“There is now no such thing as a ‘Woman’s Education Question’ apart from that of education generally; and the real question which has still to be fought for many a long year, I fear, is one as old as education itself: how is the child of either sex to be trained to the measure of the stature of the perfect human being?”—Letter from Mrs. Grey to Miss Buss, Dec., 1881. In August, 1872, things suddenly assumed a fresh aspect. It was not till July, 1879—still seven years of waiting and working—that the goal was finally attained in the opening of the new schools. But, from August 2, the date of a letter from Mr. Roby, the Secretary of the Endowed Schools Commission, to Miss Buss, this goal came within sight. This letter Miss Buss enclosed to me, with a few words of comment, which touched me not a little.
“I send you a copy of a note which I got yesterday. Please send it on, with my love, to Mrs. Offord. It is the realization, probably, of our hopes. Yet I take it as quietly as I did Miss Ewart’s donation of a thousand pounds—not ungratefully, I trust. I have offered a meeting on Tuesday morning, but expect that will be too late. So, in October, things must be settled.
“I leave this place on Monday, so as to get through heaps of work in town, before starting for the Continent. My brother Sep will be in Brussels by the time we get there. Probably it will be better to say very little about Mr. Roby’s note. ‘There’s many a slip,’ etc.”
The letter, of so much interest to us all, ran as follows—
147“92, Kensington Gardens Square, W., Aug. 2, 1892.
“Dear Miss Buss,
“I am very glad to be able to announce to you that the Commissioners have proposed to the Brewers’ Company, who are the Governors of Aldenham School, to subsidize the Camden Schools, and that the Governors have agreed to this.[8] As to details, nothing is settled, but I hope to get a handsome sum towards building, so as to complete, with what you have collected, all that is necessary, and also some annual endowments.
“The next step is for our Assistant-Commissioner to have a conference with you and your Board, so as to ascertain what is the amount needed, and what is the best form the assistance should take.
“If your Board could meet Latham anywhere (either at the Camden Schools, or at 2, Victoria Street) on an early day next week, it would be well.
“If not, the matter must wait till October, as we are all dispersing for the Vacation.
“Will you please to write to Latham at once?
“Yours very truly,
“(Signed) H. J. Roby.”
8.  In the reign of James II., “Richard Platt, a wealthy brewer, left a piece of land in trust to the Brewers’ Company to maintain a school in his native village, Aldenham.” On this piece of land now stands St. Pancras Station. The value of the property became too great for only the one school to be maintained, and the sum of ￡20,000 was given in order to build our two schools, one in the Camden Road, and the other in the Prince of Wales Road; in addition, a similar sum was given as an Endowment, thus using the money in the Parish of St. Pancras.
On the following day I had another note from Miss Buss, and for some time to come the whole story of the hopes and fears, the anticipation and delay, may be given in her own words from these letters—
“Aug. 8, 1872.
“I had a note yesterday from Mr. Latham, agreeing to an appointment with our Board, next Tuesday morning, at 2, Victoria Street, ten o’clock.
“This is your notice; so please don’t say you were not invited!
“In consequence of the delay in getting Mr. Roby’s note to me, I asked for an appointment next week, when Mr. Roby meant this week. But, as it turns out, my mistake is of no consequence, as Mr. Latham, the Assistant-Commissioner, is still in town.”
148“Aug. 10, 1872.
“I did not write to you yesterday, because I expected that very, very charming note, which came this morning. Dr. Storrar wrote to me to say—however, I enclose his note—that the meeting had better take place at 202, Camden Road. So I wrote at once to every one but you (and Miss Ewart and Mrs. Sidgwick, who are abroad), to say that our meeting was to be held in Camden Road, and not in Victoria Street. Twelve notes in all! Still, I think Dr. Storrar is right, and as only the trouble fell on me, it was better to ask every one to change. I hope Mr. Latham will not mind.”
“Aug. 11, 1872.
