ive art obtained by retrospective glances at the past.

It is to the duty of thus learning from the past, we desire to direct
the attention of our readers. Slavishly to copy, or systematically to
imitate, are evils scarcely less reprehensible than to neglect them
altogether; but frequent study of the great masters in any art is
indispensable to those who would excel. It is to the absence of such
study that we may trace most of the defects of the British artisan.
Unhappily, he seldom either examines, reads, or thinks; generally he is
content to work, like a horse in a mill, pursuing the same monotonous
round, producing only that which has been produced before, without
alteration, and without improvement. Until within the last few years,
this defect could hardly have been urged against him as an offence. His
employers did not require advancement, seldom encouraged intelligent
workmen, and rather preferred the mere machine who was content to do no
more than his fathers had done, and who looked upon new inventions as
costly whims or expensive absurdities. There were exceptions--glorious
exceptions; but the rule was, undoubtedly, as we have stated.

This deplorable disadvantage exists no longer; in nearly every town in
the kingdom, of any size, there is some institution where knowledge may
be obtained readily and cheaply. The societies in connection with the
Department of Science and Art now abound with competent masters and
teachers, and all the appliances of instruction.

The South Kensington Museum is alone a mine of wealth. Not only are the
artisans enabled to resort to it freely, but every possible inducement
is held out to them to do so; the superintendents there almost go into
the highways to "compel them to come in." There is no calling of any
sort or kind that may not be educated here; the masters, as well as the
workmen, of all trades may here receive the education, "free of charge,"
which no sum of money could have procured for them twenty years ago.
Ignorance, nowadays, is, therefore, totally without excuse.

No doubt the seed that has been so extensively and abundantly planted is
growing rapidly up; in some places it has borne fruit. It is utterly
impossible that the existing race of art-workmen, and their successors
"rising up," can be ignorant as were their predecessors. If they use
their eyes merely, and permit their minds to remain blanks, they must
improve. There is no street in London now that will not t