The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-15 00:00:00

undertakings deserve encouragement and recogni-
tion. Sir ROUNDELL PALMER, the other evening,
delivered an address on this subject at the Marys
lebone Court-house, and in many respects it de-
serves consideration. The object of the meeting
over which he presided was to consider the pos.
sibility of arranging an Exhibition for Marylebone
similar to those that had taken place in other
parts of the metropolis. The hon. and learned
Chairman spoke with emphatic tone as to the
advisability of such a proceeding, and dilated
upon the benefits that had already accrued from
the North London Exhibition. In Pursuance of
his meaning he quoted a passage that had been
employed to describe the purport and purpose of such
undertakings, which was as follows :—" Working•
class Industrial Exhibitions are eminently calculated
to promote progress of invention and industrial art
to bring out the talent of working men and women,
and to inculcate a just pride in their works."
Such forms, in truth, % very correct definition of
the objects of such affairs, and too much stress
can hardly be laid upon the effect produced by
their carrying out. They are worthy types and
noble examples of what men can do when they
exert their energies in an independent manner,
and come forward to exhibit their latent talents
and dormant qualities of painstaking and perse-
verance. Sir ROUNDELL PALMER very truly ob-
served that such exhibitions showed what could be
done, because there were none of the advantages of
capital or leisure, hence they were powerful in.
ducements to those devoid of these benefits to at-
tempt their utmost, and to prove their skill.
Beyond the advantages of promoting inventions,
however, there is the primary one of con-
ferring a moral good on the exhibitors, and
on this point the Chairman dwelt with
due emphasis. All far-seeing judges will concur
with him that if such undertakings promote the
" moral elevation of that class on which society de•
pends," they are of unquestionable benefit, and
that they do achieve such a desideratum there can
be little or no doubt whatever. It must certainly
produce a must beneficial effect upon all who are
engaged in such elevating and refining pursuits ;
and besides, there is the secondary advantage that
they are thus shielded from the temptation of
plunging into idle or hurtful amusements in their
hours of leisure. There is something very beautiful
in the thought of those who are ground down by
the necessary avocations of their callings, taking
some hours from the period devoted to rest in order
to promote useful and ornamental works, and to in.
crease the store of inventions that contribute to the
welfare and happiness of society. In this discourse
before us the subject is properly considered in all
its bearings. It is not likely that any one of fore-
sight or experience would slight the immense im-
portance of such undertakings among the working
classes. Earl RUSSELL made a very effective dis-
course in his best style, both as a statesman and a
speaker, on the occasion of opening the Industrial
Exhibition ut Islington ; end Mr. GLADSTONE'S
eloquence found a congenial subject fur its mighty
expansion and majestic flow when he came forward
to add his tribute to the great work so happily
consummated. Sir ROUNDELL PALMER has not
fallen short of his task, nor neglected its require-
ments, in the remarks here made; and those who
have hitherto entertained a doubt as to the advisa-
bility of such affairs in the abstract, or the likelihood
of their success in practical. working, cannot do
better than peruse this speech, for it contains clear
and comprehensive statements as to the nature of
their progress and purpose, developing their
great and glorious object and rendering justice
to the good eff_cts produced by their carrying out.
Of these latter results it may be truly said that they
have neither a declared nor an cfficial valu?, but
that they are honourable in themselves and
most felicitous in their influence on the
labourers and en society at large. It can-
not be said that it is a small or an
inefficient thing for the lower classes to turn aside
from temptations to which their richer brethren
often fall victims, and to devote the hours snatched
from the pursuance of hard and constant labour to
the production of useful iaventioos, or the practice
of beautiful arts, which adorn and dignify huma-
nity, and raise man in the scale of creation nearer
to that perfection for which he was destined by his
CREATOR. All that conduces to such an end is
worthy of regard and reverence, and none should
scoff or sneer at the efforts made by those whose
industry and energy might well furnish an exam-
ple to those more largely endowed with the bless.
ings of PROVIDENCE. It is one of the best coup-
lets in the "Elegy on a Country Churchyard"
which says—
Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals a the poor ;
_ _

_ .
but in these undertakings there is nothing of a
mea❑ or mediocre description—for, on the contrary,
all tends to a high and honourable object. Truly
did the Chairman at the Marylebone meeting ob-
serve that the negative good achieved by these un-
dertakings was as nothing to the positive advan-
tages obtained by men thus devoting themselve's to
the pursuit of high endeavours. " When they
spurred men, on to take pleasure in cultivating
in themselves the sense of beauty, they tended
then to the improvement of the inner man; they
made the man worthy of honour by others, and
they made the men feel a just respect for theme
selves." Sir R. PALMER made rather an amusing
allusion to the employment of the term " working
classes." He said he felt a jealousy of it, for he
thought that he was rather a hard-working man
himself, In continuation of this theme he observed
that nothing was so blameable as for one man to
look down upon another because he was worse off
than himself, and it would be a sad day when the
different classes of society were far separated from
each other in feeling and sentiment. This is very
true, for those possessed of right sentiments will
always find something of interest and attraction
in the affairs and occupations that engage and
occupy the attention of others, diverse as they may
be in tastes and different in circumstances. In many
respects it may be considered that this speech of
the Attorney-General has done good service to a
cause for the furtherance of which all wise men
should strive, and whose importance and interest
cannot be overrated by the most enthusiastic ad-
vocate or devoted partisan. In all ranks and
classes the pursuit of some elevated engagement is
desirable, but it is of tenfold more importance whe❑
it engages the attention of men peculiarly exposed
to temptation, and whose belongings do not afford
them much inducement to concentrate their
thoughts upon occupations of a superior kind. It
is a triumph of a kind of which this age of pro-
gross may wall be proud that the working men of
the country should thus endeavour to carve out for
themselves a high and honourable place iu the
community of which they are ;he mainstay and
support.

Mr. Frank %Aland says that he lately heard
of a shepherd who possesses a dumb sheep-dog, but though
the poor beast has no voice, he is very clever at driving
sheep. In order, therefore, to wake up the deficiency of his
dog the shepherd stands still while tho dog is driving the
sheep, and barks himself, thus quite upsetting the theory
that it is "no good to keep a dog and bask oneself."

TRUE, PERHAPS, in One SENSE.—There's a report
in a certain "the Ring"—that a "notorious
Leg" in abort to have "the vacar4 Garter,"—.Fun,