Littell's Living Age

MR. GLADSTONE'S address at the opening of a Fine-Art Exhibition at Chester was marked by the care which he gives to everything that can affect the well-being of the working-classes. The exhibition is in aid of a local school of art, and the speaker was naturally led to consider what effect such an improvement in the taste of working-men, as it is the object of these schools to bring about, would have on their material prosperity. Mr. Gladstone believes that it would have a very considera

beauty is given to the objects manufac tured by English workmen, they will become more attractive to the purchaser, and he will be likely to buy more of them, and to give a higher price for those he buys. This is especially to be borne in mind in articles intended for the American market. If the English producer wants to sell his goods in America, he must leap over the barrier raised by hostile tariffs; and in order to do this, he must give his goods some quality which similar goods made in America want. If he can give them beauty, this condition will be satisfied, for as yet the Americans have been too busy to think of making their work beautiful. In the same way, he may hope to compete, on more equal terms, with the countries which have hitherto been in advance of England in respect to taste. England, for example, now exchanges patterns in cotton goods with France, whereas thirty years ago, she only took patterns from France. In so far as this process is extended to all the manufactures common to the two countries, the other excellences of English work will have a better chance of making their way abroad. Therefore, if a workman "can learn to appreciate beauty in industrial production... he is increasing his own capital as truly and as substantially as if he could add to the muscles of his arms, by doubling their force all at once. He is introducing in the work he produces an element comparatively new to him, but an element which will add to its value, an element which will add to the price it can bring in the market, and which will add to the comforts he can command for his wife and family."

This is a very pleasing prospect to hold out, and one which we sincerely wish may be amply realized. We confess, however, that we see at least two obstacles in the way of this realization. The first is the very small part which the individual workman now plays in production. What is it that gives whatever charm it possesses to the furniture of the last century? Some things, no doubt, which do not concern the present argument, but one thing which does, and that is the immense variety of design and decoration which comes from the liberty given, with certain limits, to each workman to follow his own fancy. It is true that these limits were not wide. The man who had to inlay a table or carve a chair had a general pattern which in the main he was obliged to adhere to. But he

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could deviate from it in some small partic- | plays. ulars. He was not, as he is now, a mere and table-glass as examples of the improveMr. Gladstone instances porcelain attendant on a steam-engine, an uninter- ment which has taken place in English ested assistant in the manufacture of manufactures; but porcelain and tablethousands of articles resembling one an- glass are so largely decorative in intention other with all the unerring precision that and use, that they can hardly be taken as belongs to machinery. which those who give advice to workmen line and color do, no doubt, add largely to This is a point proofs of the general assertion. Beauty of about the importance of improving their the value of both these manufactures, and taste do not sufficiently consider. They this will be equally true of other branches speak Mr. Gladstone himself speaks as though each separate workman had a duced are designed for ornament. Where of production, in so far as the articles provoice in the design of the goods he makes, we fear it would not tell would be in the and could make them more or less beauti-useful articles used by the middle and ful according as his taste guided him. As lower classes. If a cooking utensil could a matter of fact, nothing can be further be bought for a few pence less, if it were from the truth. The designs are given to ugly, we cannot hope that it would be rethe workman, and all he has to do is to set jected for one more beautiful which cost a going and keep going the machinery which few pence more. Strength and goodness is to give them shape and substance. The of workmanship might perhaps be conmechanism to which he ministers is as sidered in the choice, but where it is necesinexplorable as nature herself. He can sary to spend as little as possible on any put it into operation, and guide it when in given article, even the very slightest inoperation, but that is all. There is no crease in the cost would be avoided, no field in which individual preference can matter what might be the accompanying show itself. It is true that the designs gain in appearance. As regards articles which machinery executes may have more intended for the richer classes, another or less of beauty in them, and so far one difficulty presents itself. Fashion is here workman may be more successful than omnipotent, and in a large community it is another. But the advice has now to be almost impossible to guide fashion in the addressed to a class above the workman. direction of beauty. For some time past The artists who make trade designs stand taste has been improving, but unfortuin great need of a better education as nately the improvement already shows regards taste; but whether they have it or signs of coming to an end. Oriental manunot, the workman is equally at their facturers, for example, are increasingly inmercy. He has to take what they give clined to use the mineral dyes of Europe him, and to copy it mechanically by the rather than their own vegetable dyes, and hundred thousand. If Mr. Gladstone is it is to be presumed, by the ready sale right in thinking that beautiful things will which the more glaring colors command, sell more readily than ugly things, the that they are found to suit the taste of the workman will undoubtedly profit by any majority of buyers equally well with the improvement which the taste of the de- harmonious tints they have displaced. To signer undergoes. But he will profit by it produce beautiful things, the maker must without any co-operation of his own. is almost as helpless in the hands of the what is most beautiful for the given article. He consider nothing but his own sense of master potter as the clay which he pre- If he does not love the work he is doing, pares for the oven. Of course, there are it will never be beautiful, and work done exceptions to this state of things, esses in which, as yet, machinery has not Most of all is this true, when the taste conproc- to please other people is rarely good work. superseded hand-work, and in which, ac- sulted is momentary and popular. Fashion cordingly, there is still room for individual changes, and the workman whose sense of taste. But they are comparatively few in beauty cannot change with it is necessarily number, and they give payment to com- left behind. He will be lucky if he can paratively few persons. the influence of machinery has penetrated. who do not hold this year's fashions to be Even here, too, bring his work to the notice of the few The object of the art workman, as of the necessarily an improvement upon those of ordinary workman, is to turn goods out to last year. pattern, and to economize time by the dexterity which comes from constantly working in the same narrow groove.