“Any money given to us by the Endowed Schools Commission will be for both schools. My only hope for the Upper School has been centred in the Endowed Commission. Our plan of placing the schools side by side will make the ground more easy to get.... I have long expected a grant from the Commission, but these things are so long about that there was a doubt on my mind whether the grant would be made for years to come.
“Mr. Latham says the part of the Platt income available for St. Pancras amounts to about a thousand a year. He does not like the notion of the two schools being together. So it is proposed that we ask for about ￡16,000 for the two buildings and ground for the Lower School, on the Platt estate, which belongs to the Brewers.”
The good news had come just as Miss Buss was starting for her summer holiday, this year spent in Germany and Switzerland. On her return she writes—
“Myra Lodge, Sept. 14.    11.30 p.m.
“Out of sight has not been out of mind, I assure you.
“I got back yesterday at about one o’clock a.m. and have ever since been in a whirlpool of work and consequent worry.
“There are more than fifty new entries for the North London School, 54 in fact, and more are coming on Monday.
“Over sixty are entered in the Camden School. The new buildings look very well—as a temporary thing—but must be furnished immediately in order to receive the new pupils; teachers must be found—housekeeper, servants, etc. I have been dashing through all sorts of work to-day, to get things in train.
“Anyway, our success justifies our taking the new place, and puts us into the way of paying for it.
149“My holidays were perfectly delightful; but I must tell you about them at some other time.
“My dear Annie, I am not sure at all about success not being too elating! I will try to guard against myself, but feel doubtful. Success of a certain kind is necessary to make one learn one’s self; but too much may be puffing up.
“However, it has gone midnight, so I will say no more than that I am
“Your loving
“Arnie;
“that I am glad you are all well; that I shall not get any time to myself to-morrow, as I am to go to my father after service for the rest of the day, and that Monday will be a dreadfully hardworking day.
“Will you take care of the Times’ account of the Prize Day? The mighty Thunderer sent his own Reporter!”
“Myra Lodge, Dec. 10, 1872.
“There has been a long—2? hours—conversation with Mr. Roby and Mr. Latham. It is proposed to send us a draft of the scheme before it is published, and this draft is (if possible) to be here by Monday week, the 23rd.
“Next Monday we shall send out notices for a special meeting to consider the draft.
“If the Brewers will give the sum ￡40,000, it is calculated that the buildings will cost from ￡20 to ￡25 per head, and about 400 girls in each school; but there will be sites, law, and scholarships to be provided.
“Mr. Roby thought the sum mentioned would not be too much for the two schools. This school is to be a First Grade, fixed pay of mistress ￡100 per annum, and a maximum cap. fee of ￡3. So my income might amount to ￡1300 per annum! The Camden mistress might get about ￡450 as a minimum, or ￡700 as a maximum. ￡200 endowment for rates, repairs, and ￡200 in each school for scholarships.”
“Jan. 1, 1873.
“My head aches at the thought of the worry of settling the claims to entry of the candidates waiting for admission. Your friends are somewhere about fiftieth.
“Our scheme is not yet published. I am anxious to see it in the Times, so that the three months may soon pass.”
150Then came six months of waiting before Miss Buss writes, on July 31, 1873—
“You will be glad to know that the Endowed Schools Amendment Act has passed the Commons. The Lords may turn it out. Perhaps they will. Won’t that be dreadful? I don’t know when the reading takes place.”
But on August 9, she writes from Bruges to the Rev. S. Buss—
“Of course you know that OUR Act—the Endowed Schools Commission—is really an Act now. It is mentioned in the Queen’s Speech.
“This morning, a copy of the scheme AS PUBLISHED has been sent to me. So the Commissioners have lost no time. In three months—that is, on the 7th or 8th Nov.—the scheme will be prepared for presentation to the Privy Council and then to Parliament. So that, humanly speaking, the whole scheme will be accomplished in a year’s time.
“It is curious how little elated one is, when fruition is so near!”
