18 RURAL DENMARK 



who stubbornly refuse to avail themselves of the 

 gratis teaching furnished by the State. I submit 

 that this fact shows that the mental outlook of the 

 mass of the two peoples is different ; that they consider 

 life from diverse standpoints. 



It is almost impossible for us to conceive a state 

 of affairs under which 10 per cent, of the population 

 If [of England, male and female, would pay us. a week 

 out of its individual pockets in order to spend six or 

 even three months in studying history, mathematics, 

 physics, drawing, singing, geography, geology, myth- 

 ology, chemistry, physiology, and other subjects. 

 This, too, at an age when most young people have 

 shaken off the dust of school with joy, and simply in 

 order the better to prepare themselves to face the 

 struggle of life and to become worthy citizens. It 

 must be remembered, moreover, that there are no 

 examinations at these High Schools, and conse- 

 quently no degrees which open direct doors to a 

 career. Learning and learning alone is the aim and 

 the prize, with the result that the Danes are an 

 extremely well-instructed people. 



That they are aware of this the following story 

 seems to show. An English lady whom I met in 

 Copenhagen told me that not long ago her motor 

 broke down in a rural part of Denmark. While the 

 repairs were being effected she fell into conversation 

 with a farm lad who had lent her a rope, and found 

 that he could talk French and German, could under- 

 stand but not speak English, and was studying Latin! 

 She remarked that it would be difficult to find a 

 labourer in England who possessed so many accom- 

 plishments. 



"Yes," answered the youth quietly, "but then 



