“having reaped and garnered, bring the plough,
and draw new furrows, ’neath the healthy morn,
and plant the great hereafter in the now.”
e. b. browning.
but, however it might be borne, the disappointment was bitter, more especially in the proof given of the absolute indifference of the public to the whole question. prejudice might have been overcome, opposition might have been met, but against indifference so invincible no means seemed available.
mrs. grey gave it up as hopeless. she frankly abandoned the old position, and opened out new ground in making her next appeal directly to the british commercial instinct. in starting the girls’ public day school company there was offered in addition to thorough education, a dividend of five per cent.
the success of miss buss had proved that schools like hers were wanted by numbers sufficient to make them pay. there was not the slightest difficulty in any case in raising the ￡2000 in shares needed to start one of the company’s schools in any locality desiring to have it.[7]
7. miss clough, in her interest in miss buss’ work, had proposed to the national education union the formation of a company to supply school-buildings in this and similar cases. but the council decided to start its own schools, and nothing came of this proposition so far as regarded the camden school.
132this new departure tended rather to hinder than to help on the endowment of the camden school, of which the very raison d’être was a rate of fees too low even to pay for buildings, a dividend being quite beside the mark.
money had come in, though slowly, for the furniture of the upper school, and this was now quite self-supporting, though very inadequately housed. what would, in this school, have gone towards a dividend, went instead to the salaries of the teachers, higher here than in any similar institution.
but for the lower school an endowment was absolutely necessary. hitherto, miss buss herself had provided all that had been needed beyond the money subscribed. she had not the very faintest intention of fulfilling mrs. grey’s desponding prognostications of the abandonment of the scheme as a result of the public apathy. the precise manner in which it was to be carried out still remained to be discovered, but she never wavered in her intention that, somehow, it was to be done.
during the year 1872 the pressure on miss buss seemed to be a little increased by this new departure. in june she writes of it—
“several people have written to me about the ￡5 shares in the brompton school, and my ire was rising.
“mrs. grey’s handing over all mr. morley’s ￡500 to purchase shares in the new school shows pretty clearly—in addition to the goldsmid gift—what chance we have of help in that quarter. there can be no doubt that the new school movement is leaving us high and dry.
“i do not feel aggrieved by the union in the least. it only makes me more determined to act. miss davies shuts herself into one bit of work; mrs. grey into another; i into a third....
133“mr. rogers’ suggestion about the columbia market (have you seen it?) if acted upon, will prevent our getting any help from the city. he says the market is useless—turn it into a splendid school for girls! i hope the suggestion may be acted upon; if he takes it up, he will soon get the money needed. we shall have no chance at all. the city companies will vie with each other in starting this magnificent scheme. city men like to ‘live in bricks and mortar’—not to say stone. to live in human hearts is not durable enough.
“between the two schemes, we shall be swamped entirely if we do not take the bull by the horns and make a huge effort.”
there was no real antagonism between miss buss and the girls’ public day school company. she was very glad of the work, and helped it in many ways, as is shown in mrs. grey’s letters—
“18, cadogan place, june 18, 1873.
“my dear miss buss,
“... i am troubling you again in this matter as there is a proposal before our council to adopt your scale of fees in the new school....
“several people have told me that your meeting yesterday was a splendid success. i congratulate you heartily, and sincerely regret not having been able to attend.
“i wonder whether i shall live to see similar success won by the company’s schools? if we could but get a duplicate of you i should feel very sure of the success, whether i live to see it or not.
“most truly yours,
“m. g. grey.”
in september, 1874, the following letter was received by miss buss from one of the foremost supporters of the st. john’s wood and hampstead high school for girls, a lady whose enthusiasm had first been roused by her efforts to help miss buss’ work—
“my dear miss buss,
“i am hoping to work for the st. john’s wood school, though on the whole i have met with little sympathy. one of the objections to the new school will amuse you vastly, namely, that all the people to whom i applied said that they would not like to 134subscribe to a school that might in any way interfere with yours, and that the near (!) neighbourhood of st. john’s wood to camden town might have this disastrous result. nothing that i could say convinced my opponents.... if we cannot get the help of the intelligent and influential persons here, what shall we do?... i feel sure that you can do much to help us: your name could be on our committee, though we should not expect you to work.
