72 Ellen Key realised, to some extent, the dream of her youth, the helping in the enlightenment of the labouring classes. In 1880, a People's Insti- tute had been founded in Stockholm by Doctor Anton Nystrom, who had taken the initiative, and collected the means himself. Lectures on scientific and historic subjects are held here daily. When this Institute had been in existence for a couple of years, Ellen Key overcame her timidity to the extent that she sought an appointment there as lecturer in the history of Swedish civilisation. Her appli- cation was approved, and with great trepida- tion she undertook her mission. It was one of Ellen Key's characteristics to avoid speaking of herself, and accordingly few people knew of her old longing for this field of work. But, in a letter, her mother expressed great joy over the fact that her daughter had at last gained an opportunity to contribute to the enlighten- ment of the masses, a duty which mother as well as daughter considered sacred. Most un- pretentiously, Ellen Key asked us to criticise her lectures during the first winter. Her first lecture was given at the affiliated branch of the Institute, on a narrow little street in Kungsholmen, and was attended by fifteen listeners. But very soon she had to be trans-