TECHNICAL EDUCATION. 65 



III. 



TECHNICAL EDUCATION. 



ANY candid observer of the phenomena of modern 

 society will readily admit that bores must be classed 

 among the enemies of the human race ; and a little 

 consideration will probably lead him to the further 

 admission, that no species of that extensive genus of 

 noxious creatures is more objectionable than the educa- 

 tional bore. Convinced as I am of the truth of this 

 great social generalisation, it is not without a certain 

 trepidation that I venture to address you on an educa- 

 tional topic. For, in the course of the last ten years, 

 to go back no farther, I am afraid to say how often I 

 have ventured to speak of education, from that given 

 in the primary schools to that which is to be had in 

 the universities and medical colleges ; indeed, the only 

 part of this wide region into which, as yet, I have not 

 adventured is that into which I propose to intrude 

 to-day. 



Thus, I cannot but be aware that I am dangerously 

 near becoming the thing which all men fear and fly. 

 But I have deliberately elected to run the risk. For 

 when you did me the honour to ask me to address you, 

 an unexpected circumstance had led me to occupy 



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