20 RURAL DENMARK 



140 young men and no young women. Of these 

 the latter lodge in the teachers' dwellings, where they 

 take their meals. 



The winter course extends over six months, and 

 that of summer, when only 150 pupils attend, some 

 of them quite young girls, over three. The fees 

 payable are about ^"15 for the winter session and 

 half as much for that of summer. For this amount 

 education, board, and lodging are provided, a little 

 extra being charged to cover the cost of heating, 

 laundry, and lighting. If, however, the would-be 

 student is poor and deserving, the State will in 

 certain cases contribute a sum of 6 or y towards 

 these expenses. 



Of the buildings it will be enough to say that they 

 are admirably adapted to their purpose. There is a 

 general lecture-room which can accommodate about 

 350, an extensive dining-hall, a really fine library, 

 a reading-room furnished with reference books, and 

 a splendid gymnasium. Also apart from the High 

 School is a weaving-room, where that and kindred 

 arts are taught. This is owned by Miss Lacour, one 

 of the teachers, but no pupil may attend it while she 

 is taking her course at the High School. 



Such is the Askov High School, a place that 

 interested me deeply. 



Not far from the school is the electricity station, 

 where light and power are generated by means of 

 a large windmill. Wind, as it was remarked to me, 

 is very cheap and plentiful in Denmark, whereas coal, 

 which must be imported, is dear. Still, even in that 

 land there are periods when no breeze blows. There- 

 fore it has been found necessary to instal an auxiliary 

 gas-engine, although, as the system of accumulators 