“yours truly,
“e. tolmé.”
miss buss at once took shares in the company, giving her name to the committee, on which i acted as her representative. many of her own friends were members, as well as educationalists like dr. abbott, dr. angus, professor huxley, professor carey foster, and mr. norman lockyer. the new school was built by mr. robins.
in the mean time her own work went on slowly enough. the main hope was now in the endowed schools’ commission, since the constitution of both schools had been arranged in harmony with schemes drawn up by that body.
whilst one-half of the governing body of the north london collegiate and camden schools for girls had formed the memorial committee, occupied with ways and means, the remaining members had devoted themselves to working out the details of the constitution, both parties uniting for the general board meetings, and there discussing all points in common.
in dr. storrar, who had all his life been closely connected with great educational bodies, having helped in the development of the london university and of the college of preceptors, we had a practical educationalist; as also in mrs. burbury, who, as the daughter of dr. kennedy, had breathed education with her earliest breath; miss ewart, too, was in like manner born to public spirit, as the granddaughter of the william ewart 135to whom william ewart gladstone owed his name, and as the daughter of a distinguished member of the house of commons, who, for forty-six years, helped in every advanced public work, especially the london university. dr. storrar and these ladies, in particular, spared neither time nor pains in working out the scheme, and in enlisting sympathy with its objects in all likely quarters.
but, in the beginning of 1872, the endowed schools commission had not finished its work, and help from this quarter was still remote. some extracts from miss buss’ letters at this time show how very slow was the progress made in getting funds—
“january 10, 1872.
“mr. ellis privately has sent a cheque for ￡20 to the camden school. lord calthorpe has done the same, but as yet there has been no other response to our memorial letters.
“mrs. newmarch writes a kind note, to say she means to pay us a visit when she can, and she sends a guinea from ‘mrs. brown.’ we are getting on, though slowly.”
“myra lodge, mar. 10, 1872.
“the camden sites and leases have been pressing much on me. nothing has been done about the site. the lawyers are too dreadful. the land tenure is so complicated that it seems hopeless to understand it!
“i want to talk to you about our trying to get up a city meeting. the lord mayor is favourable to female education. i wrote to mrs. dakin, asking for an introduction to the lady mayoress, but mrs. dakin is abroad. i shall try next saturday through another channel.”
“mar. 22.
“miss gurney’s paper seems to be stirring up much interest.
“the edinburgh schools will be open during my holidays. so i propose to leave for edinburgh on the morning of the 18th of april. miss chessar, who is going there next week, will make inquiries about apartments for us. you mean to go, i trust?
“i want to visit the dollar schools, as well as the merchant company’s schools, and on the road home i should like to stay a day or so at newcastle. i must be again in london on monday, the 29th of april.
136“dr. hodgson has prepared the way for my admission, and he says i ‘shall find open doors.’”
“mar. 25.
“we are to have a city meeting. at least, mr. elliott and i are empowered to try to get one up.
“i am very weary to-day, having been late last night. i have not an hour to myself, except on sunday before church, till tuesday evening, every moment being filled with appointments—i mean after school hours.”
“bournemouth, mar. 30, 1872.
“all being well i will go with you—not without you, i trust—to mrs. mawson’s, on 27th of april.
“the memorial to the princess has not gone in, nor that to the baroness burdett coutts. nothing has been done about our city meeting. i am so tied down by the annual exams, that i hardly know where to turn or what to do, or rather, what not to do.
“i am having, however, perfect peace here. it is a most lovely place, and i should like you to know my dear sweet friend mrs. hodgson! she knows a good deal of you.”
“april 5.
“mr. harries thinks the city meeting would be a failure. the lord mayor could not lend the mansion house for anything not metropolitan or national.
“this school was 22 years old yesterday!”
“april 10.
“about lord g. h. i do not care a rush. only if we women had not submitted to the humiliation of begging from all sorts of people, on any or no grounds, where should we be?...
“i have sent a book, papers, and a note to-day to miss b. i think the note, though short, might move a heart of stone!
“if you can come on friday evening, pray do. mr. payne is very anxious to talk philology with you. i have asked all sorts of people who have been offering me hospitality, and all the women teachers in both schools. it is desirable that i should do something for my fellow-labourers from time to time.
“the lady mayoress is going to the camden school on friday next, at 2.30. do you care to meet her?”
“april 20.
“mrs. tolmés success is delightful! i have thanked her for enlisting the baroness, but have omitted to say anything about the prizes.
