and in the end furnished a framework for the extension of university teaching. Professor James Stuart, then of Cambridge, now a prominent radical member of Parliament and editor of the London "Star," began courses of lectures in manufacturing towns in 1867. In 1872, he addressed a letter to the members of the University, proposing a plan of University Extension by local lectures. A syndicate was appointed by the University to consider the matter, and in the next year it was decided to give the plan a trial. Many difficulties were met at first, but the movement was so successful that in 1876 the Society for the Extension of University Teaching was formed in London, and two years later the University of Oxford formally undertook extension work. Recently, extension courses were begun by the new Victoria University at Manchester. The three universities and the London society all carry on their work independently. The general body of each university appoints a committee to direct its extension system. In general, the Cambridge centres are in the eastern half of England, the Oxford centres in the western half. The Victoria University gives courses in and about Manchester, and the London society has charge of all the centres in and near London. There is more or less loss of force through competition and divided efforts. However, one university would never think of entering a neighborhood where a centre had already been established by another university. It is claimed that a little of the good-natured rivalry which seems always associated with university life will do no harm. There are tendencies which diminish the element of competition. It is becoming common for the centres to select their lecturers from either the Cambridge or the Oxford list, as they please. The London society, which is made up of Cambridge, Oxford, and London graduates, has a list of its own, but its branches may ask through its central office for the services of any of the lecturers on the Cambridge and Oxford lists. One good result of independent action has been that the plan of each agency has differed in details from the others, so that the system as a whole has been more fully developed than it would have been under the undisturbed action of a general organization. There are now about two hundred and fifty extension centres in England. It is estimated that there were somewhat more than 41,000 attendants at the courses in the year 1889-90. The growth of the movement may be fairly indicated by the fact that in 1885-86 the total attendance was only 16,752. Extension work is being taken up in Scotland, where it is to be in charge of a joint board representing the different universities. A system is already organized and will, no doubt, soon be well established in America. The local centres usually have their origin through some university man, or other intelligent person, who is acquainted with the extension movement and wishes to try to gain its benefits for his own town. Through his influence, a committee is formed, and a secretary for the branch appointed. Then a good deal of active missionary work has to be done to get people sufficiently interested to come to the lectures and pay the fees. In most cases, a public meeting is held, at which some representative of University Extension is present to give information. As soon as it becomes possible to guarantee the payment of the lecturer's charges, the centre is ready to begin its work. Sometimes the lectures are given at a local college, and are made part of its programme. Public libraries and mechanics' institutes occasionally take the responsibility of engaging the lecturers. There are some interesting instances in the North of England where centres are organized by coöperative societies and are attended by their members. It is generally an advantage when the centre can be associated with the educational influences of some existing institution. The promoters of the movement especially desire that an extension centre should exist side by side with a public library in every town in the country. The members of a centre have a rather wide range of choice as to both subjects and lecturers. Some men of standing have, out of interest in the movement, given courses of extension lectures. But for the most part, the work is undertaken by young graduates, who have only the recognition they have gained in their university studies. Up to the present, it has been looked upon, even by the young men, as only a temporary avocation. It seems likely, however, as the system is developing so rapidly, that the work of extension lecturer will soon become a regular occupation. There are a few men now who have given most of their time for a number of years to extension lecturing. But the duties are arduous and the pay not large, so that a good lecturer soon has more promising opportunities offered him. One who gives his whole time to extension teaching will lecture five evenings and sometimes three or four afternoons per week during the term. Each lecture includes some class work, and examination of students' papers. Other disadvantages are the journeys by railroad and absence from home. The largest income yet made by an extension lecturer and that by a man of great ability and endurance was somewhat more than $2,500. For a single course of twelve lectures, a lecturer receives about $175. What the leaders in the movement are now trying for is so to reduce the work and traveling of regular lecturers, and so to increase their incomes, that it may be worth the while of the best men to enter upon and continue in the extension service. They are determined to have for their leading lecturers a number of men of proved ability and standing. They see how the loss of some three or four of the present lecturers, who do answer to this description, would seriously embarrass them, and they are anxious that the movement should not remain in so precarious a condition. At the same time, notwithstanding their desire for men of experience, they believe it to be one of the advantages of the system that it finds promising young graduates and introduces them into educational work. Any young university man may apply for an appointment as lecturer. His college record is examined. He must have had experience in speaking in public. He must be thoroughly acquainted with the extension system. Finally, he must deliver to a private audience the course of lectures he proposes to