the comparative merits of Welsh and American coals only on the basis of both being "unscreened," on account of which a deduction of about 4 shillings ($1) per ton must be allowed off the high prices previously alluded to as having been paid for Welsh coal, such deduction being the actual difference between Cardiff quotations for large screened Welsh and "through and through," respectively.

The following analysis of three approximate quotations for the London market may serve to give some idea of the handicapped conditions under which American coal would be forced to compete:

From the above table of comparison it would seem to be obvious that no advantage in the matter of price can be obtained from American coal; and on reflecting that in the question of quality we cannot assume all American steam coals to be rivals to Welsh, we believe that the disparity between the prices of lower class American steams and those of our cheaper hard steams from the midlands and north of England and Scotland would be so overwhelmingly against American coal as to admit of no serious thoughts being entertained regarding possible competition (in second-class steam coals) emanating from America.

In first-class steam coal, however, we admit, as has been shown, that America certainly possesses a chance of competing at such periods as its quotations for coal and freight may rule low simultaneously with the English market ruling high; but the juxtaposition of prices would need to incline a shilling or two more toward the situation on both sides of the Atlantic than the figures given above. Even then, with the difference of price removed, we should not say that the chief difficulty had been overcome. The conservative nature of English steam users would very probably militate severely against American fuel finding a spontaneous and abundant market in London at all events.

If, therefore, this conservative disinclination to adopt a new fuel should prove to be an obstacle to steam users, who, being business men, would surely recognize any advantageous feature of the Amer

ican coal question, the difficulties in the way of introducing American coal to English householders, who are not likely to consider the subject from a business point of view, would be infinitely greater still. We feel disposed, therefore, to dismiss the idea of American household coal invading the English market as being purely visionary. Moreover, the present style of English grates and kitchen ranges has been designed for English coal, and no other kind of coal can be used in them. Coal of the anthracite class is chiefly used for house purposes in America, and this requires a special style of stove very different from the open grates so generally fitted in English homes. Thus, the substitution of American coal for English would involve extensive structural alterations which house owners could scarcely be expected to contemplate with equanimity.

It may be argued that as our calculations have been wholly based on the assumption that freights from America cannot be less than 19 shillings ($4.75), a reduction of this estimate would change our conclusions. I think not. Even if American coal owners were to build their own steamers with the intention of running them at, say, 10 shillings ($2.50) their difficulties would only be commencing. They would have to face the probability of bringing their boats home empty in ballast, seeing that the American tariff arrangements interfere with any volume of trade passing from east to west. It must also be kept in remembrance that the prices obtaining in the English market at the present time (October) are exceptionally high; the normal quotation for best Welsh steam coal being nearer 10 shillings ($2.50) than 15 shillings ($3.75), and for gas coal nearer 5 shillings ($1.25) than 10 shillings ($2.50), f. o. b. It would thus appear likely that any American coal imported into England during ordinary times would not repay the cost of working.

In the case of Continental ports American coal stands in a better position, as the difference in the rates of freight is not so great. For instance, taking Genoa as a typical port, large Welsh coal costs 25 shillings ($6.25), f. o. b., plus 11 shillings ($2.75) freight, totalling 36 shillings ($9) delivered; through and through Welsh, 21 shillings ($5.25), plus 11 shillings ($2.75) freight, or 32 shillings ($8), delivered; while American coal, costing $2.50, f. o. b., plus $5 freight, could be delivered at the lower figure of $7.50. This advantage tends to disappear as the competition advances farther north, where English freights are relatively lower; but it is nevertheless obvious that for Mediterranean ports and coaling stations there is a very fair

chance for America competing, and competing successfully, so long as present conditions last.

It must not be forgotten, however, that English coal possesses such elasticity of conditions affecting price that it can fall some 10 to 15 shillings ($2.50 to $3.75) per ton before it reaches an unremunerative figure, and that on this account American competition must sooner or later break down. Supposing, too, that American coal is, ton for ton, fully equal to best Welsh, it will be necessary to convince consumers that such is the case; and so far the proselytizing of coal consumers to the cause of American coal has been a very difficult task indeed.