137“i did ask about a scholarship, and i have invited the baroness to pay us a visit. a notice of the ￡10 donation shall be sent to all the papers.”
the “edinburgh schools” here mentioned had been recently opened by the merchants’ company of that city. using the money of various old charities that had fallen into utter abuse, they had made five thoroughly good schools on the latest and best principles, two for boys, two for girls, and one mixed. the first school was arranged for 1200 girls, and had proved a great success.
the account of this work had naturally been of great interest to miss buss, and, as she knew that there had been every advantage that could be derived from the possession of ample means, she was anxious to see for herself what had been done. she therefore devoted her easter vacation to the visit to edinburgh, in which i accompanied her, dating from this happy time that closer intimacy which it was my privilege to enjoy. dr. hodgson’s introduction to mr. thomas knox, the master of the merchants’ company, made our way something of a triumphal progress, as i find in my letters home the record of “intense attention from hosts of masters and other people—to miss buss, of course, i moving round her like an attendant satellite, and shining in reflected light.” i was still young enough to be amused at mr. knox’s description of the “two ladies from the south, eminent educationalists,” doing my best to sustain the character. i could at least appreciate my opportunities in hearing the talk between miss buss and mr. knox. even apart from their friendship with dr. hodgson, they found a strong bond in their educational sympathies. in my journal i find him described as—
“a tall, fine-looking man, with a grand head, and, i should think, a great heart. it is he who chiefly has carried the great 138reforms, sweeping away one abuse after another by the force of his strong will and steady purpose. one is struck by his patriotism. his feeling for edinburgh breaks out constantly, and one can see that his public duty lies as near his heart as any private interest, while he takes as his family all human creatures, especially all young things, from the scholars of the merchants’ company’s schools to the waifs and strays of his own special hobby, the training-ship. it is exquisite to see how this great, strong man speaks to the old women at the home and to the children, with tender consideration for each individually as well as in general kindness.”
his wife and daughter were absent, so we missed seeing his home-life, but he showed us all that was most worth seeing in his beloved city. to miss buss it was real holiday, and nothing seemed too much for her in that busy week which to me was something of severe mental strain, as well as unwonted physical exercise. we must have marched up and down miles of stone passages and stonier staircases; and i find more than once the record that i stayed at home to rest, while miss buss took in a few more schools. a “home for boys,” and another for “aged poor,” are “merely incidental” in a day which includes an art school, and a school for the blind, in addition to the ordinary schools. we saw all the company’s new institutions, and fettes college, as well as heriot’s hospital, and the older foundations.
the palatial structures and perfect appointments of all these schools made miss buss, as she said, “go raging wild with envy,” but this did not prevent her from carefully noting all there was to see. nothing was overlooked that was in any way suggestive. she found a good system of girls’ cloak-rooms, afterwards adopted, with her own improvements, in her own new buildings. she noted that scotch scones were more wholesome than english buns for the children’s lunch, and in the future secured a scotch baker to supply them for her 139own girls. she discussed time-tables and all the intricacies of school management, while i listened and marvelled, and felt more and more like an eminent educational fraud.
among the few things actually novel to her was the teaching of pianoforte playing in classes, eight girls being taught at eight pianos at the same time by one master. perfect time was thus secured, as the discord otherwise would have been quite beyond endurance. some modification of this system was afterwards introduced by miss buss into her upper school.
one thing that roused her disapproval, amidst so much that she admired, was the position of the women-teachers, who, if employed at all, held only inferior and ill-paid posts. whilst in edinburgh, she lost no chance of putting in a word for them, and after her return to london, she wrote: “i am firing shells into the edinburgh schools one by one—mr. knox, mr. pryde, etc.—to make them use the local examinations. professor masson has been here this morning, and he advises me to go on, as good may come of it.”
wherever miss buss went she acquired new ideas; but she also scattered them broadcast. as i had an introduction to miss eliza wigham, the well-known leader in all philanthropic movements, we found ourselves in the centre of work of all kinds, being well pleased to discover that though edinburgh might be ahead in education, london could still hold its own as regarded the employment of women.
i find that we had an afternoon tea, to which leading workers and teachers were invited, of which i record: “at our party we have had a grand seed-sowing. everywhere miss buss throws out hints and suggestions likely to bear good fruit. there are many persons who will remember the talk to-day.”