The second obstacle is the bad taste which the ordinary purchaser so often dis

desires to see effected in the taste of the
The improvement which Mr. Gladstone
above rather than below. Employers with
workman must, we suspect, begin from
an appreciation of beauty would, by de-

ists, with rare exceptions, fare pretty | ble effect. Beauty, he says, is one of the comfortably. Proceed whither they will, qualities which a purchaser looks for in the exclusive advantages are extended to object he buys; consequently, if more them. "Passes" by boat and "car" are beauty is given to the objects manufac theirs for the asking. When hotel propri- tured by English workmen, they will beetors do not altogether proffer them a come more attractive to the purchaser, and carte blanche, at least the fixed tariff for he will be likely to buy more of them, and bed and board is reduced one-half. This to give a higher price for those he buys. amounts to a substantial consideration. This is especially to be borne in mind in Now, inasmuch as there are no fewer articles intended for the American market. than six or seven hundred daily and about If the English producer wants to sell his five thousand five hundred weekly papers goods in America, he must leap over the scattered over the great republic, as a barrier raised by hostile tariffs; and in rule the "knights of the pen must order to do this, he must give his goods enjoy a really good time of it. Occasion- some quality which similar goods made in ally, it is true, party politics run very high America want. If he can give them in the States, when journalists are not beauty, this condition will be satisfied, for creditably free from undue bias, or com- as yet the Americans have been too busy mendably mindful of the strict code of to think of making their work beautiful. etiquette generally observable by the con- In the same way, he may hope to compete, ductors of party organs in the old coun on more equal terms, with the countries try. Still, for all that, solid journalistic which have hitherto been in advance of advantages are none the less, even taking England in respect to taste. England, for for granted that the columns of newspapers example, now exchanges patterns in cotton are not made the restricted arenas of goods with France, whereas thirty years political antagonism or personal diatribe. ago, she only took patterns from France. "I have seen," avers Sir Charles Dilke, In so far as this process is extended to all "the Democratic print of Chicago call its the manufactures common to the two Republican opponent a Radical, disunion, countries, the other excellences of English disreputable, bankrupt, emasculated even- work will have a better chance of making ing newspaper concern.'" But such lan- their way abroad. Therefore, if a workguage is comparatively mild when con- man "can learn to appreciate beauty in trasted with the word-warfare so often industrial production ... he is increasing exercised by a certain class of transatlantic his own capital as truly and as substantially journalists. as if he could add to the muscles of his arms, by doubling their force all at once. He is introducing in the work he produces an element comparatively new to him, but an element which will add to its value, an element which will add to the price it can bring in the market, and which will add to the comforts he can command for his wife and family."

