A LIBERAL EDUCATION 31 



completely educated men are not as open to reproach on this 

 score as the workmen ; and whether, perchance, this may not 

 indicate that it is not education which lies at the bottom of the 

 matter ? 



Once more, these people, whom there is no pleasing, ven- 5 

 ture to doubt whether the glory which rests upon being able 

 to undersell all the rest of the world, is a very safe kind of 

 glory whether we may not purchase it too dear ; especially 

 if we allow education, which ought to be directed to the mak- 

 ing of men, to be diverted into a process of manufacturing 10 

 human tools, wonderfully adroit in the exercise of some tech- 

 nical industry, but good for nothing else. 



And, finally, these people inquire whether it is the masses 

 alone who need a reformed and improved education. They 

 ask whether the richest of our public schools might not well 15 

 be made to supply knowledge, as well as gentlemanly habits, 

 a strong class feeling, and eminent proficiency in cricket. 

 They seem to think that the noble foundations of our old uni- 

 versities are hardly fulfilling their functions in their present 

 posture of half clerical seminaries, half race courses, where 20 

 men are trained to win a senior wrangler ship, or a double- 

 first, as horses are trained to win a cup, with as little reference 

 to the needs of after life in the case of the man as in that 

 of the racer. And, while as zealous for education as the 

 rest, they affirm that, if the education of the richer classes 25 

 were such as to fit them to be the leaders and the governors 

 of the poorer; and, if the education of the poorer classes 

 were such as to enable them to appreciate really wise guidance 

 and good governance ; the politicians need not fear mob law, 

 nor the clergy lament their want of flocks, nor the capitalists 30 

 prognosticate the annihilation of the prosperity of the country. 



Such is the diversity of opinion upon the why and the 

 wherefore of education. And my hearers will be prepared to 

 expect that the practical recommendations which are put 



