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. 
