Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-06

N. Y. Independent.
THE AMBACHTssCHooL AT AMsTERDAM.-Mr
John MacGregor writes in the School Board
Chronicle: In recent visit to Amsterdam on
board my canoe went to see curious school,
and much was observed there which may be of
use Tor imitation in England. The building,
specially erected, after temporary one had
been sufficient for some years occupation is in
quiet, healthy, and pleasant part of the town
suburbs, and it is not unlike plain industrial
school, bad no introduction to the masters o:
authorities, but their very kind attentions were
a good augury to me of what they hadlto show.
Ii is ten years since this school was started for
the sons Of artisans, to teach them technical
handicrait in a thorough and systematic man
ner. The idea originated with the society for
promoting the interests of the working classes,
or, as they call it in Dutch, "Maatschappy voor
den werkenden stand" which itself was begun
in 1854, and has now about 7C0 members, each
subscribing IS. 4d. per annum. Division J. OF
this society is styled the "Scavengers' Bril-
gade, and the programme, given in Eng
llsh, says ;-"On very moderate terms the pub
lie roads and Uhoroughlares, the cutters includ-
ed, are swept and cleaned under her superinten-
dence," &C., where the idiom reveals the honest
DutchT ans translation rather amusingly, and
our London mud of the last few weeks would be
all the better, too, for Cher" broom. A benevo-
lent fund is another department, and was in
formed that members of the pestilent "Interna-
tlOIdi art nOi dllONCu u UTOuDlc tIlS SOCletN.
The society also organizes exhibitions for work.
men, and sends them free to such exhibitions
abroad Some of its members were thus sent to
the English workman's show at the agricultural
hall last year, which affair, it may be remem-
bered, had many good wishes, but was some
how rather failure. The Dutchmen gained a
gold medal; but was grieved and ashamed to
hear that the medal has never been received from
the donors. As in duty bound, ] have tried to
right this wrong but hitherto in vain. Per-
haps your notice of the omission NAV quicken
the honesty OF the managers of our show Lee
lures attended by 1000 persons and classes
for needle-wOmen with the sewing machine
are also lines of work for the Amsterdam
society; and then comes the school
Tor boys, which we shall now look
at more particularly. Here we are in the black
smiths shop, with fOrges and vices and benches.
all quiet at present, as the boys are up stairs in
light, cheerful, airy room, with long high
desks across, and fine set of young fellows, all
between thirteen and sixteen wears of ACE.
planning and sketching from models and ma.
chimes. Their heavier muscular work is done
first in the morning. and now they are at finer
employments. Every boy pays for his learning,
and every boy has a light, short blouse as his
uniform. There are iortv.fve blacksmiths.
sixty four carpenters, FIVE sculptors, and IN ali
about 100 intelligent, bright-lookng lads, as
busy as busy can be, and yet evidently happy
with the pleasure of learning. All OF them seem
to be taught something of everything, for there
are eighteen hours per week given TO linear
drawing, sixteen 10 caTpentering, fourteen to the
forge, twelve to first principles, and ten TO al
zebra and mathematics and the same to the art
of the turner That beautiful lathe bv fine
window was presented by the queen of Holland,
and only prize boy may work its treadle.
Models on the walls around were the kings
wise presents. The corporation of Amsterdam
gives El6O year, and the workmen's
society half that sum. Sixteen teachers
conduct the classes and the hours are
in general from eight to twelve and
two to four every week day. The aim
is evidently to give every lad good
sound teaching of eye and hand. The carpen-
ter's mystery in Holland finds frequent use
where Houses are so neat and trim, and so here
the young cbiseler learns how to dovetail door
or ft a oof-tree. The machinist in iron has
plenty to do with railways, steamers, mills, aud
a thousand canals; and no wonder he will get
good wages IT, at sixteen years Of age, as saw
| one lad doing, he can sketch the ''link motion"
| Of railway engine al "thrce-quarters view"
casts on the walls, and more or less feeble imi-
tatlons Of them from young fingers, show that
noulnp, if not sculpture, is In demand; and
tmnough the divine majesty of art Is not Just the
Dulchman's line, even in his maryelously at.
| IaclNe OIL paintings, always sold because al.
| WAYS true) YET great artists may come out OF
| lnls school, as undoubtedly many good artGcers
haye done. Three years is long time 10 spend
w learhlng technical work. but then 1t teaches