7 JUNE 1890, Page 2

Mr. Gladstone made a very interesting statement to the Flintshire

County Council on Tuesday in reference to the character of the Intermediate schools which he would desire to see established in Wales. Of the greater part of his remarks we have given a condensed account elsewhere, but would add here that he distinctly approved even of so much classical education as might secure to young people a moderate "dabbling,"—though dabbling was a word Mr. Gladstone did not like,—in the classical literatures. He held that the example of Scotland showed that such moderate acquaintance with classical subjects, even when not very thorough, could be turned to very good account, and we heartily endorse his opinion. There are subjects in which "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing." But classical literature is not one of them. It is better to have a little knowledge of it, than none ; just as it is better to have a glimpse of a distant prospect than no glimpse of it at all.