Summed up, the writer's conclusions are that there is little hope of American coal obtaining a footing in England, and that it can only secure a temporary tenure of some of the Continental markets. In these conclusions the writer has not allowed his connections with English coal markets and English sources of supply to give bias to his views, which are founded on careful analyses of figures and due consideration of reports from ship owners and others who have had opportunities of practically testing the respective merits of the coals of the two countries. The writer, indeed, feels almost inclined to express some sentiments of regret that his verdict is not more favorable to the land of the Stars and Stripes than it is, but he refrains from doing so because there is no sentiment in business. GEORGE L. LOCKET.

THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN IN FRANCE.

THE Paris Exposition, marvellous in all its concrete detail, was still more marvellous for its revelations. It will stand eventually as the exponent of an idea, like the London Exposition of 1851, which showed England the industrial value of art training, or like the Chicago Exposition, which inspired us with confidence in our own esthetic ideals.

It was naturally supposed that France had little to fear from comparison with other nations on the industrial side; but recent events had made people skeptical as to the possibility of a favorable showing in regard to her political principles or policies. It is just here that the Exposition was a revelation: it gave the distinct impression of a national principle superior to the follies and errors of individuals. Especially was this the effect of the French educational exhibit, the most imposing exhibit of the kind ever displayed.

The system which it represented is an amazing work. It began in the hour of defeat; it was pushed with irresistible ardor; in a few years France was covered with free schools. A fund of $23,000,000 was created for school-houses alone;1 normal schools multiplied, an army of school officers, vigilant and determined, enforced school attendance; appropriations for education annually increased; in fifteen years the public expenditure for primary schools rose from twelve to thirty-four million dollars.' The work did not stop at primary schools; higher education was opened to the humbler classes; it was a campaign against ignorance and caste, in the conviction that these were the enemies that had humiliated France.

Special efforts for the higher education of women were begun cautiously, and have attracted little attention in the world at large. No part of the general movement is, however, more important, and nothing was more significant than the results shown at Paris last sum

'Law of June 1, 1878, authorizing 120,000,000 francs for this purpose, 60,000,000 to be given to the communes as subventions and 60,000,000 to be advanced in loans. * It was 61,640,893 francs in 1870, and 170,604,872 francs in 1895.

mer. The scholastic exhibits taken by themselves were, indeed, merely an index of the work, and scarcely intelligible excepting to one who sought their completion through the congresses and official publications. Moreover, the progress of the work cannot be fairly estimated as such progress is measured in this country, because of peculiar conditions, which have prevented its rapid growth and have imparted to it distinctive character. The movement for the higher education of women in France has not arisen as with us from the irresistible impulse of the women themselves, but from the instinct of self-preservation in a central government. To win the women to its support it was necessary first to conquer the prejudices of men, whose homage is necessary to the self-respect of French women. Hence, in this matter, social relations are a better measure of progress than the customary statistics.

The position of woman has undoubtedly changed, and the sentiment toward her has changed; and if these changes are as yet scarcely noticeable beyond the educational circle, it is because they arose there and are extending, as it were, unconsciously. Women were appointed this summer on the jury of awards; they participated freely in the congresses; they banqueted with their colleagues. There was no restraint on either side; no affectation on the part of the women, no mawkish sentiment on the part of the men. There was just that cordial fraternizing that Americans love, with a mellow touch of oldworld courtesy. On the juries the judgment of the women weighed the same as that of the men; in the congresses of education they were as ready in debate; and their formal papers showed a grasp of subjects which commanded attention and led to fruitful discussion. At the general banquet of all the educational juries, comprising eightythree men and six women, the latter were ably represented in the toasts by Mlle. Dugard, a well-known writer and professor. She expressed in a felicitous manner the spirit which the new education of woman fosters, the spirit of loyalty to the government and of international courtesy - that courtesy which is itself one of the inestimable outcomes of higher education.

This cordial recognition of women, this free interchange of ideas on a matter of public interest, is far removed from the traditional notion of woman which pervades French literature and has given a peculiar tone to French society. It indicates even in the University circle a great change since the congresses of 1889. On this point I cannot speak from personal observation; but it struck foreign dele