The Summer and Scientific Schools.

It has long been recognized that the resources of universities should, as far as possible, be made accessible to those who might not be able to attend their regular terms. The first efforts in this direction were made in 1863 by teachers of Harvard College, and took the shape of a series of "University Lectures," intended primarily to serve the needs of teachers in the secondary schools. These lectures were in general given on Saturdays, but though the attendance was considerable, the difficulty of the work was found to be greater than the benefits justified, and the experiment was accordingly abandoned in a few years.

About 1870, the University shortened its long winter recess and lengthened the summer vacation, thus giving a chance for summer work which would not conflict with the regular work of the various departments. Advantage was at once taken of this opportunity, and summer courses were begun by Harvard teachers. These were at first private ventures to which the University lent its countenance by giving the use of buildings and apparatus; but of late years the management of all such courses has been placed in the hands of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and the Harvard Summer School has thus become a recognized department of the University.

The information given above, together with much more of particular interest to those who desire to enter the Summer School, is contained in a leaflet issued last December by Professor N. S. Shaler. Fifty thousand of these leaflets, with circulars of the Lawrence Scientific School, are soon to be sent to all the large common and preparatory schools between Maine and Oregon. In the South they will be sent only to a few of the largest schools. The work and aims of the Scientific and Summer Schools have never been well known outside of New England, and it is hoped that the prevailing ignorance about them will be put to an end by the general distribution of these circulars.

The two circulars are to be sent together. The Summer School does not pay its own expenses, and the deficit thus caused has to be made up by the Scientific School. To make this possible, the attendance at the latter school must be increased, and it is expected that the circulars will prove effective in bringing this to pass. Within the last few years the reputation of the school has spread greatly, as is shown by the fact that for the first time in its history two Harvard graduates are studying there for the degree of S. D. It is desired that this reputation should in future become still more wide-spread.