In short, if America be not a paradise for the many, it is certainly a paradise for the elect who indite leading articles. Who would not for such a consummation weigh the advantages against the disadvantages, put up cheerfully with some discomforts, even hazarding, if need be, a pistol-shot once or twice a month?

From The Spectator. MR. GLADSTONE ON MARKETABLE

BEAUTY.

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ment which has taken place in English manufactures; but porcelain and tableglass are so largely decorative in intention and use, that they can hardly be taken as proofs of the general assertion. Beauty of line and color do, no doubt, add largely to the value of both these manufactures, and this will be equally true of other branches of production, in so far as the articles produced are designed for ornament. we fear it would not tell would be in the Where useful articles used by the middle and lower classes. If a cooking utensil could be bought for a few pence less, if it were ugly, we cannot hope that it would be rejected for one more beautiful which cost a few pence more. Strength and goodness of workmanship might perhaps be considered in the choice, but where it is necessary to spend as little as possible on any given article, even the very slightest increase in the cost would be avoided, no matter what might be the accompanying gain in appearance. As regards articles intended for the richer classes, another difficulty presents itself. Fashion is here omnipotent, and in a large community it is almost impossible to guide fashion in the direction of beauty. For some time past taste has been improving, but unfortunately the improvement already shows signs of coming to an end. Oriental manufacturers, for example, are increasingly inclined to use the mineral dyes of Europe rather than their own vegetable dyes, and it is to be presumed, by the ready sale which the more glaring colors command, that they are found to suit the taste of the majority of buyers equally well with the harmonious tints they have displaced. To produce beautiful things, the maker must what is most beautiful for the given article. consider nothing but his own sense of If he does not love the work he is doing, it will never be beautiful, and work done to please other people is rarely good work. Most of all is this true, when the taste consulted is momentary and popular. Fashion changes, and the workman whose sense of beauty cannot change with it is necessarily left behind. He will be lucky if he can bring his work to the notice of the few who do not hold this year's fashions to be necessarily an improvement upon those of last year.

could deviate from it in some small partic- | plays. Mr. Gladstone instances porcelain ulars. He was not, as he is now, a mere and table-glass as examples of the improveattendant on a steam-engine, an uninterested assistant in the manufacture of thousands of articles resembling one another with all the unerring precision that belongs to machinery. This is a point which those who give advice to workmen about the importance of improving their taste do not sufficiently consider. They speak — Mr. Gladstone himself speaks as though each separate workman had a voice in the design of the goods he makes, and could make them more or less beautiful according as his taste guided him. As a matter of fact, nothing can be further from the truth. The designs are given to the workman, and all he has to do is to set going and keep going the machinery which is to give them shape and substance. The mechanism to which he ministers is as inexplorable as nature herself. He can put it into operation, and guide it when in operation, but that is all. There is no field in which individual preference can show itself. It is true that the designs which machinery executes may have more or less of beauty in them, and so far one workman may be more successful than another. But the advice has now to be addressed to a class above the workman. The artists who make trade designs stand in great need of a better education as regards taste; but whether they have it or not, the workman is equally at their mercy. He has to take what they give him, and to copy it mechanically by the hundred thousand. If Mr. Gladstone is right in thinking that beautiful things will sell more readily than ugly things, the workman will undoubtedly profit by any improvement which the taste of the designer undergoes. But he will profit by it without any co-operation of his own. is almost as helpless in the hands of the He master potter as the clay which he prepares for the oven. Of course, there are exceptions to this state of things, processes in which, as yet, machinery has not superseded hand-work, and in which, accordingly, there is still room for individual taste. But they are comparatively few in number, and they give payment to comparatively few persons. Even here, too, the influence of machinery has penetrated. The object of the art workman, as of the ordinary workman, is to turn goods out to pattern, and to economize time by the dexterity which comes from constantly working in the same narrow groove.

