Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-28
Drawing for Mechanics.

The time when the art of drawing was
considered merely as a polite accom-
plishment has passed away. 1t has be-
come of great practical value. Where
writing of the utmost precision and am
plitude fails to convey adequate cOncep-
tions, few significant lines of the pencil
vividly present them to the minds eve.
No possible description of a mathemati-
cal figure can convey its image to the
mind as plainly as a diagram. France
has been foremost in promoting this art
among her people. Paris has now 10000
scholars In drawing, and in 1867 more
than 100000 were expended by that
city for the teaching of drawing alone.
In England, art has not Aourished in
proportion with other things its ideas
have not made progress in the masses Of
the people, and the effect has been man
ifest in the inferiority of many of her
products of art, and the diminution of
the sale. But at length she mas become
fully alive to this fact, and vigorous
efforts have of late years been made in
Great Britain to promote the intellectual
culture of her workmen and the special
teaching of drawing in her schools. In
South Kensington, London, a sort Of
metropolis of art, including both a
school and museum, has been
founded, from which now branch
hundred and fifty schools, de-
pending on twenty superior establish
ments in direct communication with the
original one. Birmingham has over one
thousand scholars, receiving special in
struetion in drawing Bristol, three
hundred Dublin, FIVE hundred Liver
pool. a thousand, and London three
/ thousand. An annual sum is apprOpri-
ated by Parliament for bringing to per-
fection art studies, and especially draw
ing and modelling for manufactures. In
the schools for poor children, in the
evening schools for artisans, in special
and in normal schools, the art of draw
ing is taught gratuitously, good models
are secured and premiums, diplomas and
medals are awarded to all who attain
meritorious distinction at yearly exami-
nations. Women are not excluded from
competition in any of these schools. In.
the examination for 1867 there were SIX
hundred drawings or paintings and one
hundred model sketches. The manu-
faetured products exhibited with the
designs from which they we're modelled,
consisting Of carpets, wall paper, jew
elry, etc., show the favorable influence
of these schools upon the industrial
works of the country.
This whole subject, vitality connected
as it is with the progress OF manufae-
turers and mechanics, is one deserving Of
far more attention than it has yet re-
eeiyed. We have in our own country
some excellent institutions for this prae-
/ teal art. among which none rank higher
than the School of Design for Women in
Philadelphia. Drawing furnishes an oP-
portunity for the employment of women,
that leads to an almost unlimited variety
of useful and remunerative operations.
But it should be made an essential
branch of education in our common
schools. The boy whose entire school
education is finished in the grammar
school should be taught the elements of
this art. so indispensable to the complete
mechanic of the present day. We do
not mean that any attempt should be
made to turn the grammar shool boys
into artists in the ordinary aceeptation
of that term, but they should be we'll
grounded in the principles and practice
of mechanical and architectural draw
ing. 1t is from these boys that We are
to recruit the coming generation Of in
telligent artisans, mechanics and manu-
facturers, and it is far more important
to their future, as we'll as that of the
community at large, that they should De
we'll informed on those subjects OF use TO
them in after life, than that they snail
be able to pass ereditable examination
in grammar, history, the Constitution
and geography, desirable as the latter
NAV philadelphia Ledger.