life,
SO as to create in our citizens a sound public
opinion"
What is it in New-York in practice? 1t is the
presentation Of nearly every subject that can
interest the human mind by means Of lectures
In popular form Last season, which began Oc-
tober ]. 1904, and closed May !, this year, 4,6JO
such lectures were given. To give an entire list
Of the subjects treated would be wearisome.
few Of the general subjects may be mentioned
by way of indicating the ground covered Among
them were physiology and hygiene natural sci
ence, astronomy, biology, anthropology, physics,
electricity, chemistry metallurgy, domestic sci
ence, household arts and modern industries gen.
eral history and biography, American history
and biography, sociology education, descriptive
geography, commercial geography, literature
music art and in Italian and Yiddish on Amer
ican history and biography, rights and duties OF
American citizenship, and principles of SANTA
ton and hygiene. A large proportion Of the
lectures were illustrated by lantern slides
each centre being equipped with a stereopticon-
and supplemented by experiments when the
subject permitted
By whom were these lectures given? By ex-
perts in their different subjects men who had
gained a practical knowledge Of the subjects
they were invited TO present Travellers, edu-
Gators students, writers, artists, musicians,
lawyers, college professors and public men con-
tributed OF their knowledge The list Of those
who have lectured in the courses includes many
well known throughout the country. Some of
them are President Roosevelt, Hamilton w.
Mabie ex-Mayor Seth Low, ex-Postmaster Cen
eral Thomas l. James, Colonel George Waring,
ir Commissioners Woodbury. and Darlington,
Dr. Rossiter Johnson President Woodrow VIII
son of Princeton University. President Harper
of the University of Chicago, DR.. Draper, State
Superintendent Of Education; MelYn Dewey,
State Librarian; President Taylor Of Vassar.
President Hall of Clark University, the well
known psychologist, President McAlhster of
Drexel Institute; ex-Commissioner hcDougal
Hawkes., Professors Edward Howard Griggs,
Charles Zeublein, Charles Sprague Smith,
AdoIph Cohn, Angelo Benprin, Felix Adler A
q Dorennus. Garrett P. Serviss, Mary S Wool
man and DIR. James H Garfield, librarian OF
Columbia University
While of course, many Of these have not and
5o not lecture in the courses regularly. yet the
fact that they were willing to contribute OF
their time and thought for the benefit Of the
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