140at gateshead it was just the same. she secured several pupils for her friend mr. c. h. lake; and, although the sisters of these boys became pupils at myra lodge, she at that time set going the idea of the girls’ high school, soon afterwards started, which took the younger members of these families from herself.
before leaving scotland we paid a visit to dollar, where miss buss saw her ideal system at work, as she here found an old-established “mixed school.” her theories were, on the whole, confirmed; but she found some drawbacks, which made her content to wait till all the perfect conditions could be secured.
after dollar, we had a few days of quiet, with delightful drives in the scenery round the bridge of allan, where our friend mr. forster chanced to be staying at the ochill park hydropathic establishment.
the whole trip was full of interest, and not the least part of it was the delight of having that full mind pouring itself out on all possible subjects, and in scenes where the historic and poetic associations add a new charm to the beauty of nature.
but there was still more to come in an event which, important as it was in itself, acquired still greater force when taken in connection with the feelings excited in miss buss’ heart, by the sight of the richly endowed edinburgh schools.
we broke our journey southwards at gateshead, where we visited mrs. mawson at ashfield, a house well known to many a worker as a place where pleasant things are wont to happen, and therefore most suitable for this most happy occurrence. the large family circle had gathered round miss buss, to hear her recent experiences, and to ask about her own work, entering into her hopes and plans for the 141future of the schools, when a telegram was brought to her. she read it; and, after a silent pause, rose and, crossing the room, put her arms round me in her own impulsive way, as she said, with rare tears in her voice as in her eyes, “miss ewart has given ￡1000 to the camden school!”
how much this meant to the founder could be known only to those who had learnt how near to her heart was this dream of so many years. if only miss ewart herself could have seen, as we saw who were there, the joy thus given by her generous act, she would have been content, even without all that is still to come out of it to the girls of generations unborn, who will remember her name with gratitude.
miss ewart completed her good work by a large loan, which made it possible at once to think about buildings for the camden school. miss buss left me at gateshead, and went back to her work with a renewed energy and courage, which come out very noticeably in the letters received during the next few weeks.
“myra lodge, april 30, 1872.
“a few lines before going to the great suffrage meeting. forty new entries in the camden road. thirty, so far, in camden street.”
“may 1, 10.30 p.m.
“i was interrupted last night by the arrival of a mother—mrs. crookes, wife of the psychic force mr. crookes. while she was talking, the cab arrived—no, no; just after she had done talking, the cab came with mr. and mrs. sep, for me to go to the suffrage meeting. we got back at one. we met everybody—mrs. tolmé among others. all day i was driving at express-train speed. at two o’clock dr. storrar came in, and, as he had a committee at university college at five, stayed till 4.30. i had had no lunch, and a council of teachers had assembled at four.
“the meeting lasted till eight. tired out, i walked home 142with miss begbie, and found here mr. and mrs. j. waiting to arrange poor mrs. b.’s affairs with me.
“they have just gone. the pressure of new pupils is enormous, and the reorganization of the school is also heavy. there is just the same pressure in camden street, but i have taken nothing up there, and cannot till to-morrow afternoon. teachers, furniture, etc., are all to be found.
“did i tell you on sunday night that i asked dr. storrar if the lender of the ￡3000 was miss ewart? he does not answer, so we can draw our own conclusions.
“i am to ask her to fix the time for a special meeting, and must do so to-morrow, if i can find a few minutes.”
“myra lodge, may 3.
“i am sure you will believe in the impossibility of my writing much. the whole day—four o’clock now—i have been walking about, organizing classes.
“how to dovetail all the subjects of instruction and the pupils is a difficulty not to be described. things are getting into order; but i have found no housekeeper, and want a new teacher.
“the edinburgh papers are untouched, as i have not had a moment to arrange them. but yours will serve for the school-mistresses’ meeting.
“don’t be vexed, but the city meeting is quite off, so i judge from mr. elliott’s remarks; also there seems a feeling that all mention of us to the princess louise has been omitted. she called a meeting of lord lyttelton, mrs. cowper temple, and others, to give her advice, and it seems dr. storrar wrote later to lord lyttelton to express his vexation that lord l. had not pointed us out as leaders in the question of girls’ schools. we are to get at princess louise, but how is not settled. dr. s. does not think we can hold a city meeting.
“mrs. bonham-carter sends me ￡25. you shall see the note.
“my love to you and all the ashfield circle. my little stay there was so pleasant, i wish i were with you now. did i ever say how charming my edinburgh trip was? my companion was such a dear, sweet girl.
“did you find your new dress much tumbled, i wonder?
“love to mrs. mawson and her girls.
“did you not know that my edinburgh trip was quite delightful to me?”
143“myra lodge, may 13, 1872.
“i had no opportunity of expressing my pleasure at seeing you again, so do it on paper.
“dr. storrar knew what miss ewart meant to do, and he knew what i only dimly suspected—namely, that she offered to lend the ￡3000 also.
“she paid the school a visit on thursday with madame bodichon, and dr. storrar says she has grown into a regard for our work. she was perfectly charming to me to-day, and especially about mrs. bonham-carter’s note.
