The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-11-01
Technical Training in the Stone Industry

The changes in educational methods
are nowhere more marked than in the
greater attention that is given in these
days to training in the arts and handi-
crafts. Even our public schools give
prominence to manual training and there
are many admirable trade schools in va
rious parts Of the country. II must
be confessed that there is not abso-
lutte unanimity as to the effect of school
training In these lines. No one would
claim that school training, no matter
how thorough, can replace a long and
arduous Apprenticeship for those who in
tend to make a life practice of any han
dicraft 1t would seem to be equally
true that careful training Of the eve
and the hand during the susceptible
years of boyhood must have an ap-
preciable and beneficial effect in after
life.
A new effort in industrial education
IA to be attempted and it is along lines
that make it particularly interesting to
the readers OF this magazine. The Went
worth institute is ready to begin work
in Boston, furnishing practical education
in mechanic arts, with speciality in
carpentry and building Arioch Went
worth, former owner Of one Of the larg-
est marble industries in the United
States and resident of Boston, became
interested in practical education, and at
his death bequeathed the sum of 49,,
100000 to build an institution that
should carry out his ideas. A corpora
tion was formed in 1904, and the pur.
pose to which this school was to be put
is found in Mr.. Wentworth's own words
education in the mechanic arts"
Wishing to leave the principal of the
endowment unimpaired, the trustees
waited until last October before break
ing ground for the erection of the build.
ings, and in this way have utilized only
the income from Mr., Wentworth's leg
acy. The site is on Huntington ave-
nue.. opposite the Boston museum of
fine arts, and near to several large fac
tories. which will be open to the stu
dents for practical observation.
The announcement that the institute
is to be voted specially to carpentry and
building awakens some speculation.
What proportion of the time will be
given to frame construction compared
with that bestowed upon more substan-
tial methods OF buildingY The use of
timber has been given up in the cities
for structural purposes and is fast yield
place in the villages and towns to stone
and brick. The prospectus of the insti
tuition announces that courses will be
given in architectural drafting and the
reading of blue prints and plans. 1t
is most sincerely to be hoped that close
study will be given to plans for stone
construction and to elementary practice
in the laying out of stonework. We
are constantly receiving evidences of
demand for instruction in these lines
Hardly week goes by that we do not
receive inquiries as to where informa-
tion can be had on stone construction
from some stonecutter who wishes to
rise above the banker and chisel. All
we can do is to refer these people to
the various handbooks, which are very
confusing to beginners and cannot at
all replace verbal instruction. A well
equipped institution that would provide
complete course in stone working
without too great expense would be of
great advantage to the stone industry.
In view of the founders long connection
with the marble trade, it would seem
particularly fitting that Wentworth in
stitute should be the first to take this
matter up. We commend this to the
earnest consideration of the directors
From "Stone"