18 JULY 1891, Page 32

MR. LYULPH STANLEY ON GRADED SCHOOLS.

[To THZ EDITOR OF TILE " SPECTATOR." I SIR, —I so rarely find points of agreement with the Spectator of late years, that I am glad to have the opportunity offered by your protest against Mr. Lyulph Stanley's application of the word " snobbishness " to the poor people who are willing to pay extra to secure their children from contact with the mere loafer of the streets. The method of securing this separation may be wise or unwise, but the desire is undoubtedly based on moral considerations, and not on the mere vulgar scorn of differences of wealth or occupation which marks the desire for a " select" school among people in a higher class of life. Those who know anything of the amount of intelligence and culture to be found among shopkeepers and skilled artisans, will feel that the social separation between them and people of more learned or refined (I') occupations is about as silly as the four (or how many?) quarterings of the Vienna Court. Perhaps you will not follow me as far as this ; but at any rate I sympathise with you in thinking that the parable of the Mote and the Beam is eminently applicable to Mr. Stanley's remarks.—I am, Sir, &c., C. E. MAURICE.

South Lodge, Squire's Mount, Hampstead, N.W., July 12th.