give. If all tests are satisfactorily passed, a small sum of money is voted to send him to some typical centres, in order that he may see senior lecturers at their work. It is an important fact, and the promoters of University Extension do not forget it, that the extension type of lecturer needs to be different from that of resident lecturer at a university. He cannot expect to find his hearers already interested in his subject, but must begin by arousing them to its importance. His way of presenting it must be very clear and simple. He must have some of the traits of a public speaker, in order to hold the attention of a general audience. He needs to have a turn for organization in order to bring up to their highest efficiency the centres to which he goes. Not the least important thing is that he should enter his work with a desire for the improvement of social conditions, and a belief that University Extension may be made an important factor in bringing about the good change. The general machinery of University Extension is very well devised. Considering the methods already generally used and those just being introduced, the system seems admirably complete. The two old universities and the London society each have a head office in charge of men who give their whole time to directing extension work. Early in the spring of every year, the list of subjects in history, economics, literature, and science, with the names of the lecturers, is made out and sent to the local centres. The secre tary of each centre must report his committee's first, second, and third choices for lecturers and subjects. From all the applications, the assignments are made out according to the selection of places by lecturers, and the possibility of convenient railway arrangements. By the middle of the summer, the programme is complete. Up to the present, the lectures have been given in two terms of twelve weeks each, separated by the Christmas holidays. Recently, in answer to a demand which arose from the centres themselves, additional courses have been given in the spring. As a rule, each centre has only one course of lectures presented during a term. The course given in the second term generally continues the subject treated in the first term. The Cambridge and London courses consist of twelve lectures delivered weekly. The Oxford courses consist of from six to twelve lectures, which are given only once a fortnight. In order that the lectures may be as thorough as possible, a course nearly always includes only a part of a subject. A course will be not on English history, but on one or two periods of English history; not on physics, but on light, or heat, or electricity. This may seem to give students a rather narrow scope for their whole winter's study; but of course the time of the students is quite limited, and they are compelled to get variety by securing a difference of subject from winter to winter. Some of the stronger centres have several courses going on at the same time, so that persons can pursue as many different studies as their circumstances allow. At any rate, the plan of limiting the range of courses tends to free the system from the danger of superficiality which constantly threatens it. Great pains are taken in conducting the classes to give the students good facilities and to make their study effective. To begin with, the subject of the lectures to be given in the fall is known to the students usually as early as July. Some time before the term opens, full printed outlines of the course are in the hands of the students, which direct their reading and help them in following the lectures. The outlines contain lists of books recommended to be read in connection with the lectures. In order to supply the students with the necessary books, Oxford has what are called "traveling libraries." The central extension office secures about forty of the best books on each subject taken up. Each centre then can have a set of books on the subject it is pursuing. The libraries are sent to the different centres, and the books either loaned in rotation to the students, or deposited in some convenient place as a reference library. There is coming to be in this way a large central library at Oxford, made up, not of a great diversity of books, but of a considerable number of copies of each of the standard books in the different branches. It is hoped that the library will grow so as to meet all demands the students may put upon it. The lectures are an hour in length. As far as possible, specimens and diagrams are brought into use. The magic lantern is found to be a very valuable aid. Many times, advantage can be taken of local facilities for illustrating historical and scientific subjects. With every lecture, a number of questions are given out for further study. The students are expected to write out their replies to these and send them by mail to the lecturer. They are encouraged to study independently and to express their own opinions in their papers. In connection with every lecture, a class is held lasting three quarters of an hour or longer. Of course many attend the lectures who do no outside work. At the classes, only the more earnest students are expected to attend. With this smaller circle, the lecturer explains points not understood, and discusses the subject further. Pupils and teacher have an opportunity to get acquainted. The papers which have been sent in are returned with oral comment or a written criticism. Students who attend two thirds or three fourths of these classes, and write the same proportion of papers in answer to the list of questions given out, are eligible to the examination, which is held at the centre at the end of each course by some university man other than the lecturer. As a result of the examination, all who pass receive a certificate, the best students have honors assigned to them, and the one standing first is awarded a prize. The certificates and special honors are presented at a public meeting, at which some important person in the neighborhood is invited to speak. The appointed course of study for the regular students is six terms, running through a period of three years. Many of the students continue to follow the courses after this period has expired. No centre is complete without its students' association. Those associations are formed for the purpose of taking charge of the work of the centre, and for encouraging study preliminary and |