The next letter to me comes in the same strain, dated August 26—
“The Scheme is now advertised, and must wait three months, in order that opposition may be made. Then it goes to the Privy Council, and next year to Parliament. Altogether we may expect the twenty thousand (cash value, i.e. about eighteen thousand pounds) some time next year.
“I am most deeply grateful, but I am not elated. One’s elasticity gets sadly diminished as one grows older.”
After this a whole year elapses, filled with steady work in the schools, and brightened with gleams of help, such as are recorded on June 4, 1874—
“Within the last half-hour a note has come to me from Mr. Owen Roberts, clerk to the Clothworkers’ Company, to say they give us ￡105 per annum, during pleasure, for scholarships: 50 guineas to Girton, and two of 25 guineas for Merton. It is very pleasing.”
151The reason for this prolonged delay was shown at the next date, November 18, 1874—
“Mr. Lee called at the office of Committee of Council a few days ago, to ascertain how our scheme was progressing.
“He found that the Vicar of Aldenham had been opposing it, and that practically not anything has been done. It will be again advertised, and then wait two months, and, if opposed again, must go before Parliament. So there is no chance of its passing for an indefinite period. Shall I say, if ever?
“And the question now arises what are we to do about other matters? Are we to go on as we have been doing? What are we to do? Submit, I suppose, to the inevitable. But is it inevitable?
“Altogether, I feel we are in an impasse.”
A month later comes a little more hope—
“Oct. 8, 1874.
“I heard to-day (from a governor of that St. Martin’s School which carries off Miss Derrick) that he had met a Brewer who talked quite warmly of our school, and also of the plan to take up the North London Collegiate School for boys, but that the head wanted good money consideration for it. I am very glad to hear this in every way. This last certainly entitles me to ‘good consideration,’ and not to lectures from—various persons!”
The next step comes in a note from Mrs. Grey—
“18, Cadogan Place, Jan. 18, 1875.
“My dear Miss Buss,
“I enclose a note I received on Saturday morning from Mr. Richmond, which please return. I congratulate you with all my heart on this crowning of your labours.
“Mr. Holloway has given us no further sign.
“Most sincerely yours,
“M. G. Grey.”
This news of course came in due form to the governing body, but it seems to have been known to various friends earlier, giving them the opportunity of expressing their sympathy, as, in sending me Mrs. Grey’s note, Miss Buss remarks—
152“Mrs. Grey’s note enclosed one from Mr. Richmond, secretary of Endowed Commission, saying that the Lord President of the Council—I suppose that means Education Department—‘had approved of the scheme for giving Miss Buss’ Schools the Platt Endowment’—or words to this effect. Curiously enough, I am not in the least elated, but have a sort of choking sensation when I stop to think.
“Mr. Fitch wrote to me on Saturday somewhat to same effect, and Miss Davies, as I told you, gave me a message from him, on the 14th, Sep’s birthday, and Dr. and Mrs. Hodgson’s wedding-day.
“Are you willing to beg a little for the foundation of a Chair of Education? The Scotch have JUST founded two, and the Government—Conservative too!—have given ￡10,000 to complete them. We might get some help from Government if we got ￡5000 before asking it.”
“Endowed Schools Department,
“2, Victoria Street, S.W.,
“April 12, 1875.
“My dear Miss Buss,
“Aldenham and the North London Schemes were both approved by the Lord President on Jan. 15. The former was, on petition laid upon the table of the two Houses of Parliament; but no petition was presented praying that the latter should be so submitted to Parliament. However, the time provided by the Act has expired, and both schemes will almost certainly be approved by Her Majesty at the next Council.
“So it is the opinion both at the Council Office and here, that the Schemes are as safe as anything can be which has not actually received formal and final sanction.
“With the kindest good wishes,
“I am ever, my dear Miss Buss,
“Very truly yours,
“J. G. Fitch.”
