EUROPE 299 



careful inquiries for I feel that one of the most press- 

 ing questions for us is that of a home or homes for 

 such students as must find lodgings in Cambridge. 

 In regard to the size and distribution of room in such 

 house or houses as we may build, my views were 

 a good deal modified by what I learned from Mrs. 

 Sidgwick, Miss Gladstone and the other ladies resi- 

 dent in the different halls. 



You know I have always been in favor of small 

 houses with few students not more than ten 

 or twelve. Mrs. Sidgwick is strongly in favor of a 

 greater number not less than twenty to twenty- 

 five not more perhaps than fifty. She has no 

 experience in the other method, but her objection 

 to it in theory seemed to be chiefly that the smaller 

 number limited the choice of acquaintanceship, and 

 also that individual peculiarities which might be 

 trying in so small a community would be merged in 

 a larger one. In this matter also the cases are hardly 

 parallel; we could never have as they have a num- 

 ber of resident ladies like Mrs. Sidgwick, Miss 

 Gladstone, Miss Clough (daughter of the poet), 

 Miss Fawcett, and others whose names I do not 

 recall at this moment. Of course their presence 

 gives the tone to the whole community, for they 

 live in very delightful, it seemed to me intimate 

 relations with the students, while allowing them much 

 freedom. At Girton the arrangements seemed much 

 the same. I feel that this is a pressing question and 

 will need much consideration. It would be a misfor- 

 tune should we make any mistakes in our buildings. 



