EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES IN FRANCE 363 



the courses in letters at the University of Nancy, in the ancient 

 capital of Lorraine, are to be noted one on German Philology, an- 

 other on History of the East of France. 



At the University of Toulouse, in the ancient capital of Langue- 

 doc, more attention is given by the Faculty of Letters to the study 

 of the Spanish language and literature than elsewhere in France. 

 The annual competition on the subjects of poetry and eloquence 

 still takes place in Toulouse, pleasantly commemorating the famous 

 Jeux floreaux, instituted there in 1323. At the universities of lesser 

 importance than those just named, courses in certain subjects will 

 be found which do not appear at all elsewhere. Thus at Aix, in 

 Provence, not far from Marseilles, the Faculty of Letters offers sev- 

 eral fine courses on Provencal History, Language, and Literature. 

 The University of Caen, situated in the very heart of Normandy, 

 offers a course on Norman Art and Literature, which cannot but be 

 of considerable interest to students of art and architecture. 

 Grenoble, in the midst of the Alps, not far from Italy, is beautifully 

 situated, possessing the warmth of a southern sun tempered by the 

 coolness of the mountains. There is an Italian colony in the town, 

 and the Faculty of Letters offers a course in Italian Language and 

 Literature, a subject not found upon the curricula of the other fac- 

 ulties of letters, excepting Clermont-Ferrand, which is considerably 

 farther away from the immediate vicinity of Italy. The facilities 

 for pursuing science, especially geology and botany, at Grenoble are 

 very fine. The summer courses, together with the superb natural 

 attractions of Grenoble, are beginning to attract thither many for- 

 eign students. Through the initiative of the Alliance Francaise, 

 now making a vigorous campaign at home and abroad in the in- 

 terest of French language and letters, holiday courses are now given 

 in Bordeaux, Boulogne-sur-Mer (in connection with the University 

 of Lille), Saint-Malo-Saint-Servan (in connection with the Univer- 

 sity of Rennes), and Villerville-sur-Mer. A number of universities 

 and schools in France and Switzerland have joined in the move- 

 ment either independently or in connection with the Alliance. 

 Courses are announced for the summer season of 1909 at Besancon, 

 Caen, Dijon, Grenoble, Lyon, Nancy, all provincial university 

 centers, at Lisieux, Bayeux (both in Calvados, Normandy), at the 

 Institut-Moderne, Marseilles, and at the Lycee for girls in Versailles 

 under the direction of Mme. Kahn; also at the universities of 

 Geneva, and Lausanne, and at the Academy of Neuchatel, in 

 Switzerland. 