“i whispered that i could make ducks and drakes of the ￡25: buy a dress if i liked, as the money was given to me for my comfort! she took me by the hand, and said she wished i would spend it exactly as i liked; it really was at my disposal.
“if mr. robins is not our architect, i am sure he will exonerate you and me. i hope he will. perhaps things will go as we wish.
“dr. s. distinctly told me he thought miss ewart had no particular person in her mind’s eye.
“i am going to mrs. tait in the morning, and out to dinner in the afternoon. i mention the latter merely to let you know that i shall be hurried to-morrow.”
“202, camden road, may 28.
“i fear i cannot manage to get to you to-morrow evening. there is a dorcas meeting here, followed by a lecture, which will keep me very late; and i have been under an engagement for more than a fortnight to go to mrs. arthur arnold’s at home (a. arnold is editor or proprietor of the echo) at stanley gardens, nine o’clock.”
an introduction to the rev. stopford brooke gave further pleasant encouragement as mr. and mrs. stopford brooke visited the schools, and were so much interested that they even spoke of sending their own daughters. the distance made this plan impracticable, but mr. brooke’s interest was shown in other ways. miss buss writes—
“mr. stopford brooke sent yesterday a cheque for ￡13 8s. 11d., with a note saying his people were away, but he would try again next year. decidedly the publication of his sermon would be 144helpful to the cause of education, but i hope the right place would be given to miss davies. please also take care of her note, which i enclose. mr. latham seemed to think we might perhaps get ￡300 a year for endowment.
“the ‘leaving scholarships’ are like the ￡100 a year, for three years, given by the merchants’ company in edinburgh. it would be delightful to send some girls to girton college (papers of which i send you some copies) or to germany, for music, etc.
“if it is fine on tuesday afternoon, what do you say to meeting me here at six o’clock sharp, and of our going together to the botanic gardens?
“we should at least be quiet; and a walk would be pleasant, or a drive to the entrance, and a walk inside? i want to see you.”
“june, 1872.
“oh, how very heavy the work has been this week! i was almost overdone this morning. last saturday, i had to hunt about for sites, etc. there is scarcely anything to be found that will do for the camden school, and i have been nearly tearing my hair, because the ground opposite the upper school may be sold for a chapel. it is very trying to see that splendid site, actually the only available spot in the district—nearly half an acre—commanding hampstead, kentish town, highgate, and holloway, and yet be unable to find any one willing even to lend on the security of the land and building. from eighty to ninety years is the length of the lease. i have been doing my best to get people to take up the upper school—my very own work—as miss ewart has done the lower, but so far have been unsuccessful. could we get at mr. george moore anyhow? mr. reeve, of portland chapel, is his guide, philosopher, and friend. could we enlist mr. reeve?
“it is very wicked, i know; but, all the same, i can’t help it. i feel quite sick with despair, with that land opposite, and such worry from overcrowding inside our school-house. we must refuse pupils. and we might have such a splendid school for three hundred girls! if only we could get the sinews of war!
“why should not agnes write to mr. froude herself? mrs. arnold’s soirée enabled me to speak to several people—notably to mrs. pennington, who is doing her best to persuade her husband to give us a thousand pounds.
“i did not tell you that on thursday morning i called on mr. jowett at cowper street. he was occupied in taking over the 145schools an american and the warden of the fishmongers. my card was taken to his room, where was standing a tall, gentlemanly clergyman, whom i at once recognized as mr. rogers.
“at first the mere mention of my name did not strike him, but presently he took up the card, peered curiously at it, and then turned round to me. we had some talk. i told him about the land. he said, ‘nothing venture, nothing get. you must take the land. secure it by putting your ￡1500 down; then go boldly to the public with a clear, definite scheme. people will not listen to vague plans.’ he said, ‘don’t amateur your plans. get a surveyor’ (he mentioned one), ‘pay him to get up the information, etc.’
“i am quite sure we have been amateuring too long. we ought to carry in mr. robins. i have sent his testimonials to dr. storrar, and mr. robins’ application will come on monday. in three days mr. robins can put us into a position to say we want so much.
“we must do and do and do.
“but mr. rogers says, ‘we shall get no help for the upper school.’ i could have said, ‘you are a university man. how did you get your education? from old endowments? or from your father’s pockets entirely?’ but that would have been rude; so i was silent.
“i am resolved not to let the lower school be put down on the new land first. both must be done together, or the upper first. you see why it would be dangerous to risk the upper school. if we can only get help for the lower—so be it. we will then borrow for the higher, and do the two together.”
