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MR. A. W. FLUX, M.A., ON CITY GOVERNMENT AND

Besides its communal schools, Copenhagen lias a number of other elementary schools, supported either by endowment, sub- scriptions of religious or other bodies maintaining them or by such income and school-fees, or fees alone. All three classes of schools are gradually declining in importance. The two former classes have some 2,500 scholars, the last about 3,360. These schools are, as before stated, linder the supervision and control of the city authorities equally with the public elementary schools. Som© of them charge no fee, many charge fees of from ls. to lOs. per month, while some have charges as high as £1 per month. When it is noted that three or four of them have less than a score of pupils, it will be seen that the city’s supervision over private schools is fairly comprehensive. Schools of more advanced type provide for over 5,000 other scholars in Copenhagen. They fali under a different supervision. It should be added that included in the previous statements of outlay on public schools is the cost of the special schools pro- vided for weak-minded children, etc. Over 300 such were provided for in various institutions in 1897. As a kindred subject I should like to refer to public libraries, of her position in regard to which Manchester is justly proud. Besides the Chief Library in King Street there are eleven branch libraries and reading-rooms at five other places. In Copenhagen there are seven people’s lending libraries, at two of which a reading-room is provided. The use of the libraries is secured by a payment on the part of the borrower of 2d. per month, which covers about one-third of the total outlay on their maintenance. An initial charge of 2d., in return for which a catalogue is provided, is also levied. The number of books borrowed in 1897 was 268,096, the number of borrowers varying between 3,446 in August, and 4,808 in February. The number of issues from Manchester free libraries in the year ending September 5th, 1897, is given in the Official Handbook at 2,082,133. The reading-rooms of the Copen­ hagen people’s libraries are open from 7 to 10 o’clock each evening, except Wednesday, and from 5 to 10 on