OPERATION OF VIRILE SENTIMENT 153 



a wide range of subjects, from the science of Biology 

 down to the simple art of handling a carpet broom 

 and a dust-pan, or accepting a tip as a waiter,"]* 

 can do so for nothing. J Indeed, the aspiring 

 "scholar" will even be paid to join a class by a 

 pleading and anxious County Council, very dubious 

 as to the existence of any real desire upon the 

 part of the community for the intellectual wares 

 it desires to scatter broadcast, and very indifferent 

 to the waste of public money virtually entrusted to 

 its care. To take a concrete example, we have then, 

 let us say, in London, existing side by side, music-halls 

 and evening classes. Let us pass by any of the former at 

 six in the evening, and long files of persons, stretching 

 down the main street and round into the bye-streets 

 will be seen. It is a common sight occurring every 

 night. When we pass to the evening classes there 

 will be found no long files in the streets. The classes 

 are small ; in some cases so small that there are more 

 teachers than scholars. This dearth of pupils is in 

 spite of what has now almost become a custom of 

 paying any student who cares to ask for it, five pounds 

 or more a session, ostensibly to pay travelling 

 expenses. Even of the relatively small number of 

 students who attend the classes, a certain deduction 

 must be made of those who have no serious intention 

 of studying, and who go for various reasons. Some 

 of the women students attending evening classes 



t The London County Council, not satisfied with having an Education 

 Rate nearly 2s. in the poimd, or with the national expenditure of 

 £25,000,000 a year on education, from the rates and taxes, has recently 

 decided to waste more public money on classes for the training of waiters. 



I In some cases the fees are merely nominal. 