The second obstacle is the bad taste which the ordinary purchaser so often dis

desires to see effected in the taste of the
The improvement which Mr. Gladstone
above rather than below. Employers with
workman must, we suspect, begin from
an appreciation of beauty would, by de-

grees, create workmen with an apprecia- | to undertake the labor of exploring those tion of beauty. They would know what records of a bygone age; fewer still the they wanted, and when this was once resolution to go through with it when once ascertained, it would not be very long be- undertaken. Yet it is only by reference to fore they got what they wanted. At pres- them that the past can be rendered intelent, there is not the least appearance of ligible. It is only by that means that we any such knowledge on the part of the can understand how, in the competition for great majority of employers. Those that the supreme place in Hindustan the Endo possess it are not numerous enough to glish gradually surpassed their European affect the great mass of so-called art pro- predecessors, and how, in the course of a duction. They have usually something of short century, they extended their empire the collecting passion about them, and from the confines of Afghanistan to the they find ample gratification for their taste Irrawaddi, and from the Himalayas to in picking up things, which, if not old, are Cape Comorin. The thanks of all stuat all events direct copies of what is old.dents, and in a reflected sense of the But the mass of buyers are still the mere creatures of the shopkeepers, who tell them what is the latest fashion in the several kinds of goods they sell, and have no difficulty in putting off upon them the ugliest thing they have to dispose of. The system of constantly changing patterns must, of itself, be fatal to anything like real taste. It is not in human nature to invent, each spring, something that shall be perfectly beautiful for eleven months, and in the twelfth only fit for "Our Annual Sale of Surplus Stock." Deficient as the supply of beautiful objects may be, there is yet a greater deficiency in the demand.

From The Examiner.

THE OLD RECORDS OF THE INDIA OFFICE. FEW persons are aware of the wealth of information which is to be found stored away in the recesses and pigeon-holes of the India Office. The long galleries of that stately building contain the records of past ages and forgotten peoples. The history of the greatest trading-company that ever was may be found there in its entirety during the century and a half that it fought for existence, and also during the other century that it flourished through the abilities of its servants. The amplest details too are at hand concerning that company's predecessors and rivals. The lore of the ancients, the legends of the merchants of Tyre and Sidon, the narratives of the mediæval travellers, the tales of the mariners of the days of Elizabeth, are all either described in, or illustrated by, the valuable records which are deposited in the India Office. But great as the wealth was known, and unique as much of it has undoubtedly been proved to be, the task of research was attended with great difficulty. Few men have had the courage

public at large, are due to any one who, with adequate knowledge and facilities, undertakes the task of summarizing these important records, so that the information contained in them, but long lost sight of, may become available for the general reader. Such a task has attracted Dr. George Birdwood, of the India Office, a well-known Oriental scholar, and the result of some six months' close labor lies before us in the shape of one of the most interesting blue-books it has been our lot to peruse. The particular records with which Dr. Birdwood deals are exceptionally attractive. They treat more espe cially of the early days of the East India Company, and of that older process - of which the English company was only a late manifestation - which had been steadily going on for centuries- viz., the tendency of the Western nations to gravitate towards the East in search of trade expansion. This natural movement has been called the quest of India. It is when writing of this portion of the subject that Dr. Birdwood is both most instructive and entertaining. As the chronicler of that quest from the earliest times he has summarized the narratives of Christian, Arab, and other travellers in the countries of Asia, and then he has also described the history of Portuguese, Dutch, and English trade with India and the East.

From trade to conquest soon proved to be but a short transition. If the history of the countries of Asia shows one thing more than another, it proves that they have been subject to greater depths of depression than has been the case with those of Europe. With the exception of China, the debt for great splendor and prosperity has been due to a man, to a greater ruler. When he has quitted the scene he has generally left his kingdom an easy prey to the aggressor, and especially ill-able to cope with those European adventurers who began with the dawn of the

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Littell's Living Age, Volume 142