THE MODERN UNIVERSITY MOVEMENT 13 
—these are reasons enough, without supposing that there has 
been a re-awakening of intellectual zeal or a resumption of 
ancient studies such as characterized the Renaissance. Here, 
at least, we are; let us consider what we are and what we are 
likely to become. 
The new universities seem, indeed, very different from 
Oxford and Cambridge, but I believe the difference is by no 
means so great as many people suppose. The University of 
Leeds or of Liverpool presents a very different picture from 
that of Oxford or Cambridge, but the difference is more in the 
frame than in the picture. Oxford or Cambridge is in reality, 
as in the popular imagination, a vast university, with some- 
thing of a town in its neighbourhood ; Leeds or Liverpool is 
a vast town, with something of a university in its neighbour- 
hood. In one case it is nearly all canvas, and in the other 
nearly all frame. But it must be remembered that at one time 
Oxford, at least, was no less important an English city than 
Liverpool now is, and that in those days the intrusion of 
a university was looked upon by the citizens not only with 
coldness, but with violent disfavour. 
I have no wish to make little of the difference between 
the old universities and the new, but it is not uninteresting 
to contemplate either the past or the future as well as the 
present. As to the future, there are two possibilities to 
consider. Suppose that something should occur to make 
Oxford and Cambridge great centres of industry, to pollute 
their air, foul their rivers, blight their trees and lawns, cover 
their buildings with a film of tar and fill their streets with 
crowds of artisans ! They would become much like ourselves. 
I do not think this likely. But there is the other possibility. 
Suppose that something should occur to transform the con- 
ditions of industry, that the extended use of gaseous fuel and 
electricity should abolish our pall of smoke, that goodwill, 
which is wanting, combined with good knowledge, which is 
