按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ever； seeing that there is no rim against which it can strike … no
boundary at which it can possibly arrive。 Similarly it may be said
… not as an ingenious speculation； but as a stedfast and absolute
fact … that human calculation cannot limit the influence of one
atom of wholesome knowledge patiently acquired； modestly possessed；
and faithfully used。
As the astronomers tell us that it is probable that there are in
the universe innumerable solar systems besides ours； to each of
which myriads of utterly unknown and unseen stars belong； so it is
certain that every man； however obscure； however far removed from
the general recognition； is one of a group of men impressible for
good； and impressible for evil； and that it is in the eternal
nature of things that he cannot really improve himself without in
some degree improving other men。 And observe； this is especially
the case when he has improved himself in the teeth of adverse
circumstances； as in a maturity succeeding to a neglected or an
ill…taught youth； in the few daily hours remaining to him after ten
or twelve hours' labour； in the few pauses and intervals of a life
of toil； for then his fellows and companions have assurance that he
can have known no favouring conditions； and that they can do what
he has done； in wresting some enlightenment and self…respect from
what Lord Lytton finely calls …
〃Those twin gaolers of the daring heart；
Low birth and iron fortune。〃
As you have proved these truths in your own experience or in your
own observation； and as it may be safely assumed that there can be
very few persons in Birmingham； of all places under heaven； who
would contest the position that the more cultivated the employed
the better for the employer； and the more cultivated the employer
the better for the employed； therefore； my references to what you
do not want to know shall here cease and determine。
Next； with reference to what your institution has done on my
summary； which shall be as concise and as correct as my information
and my remembrance of it may render possible； I desire to lay
emphatic stress。 Your institution； sixteen years old； and in which
masters and workmen study together； has outgrown the ample edifice
in which it receives its 2；500 or 2；600 members and students。 It
is a most cheering sign of its vigorous vitality that of its
industrial…students almost half are artisans in the receipt of
weekly wages。 I think I am correct in saying that 400 others are
clerks； apprentices； tradesmen； or tradesmen's sons。 I note with
particular pleasure the adherence of a goodly number of the gentler
sex； without whom no institution whatever can truly claim to be
either a civilising or a civilised one。 The increased attendance
at your educational classes is always greatest on the part of the
artisans … the class within my experience the least reached in any
similar institutions elsewhere； and whose name is the oftenest and
the most constantly taken in vain。 But it is specially reached
here； not improbably because it is； as it should be； specially
addressed in the foundation of the industrial department； in the
allotment of the direction of the society's affairs； and in the
establishment of what are called its penny classes … a bold； and； I
am happy to say； a triumphantly successful experiment； which
enables the artisan to obtain sound evening instruction in subjects
directly bearing upon his daily usefulness or on his daily
happiness； as arithmetic （elementary and advanced）； chemistry；
physical geography； and singing； on payment of the astoundingly low
fee of a single penny every time he attends the class。 I beg
emphatically to say that I look upon this as one of the most
remarkable schemes ever devised for the educational behoof of the
artisan； and if your institution had done nothing else in all its
life； I would take my stand by it on its having done this。
Apart； however； from its industrial department； it has its general
department； offering all the advantages of a first…class literary
institution。 It has its reading…rooms； its library； its chemical
laboratory； its museum； its art department； its lecture hall； and
its long list of lectures on subjects of various and comprehensive
interest； delivered by lecturers of the highest qualifications。
Very well。 But it may be asked； what are the practical results of
all these appliances？ Now； let us suppose a few。 Suppose that
your institution should have educated those who are now its
teachers。 That would be a very remarkable fact。 Supposing；
besides； it should； so to speak； have educated education all around
it； by sending forth numerous and efficient teachers into many and
divers schools。 Suppose the young student； reared exclusively in
its laboratory； should be presently snapped up for the laboratory
of the great and famous hospitals。 Suppose that in nine years its
industrial students should have carried off a round dozen of the
much competed for prizes awarded by the Society of Arts and the
Government department； besides two local prizes originating in the
generosity of a Birmingham man。 Suppose that the Town Council；
having it in trust to find an artisan well fit to receive the
Whitworth prizes； should find him here。 Suppose that one of the
industrial students should turn his chemical studies to the
practical account of extracting gold from waste colour water； and
of taking it into custody； in the very act of running away with
hundreds of pounds down the town drains。 Suppose another should
perceive in his books； in his studious evenings； what was amiss
with his master's until then inscrutably defective furnace； and
should go straight … to the great annual saving of that master …
and put it right。 Supposing another should puzzle out the means；
until then quite unknown in England； of making a certain
description of coloured glass。 Supposing another should qualify
himself to vanquish one by one； as they daily arise； all the little
difficulties incidental to his calling as an electro…plater； and
should be applied to by his companions in the shop in all
emergencies under the name of the 〃Encyclopaedia。〃 Suppose a long
procession of such cases； and then consider that these are not
suppositions at all； but are plain； unvarnished facts； culminating
in the one special and significant fact that； with a single
solitary exception； every one of the institution's industrial
students who have taken its prizes within ten years； have since
climbed to higher situations in their way of life。
As to the extent to which the institution encourages the artisan to
think； and so； for instance； to rise superior to the little
shackling prejudices and observances perchance existing in his
trade when they will not bear the test of inquiry； that is only to
be equalled by the extent to which it encourages him to feel。
There is a certain tone of modest manliness pervading all the
little