The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-23 00:00:00

_
PAPER HANGINGS.

CAUSE OF OUR INFERIORITY TO TIM
FRENCH IN PAPER-HANGINGS.
If we cast our eyes towards the French, as our
principal competitors, we find that the methods in
practice here are precisely the same as they have in
use ; that in the mechanical branches we are superior,
and the colours we employ are far more durable;
that at one time we equalled their productions of the
present day, and the only difference that exists is our
want of proper artists, and of course the want of pro-
per instructors, to educate them for the profession.
While they employ (as did our former manufacturers)
men who understand the principles of design and
the harmony of colouring, and who make it their
aim to unite every beauty with taste and cultivated
judgment, we throw all this important branch upon
persons who, to gain a scanty ligipg, require to unite
the two professions of designer and dealer In block-
cutting. It is not to be expected but that those men
will throw off a number of patterns of most inferior
quality ; they cannot be supposed to pay the atten-
tion which is. required to produce good work, nor
have they ever had the means of educating themselves
sufficiently to enable them to equal work which is the
result of careful and indefatigable study and prac-
tice. This shows a great want of encouragement
on the part of the English manufacturers that we
must hope to see remedied. The designer in
England is not deemed the man of talent—the man
of genius—who is looked up to as possessing great
and superior abilities, whose refinement of mind en-
sures him respect and honour wherever he goes ;—no,
he on whom the manufacturer depends for his success
in trade—he on whom devolves the important task cf
creating from his practice or mind beautiful forms
and elegant combinations, it is a melancholy fact, is
paid less for his labour than the mechanic that is
merely employed to print the pattern after it is pre-
pared to his hand, who has no necessity for thought,
nothing but that which is within the power of com-
mon animal strength to exert.—The Budder.

MILITARY FUNERAL.—tiIe military display of the
veteran corps of pensioners was on Thursday brought to
a close in performance of a melancholy duty—the burial
of a comrade. James Mason, the veteran in queAtion,
died very suddenly on Tuesday night. He had been
out at the inspection all the day previous, apparently in
good health, when Major-General Sir Niel Douglas, who
retained a lively recollection of his services during the
late war, entered into conversation with him, the de-
ceased having been with Sir Niel at the memorable
field of Waterloo; on which occasion Mason acted as
field bugler to that distinguished officer. The corps hav-
ing formed in military order before the residence of the
deceased in the Lawnmarket—a firing party in front
with arms reversed, and the band—proceeded with the
corpse shoulder high to the New Cemetery at Wallis-
, ton, where his remains were interred with the usual mi-
litary honours. The streets were crowded with spec-
tators, attracted by the novelty of the spectacle.—
Caledonian Mercury.
EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.—We ob-
serve that during the winter months the second-class
carriages are to be closed in by means of windows, as in
the the first-class carriages. This will be an immense
improvement, and highly conducive to the comfort of the
passengers travelling by this class of carriages, which
hitherto have been the least liked of all from the strong
current of cold air running through them.—Gtisyou,
Argus.
NEW GAME-LAW ACT.—Sir James Graham's pro-
posed bill for the modification of the game-laws has been
sent round to several influential sporting noblemen and
landholders, and has, it is said, excited as much general
indignation amongst the squirearchy, at such a diminu-
tion of their privileges, as the new Medical Bill has done ;
amongst the surgeons of the country.—Leeds Times