i 7 6 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



produced in distressing colors and in unfortunate combinations. 

 Injudiciously managed, it is easily possible to produce meager 

 and inartistic effects. The average buyer has, therefore, been dis- 

 posed to reckon with himself that, dollar for dollar, he could get 

 more beauty elsewhere, and has accordingly gone there. The 

 intrinsic merit of the ware is such, however, that an early revival 

 of interest in it may be expected. 



The processes of the atelier are much more varied than those 

 described. These special ones have been selected as being among 

 the most characteristic, particularly of American establishments. 

 Moreover, they are types, and have an independent interest as 

 ingenious adaptations of means to ends. 



Before closing the door upon the atelier, the factor of its per- 

 sonnel deserves a moment's attention. I refer now to the work- 

 ers — not in their social or human capacity, but merely as mer- 

 chandise-producers. Their labor is expended almost exclusively 

 in the creation of supposed beauty. It is true that the work is 

 lavished for the most part upon objects of utility ; but still it 

 would all fall under the head of ornamentation, since the utili- 

 tarian quality in the products has been conferred elsewhere than 

 in the atelier. It is curious, then, in view of this end, to find the 

 workers of the most inartistic cult. In other departments of 

 glass-making, and notably in the production of picture-windows, 

 the possibilities of the material have attracted artists of the high- 

 est rank, and the results have been quite worthy of their effort. 

 No such artistic invasion has taken place in this department. 

 Considering the lives and training of the workers, the surprise is 

 that they have realized as much beauty as they have. There is 

 nothing in the atmosphere they breathe to cultivate such a senti- 

 ment. It is related of a celebrated Japanese cloissonne-msiker 

 that, having acquired a considerable sum of money from the sale 

 of some of his choice wares at one of the Paris expositions, he 

 expended the entire amount in the creation of a beautiful garden 

 around his work-rooms, believing that such an environment 

 would inspire his people to produce even more beautiful wares. 

 I presume that a spirit such as this is possible only where one 

 works for excellence rather than for money. 



Accoeding to Dr. S. T. Hickson, a naturalist-traveler, the people of the island 

 of Sangir, near Celebes, suppose that, when a man is sick, his proper soul is driven 

 out of him and replaced by a saMt, or soul of sickness ; and they employ, to 

 eject the evil spirit, a means of mild persuasion. God-cages or god-canoes, made 

 of wood and ornamented with twigs and leaves, are hung up in the patient's dwell- 

 ing, in which the sakit, if pleased with the substance and design of the structure, 

 will take up its abode ; after which, it is supposed, the sick man will imme- 

 diately recover. 



