[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") SIR, — Whilst walking in a
Devonshire lane last Saturday I overheard the following fragment of conversation between two respectable-looking men of the artisan class, who were on their way with spade and wheelbarrow to spend the afternoon in the allotment field. "What's all this talk about this 'ere Education Bill ? " asked one. "What's it all about I) " repeated his companion. "I'll tell 'ee what it's about. They'm going to do away wi' all the Board-schools, and every Nonconformist child in the country is to be brought under the clergy. And what's more, there's to be a 6d. rate to have our children taught what us would sooner die than have 'em learn. And no sort of conscientious objection allowed about that, either. Send your children, or go to prison,' and that's where they've sent young Mr. Kensit for preaching." They passed out of hearing, and I was left pondering whether it would not be possible for those in authority to take some steps for instructing these men as to the simple facts of the case. They were representatives of a class who read and think, and are capable of forming intelli- gent opinions, and yet as a class they are in complete ignorance of the real intentions of the Government, and it is to the interest of many to keep them misinformed. If the plain truth as to the Bill were made known far and wide among the people whose children attend the schools which are in question, surely much of the bitterness of opposition would
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