When Mr. Austin Keen was kind enough to invite me to give this course of lectures, I felt some hesitation about complying. For, as I know little of school work, and the difficulties you have to face, I was very doubtful whether I could say anything that would be a practical help to you. It occurred to me, however, that the work of all teachers is so far similar that, if I simply tried to draw on my own experience, you might perhaps find something for yourselves that seemed likely to be of service.

The chief difficulty I have found in teaching in the University has been to awaken the interest of my class. If they are interested, they will be very attentive, and be ready to take in what is said; and if they are not interested, the whole work drags and becomes wearisome alike to teacher and taught. And it was my experience that very few people are much interested in the history of the past: they live in the present, and are inclined to let bygones be bygones and leave them alone. The stories we hear of people long ago are apt to make us feel that they were rather ignorant and very queer, and quite unlike ourselves in every way. But I have observed that the interest of students is roused when they recognise that, in spite of all the differences, the people long ago were very like ourselves, and when they begin to find links that connect them with ourselves.