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 EDUCATION 669 such an appropriation of the funds, and, mainly on the Ewa,rt in the session of 1850, has been very exinitiative of Mr A. H. Acland, the Local Taxation tensive and beneficial. At first the maximum rate (Customs and Excise) Act was passed, practically permit- which the various municipalities were empowered ting the application of the whole fund, after the deduction to levy was a halfpenny in the pound, but £"*//c of a fixed sum reserved for the superannuation of the police, the Act of 1892 removed this restriction and brariesto the encouragement of technical instruction as defined empowered the inhabitants to determine for themselves the by the Act of 1889. The total annual sum thus available amount which might be applied to this object. A rate of was nearly one million sterling, and it was placed at one penny is generally found to suffice, but in Wigan the the disposal of County Councils and County Boroughs library rate has reached twopence in the pound. English in proportion to the ratable value of the property in the municipalities were slow to recognize the great intellectual several populations which they represented. The share of and social advantages of the Free Library, or to avail themLondon, which in 1890 was £162,572, has since increased, selves of the permission given by the Act of 1850. In until in the year 1900 it amounted to £225,728, of which 1860 there were only twenty-one such libraries and readino-£180,000 is allotted to technical education. The County rooms; in 1870 there were thirty-five; in 1880 fifty more Council appointed a special Board for the administration were added. In 1890 the total had reached 187; and of this fund, and has applied it in various ways. The there are now 340 free libraries in England and Wales. ' estimated expenditure for 1900-1 includes (a) Technical Of these, 36 are in the metropolitan districts. The total departments of Polytechnics, including contributions number of volumes in use, for reference or for distribution, towards the erection of buildings, £36,650; (b) other is about six millions. Manchester furnishes 280,000 ; Birtechnical schools and institutes, £24,664; (c) establish- mingham, 215,000; Liverpool, 200,000; Leeds, 195,000; ment and initial equipment of new institutions, £22,000; Sheffield, 110,000; Bristol 90,000; and Nottingham,85,000. (d) technical departments of public secondary schools,' Most.of these libraries are housed in costly and convenient £28,470; (e) higher education, £3500; (/) county buildings provided by the several municipalities, and all of scholarships, £30,362; _ (g) teaching in Art, Science, them are visited by increasing numbers of readers. It is beTechnology, and manual instruction, including scholarships coming more and more evident that the public library is and pioneer lectures, £16,506; (Ji) domestic economy, an. indispensable adjunct to the other agencies by which £5874; (i) commercial subjects, £4798; (j) museums primary, secondary, and technical education are being (art examples), £383; and (k) expenses of ' administra- promoted. Within the last few years the growth of tion, £7860. One of the chief features of the London public libraries has been stimulated to a large extent by scheme is the liberal provision of scholarships offered the remarkable munificence of a private citizen. Mr J. annually by the Technical Education Board. There are Passmore Edwards has devoted more than a quarter of a 600 junior scholarships open to all London children under million sterling to the erection, maintenance, or equipment thirteen, and carrying with them the right of free education of libraries, picture galleries, or other kindred institutions. in some approved secondary or technical school, and in addi- He has been singularly fortunate in the wise choice of tion a gratuity of from £8 to £12. Other scholarships— objects, which are wholly outside the category of ordinary e.g., intermediate, commercial, art and artizan, domestic charities, and are all intended in various ways to help economy, horticulture and practical gardening, and cook- forward the intelligence and the social enjoyment of the ing—are also provided; the general principles of award people. being that the scholarships are open to all residents in No survey of the educational history of the Victorian London, that boys and girls are alike eligible, and era would be complete if it omitted all reference to the that the sum granted is partly expended in the pay- remarkable increase of late years in the public ment of their fees in some school or technical college, and professional activity and in the intellectual wJimen’s and partly in a money payment in aid of the scholars’ influence of women. Access for the first time in educat,on‘ maintenance during the period of study. The number English history has been found for them not only to the of such scholarships granted in 1899 was 1710, and medical profession, and to high and responsible employments the total sum thus expended by the Board was nearly in the Civil Service, but also to many posts in connexion £40,000.. Throughout the country the sums of money with commerce and with journalism; to engagements as thus specially assigned by the Act have been employed by librarians and secretaries, and as superintendents of skilled the County Councils on educational objects more or less labour, in gardens, in offices, and in factories. Women akin to the industrial and commercial requirements of the have also been employed, both by the Central Education several districts. Without precedents to guide them in Department and by local Boards, as inspectresses and the exercise of their novel trust, many of the Councils organizing, mistresses. In art also, and in literature have tried various experiments—e.g., in seaports, schools of and in scientific research, women have achieved success, navigation; in Newcastle and other places where great and even eminence, to an extent unknown two or three engineering works existed, the study of mechanical sciencehas generations ago. Besides new avenues to honourable and been helped, partly by providing laboratories and apparatus lucrative employment in professions and trades, there has and special teachers in existing schools, and partly byscholar- been, a large increase in the amount and value of the ships and exhibitions tenable in science colleges; in rural unpaid public services which women are now rendering districts, the study of agriculture and horticulture, and the to the community. Many have become members of encouragement, by the help of peripatetic lecturers and School Boards and of Boards of Guardians, trustees of otherwise, of systematic instruction in dairy work, bee-keep- endowed foundations, or skilled administrators of charity. ing, or cheese-making. The total effect of this beneficent Act Some have been placed by the Government on various in reviving many local industries, in encouraging educa- Royal Commissions of Inquiry; three were included in tional enterprise and new forms of manual and scientific the Consultative Committee to be attached to the new instruction, has already been powerfully felt, although the Board of Education; and three have recently been full application of the special fund thus received from the nominated as members of the Senate of the University Exchequer still yet awaits further experience, and may of London. In all of these ways, and in many others, require some modifications in the plans originally tried. women are taking daily a larger and more important share The influence of the Public Libraries Acts, of which the in the public life of England, and are rendering signal first was passed mainly at the instance of Mr William service. It cannot be doubted that in this way the whole