On May 14, 1875, I received this welcome note—
“My dear Annie,
“The Queen signed our scheme at yesterday’s Privy Council. The news has just come from Mr. Fitch.
“Ever your loving
“Arnie.”
153This looked like the end of all anxieties. But there were still four years to elapse before that point was reached. Action was taken at once in the appointment of Mr. E. C. Robins as architect, and Miss Buss’ spare time went in plans and in consultation with him at special committees without end. It had to be discussed over and over whether the two schools should be together or separate; the choice of sites occupied time and thought, and, interesting and exciting as it all might be, it was all so much added to the pressure of the work, where success meant increasing numbers and constant reorganization in both schools.
Here is a specimen of the extra worries that from time to time came to swell the account—
“June 8, 1876.
“A new complication has sprung up. The Charity Commissioners write to ask how much money we intend to put by yearly, to accumulate at compound interest, to buy up the lease when it expires. We must call a meeting. It seems to me like a rent-charge, and if we are to do this, I want to know how we are benefited?
“We had better have been left alone. Suppose the school numbers went down, where would the governors be?
“In my lifetime, too, this would mean paralysis of every thing we need, in order to put by money.
“It is very trying.”
This difficulty was overcome, but still the plan remained for both schools to be erected on one site—
“June 10, 1876.
“Mr. Latham has written a long (private) letter to me in which he objects (as I do in my heart) to both schools being put on the same site, and suggests cutting down our plans and borrowing.”
Again sweets mingled with the bitter, when Miss Buss could report on December 18, 1876—
154“Dearest Annie,
“Will you return Mr. Owen Roberts’ letter? Is it not a delightful Christmas box? A whole hall!”
This letter announced the intention of the Clothworkers’ Company to add the Great Hall to the new buildings contemplated by the Brewers’ Company.
But still came further difficulties—
“Jan. 25, 1877.
“What do you think of my feelings at reading the following passage in the last letter from the Charity Commission? ‘We sanction the plans for the Camden School, on the distinct understanding that the buildings of the Upper School remain, for the present, in abeyance.’
“Poor Mr. Robins! He wants to go on with the Camden, but that seems to me to doom the Upper School. Is it not a constant worry? We must face the only possible outlet: Mr. Latham’s suggestion of ‘raising the fees without delay.’”
The next letter is dated February 8, 1877, and shows Miss Buss in one of her (fortunately rare) depressed moods; but it also shows her usual self-sacrifice—
“We have to-day received a note, saying that, unless we have new facts to lay before them, the Charity Commissioners adhere to their decision, though they will hear what we have to say on Thursday. This means that the Upper School must be left as it is, and the Camden be begun.
“There seems no outlook. On the whole, matters look very gloomy. I have been struggling so much against a sort of sick despair that I am literally sore all over. The revulsion from hope to a state of hopelessness has produced on me the strange bodily soreness alluded to.
“There seems only one chance, and that is, to give an annual sum of ￡800 or ￡1000 a year towards the debt out of my income from the school, and to make my friends insist on the plans being carried out. If, in addition, we raise the fees one guinea per annum, i.e. 7s. per term, we shall realize another ￡500, and the saving of rent, when buildings are completed, will add another ￡300. All this could be applied to paying the debt, so that the debt could soon be paid off, supposing the school to go on successfully.
155“The discipline of life is very hard, and one’s faith is not as strong as it ought to be. I do try to cast all my care on Him, who careth even for me; but it is very, very hard to cling closely.
“I have to go to Cheltenham to-morrow. I shall not be home until late on Saturday night.
“No doubt the sun is still shining behind the clouds! Perhaps even these may clear off in some unexpected way.”
“Feb. 13, 1877.
“Yesterday’s meeting went smoothly. Miss Ewart was very kind. She told me in my room that she was quite sorry for me and that she sympathized strongly.
“Mr. Buxton and Mr. Worsley, as representatives of the donors of the money, mean to protest against abandoning the Upper School, or delaying its............