lo THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



have grown up. The only question is as to which plan will best 

 serve the cause of culture. There is much to be said for all of 

 these ideals, but it seems to me that the balance is indisputably in 

 favor of the national plan. Already the American Society has 

 extended its operations outward from Philadelphia as a center 

 for upward of one hundred and fifty miles, and its purpose is to 

 reach from ocean to ocean. A large step toward nationalization 

 has been taken in the West. The extension work in Colorado, 

 centering about the University of Denver, and perhaps the im- 

 mense work planned for Chicago, will become branches of the 

 American Society. It is also hoped that association may be 

 brought about with the New York work. By bringing all these 

 movements into one organization there will be greater adminis- 

 trative economy and greater system in the educational results. 



What has been already accomplished by the National Society 

 makes entirely reasonable the large plans which it has in mind 

 for the future. The acting president of the organization is now 

 Prof. E. J. James, who has associated with him educators of fore- 

 most rank from all sections of the country. It is proposed to 

 utilize every feature which experience in England has shown to 

 be helpful. The success of the American Society is indeed largely 

 due to the fact that it has done little useless experimenting. The 

 first season is always critical, but the movement had the large 

 advantage of the constant service and counsel of Mr. Moulton. 

 His many years' experience in the English work made him in- 

 valuable here. During nearly the entire season he lectured after- 

 noon and evening in Philadelphia and its suburbs as well as in 

 other American cities. He will be followed winter after next by 

 the Rev. Hudson Shaw. 



Now that university extension is well launched in America, it 

 is hoped to offer more thoroughly systematized courses of study 

 than was possible during the first season. A journal known as 

 University Extension has been established, and issued its first 

 number in July. Summer meetings will also be arranged, pref- 

 erably at different university towns throughout the country. It 

 is further proposed to introduce the plan of affiliating students 

 to the universities, or even to go further than this, and finally to 

 offer full courses leading to university degrees. 



A most important and indeed an integral part of the work 

 will be in the line of encouraging home stiidy, and a well-thought- 

 out plan has already been adopted. This provides a systematic 

 course for that vast number of solitary students who can neither 

 attend a university nor even form an extension center, but who 

 are well worthy of the attention of a society committed to the 

 cause of general culture. As at present arranged the courses 

 cover four years of seven months each, or twenty-eight months 



