336 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



— that in this Polytechnic a clean beginning has been made in 

 Art ; that you have advisedly elected to be free from all 

 external control and are possessed with the fixed intention 

 of working out your own salvation. Professor Herkomer 

 begged — prayed I may say — that you should be kept clear 

 of all contagion, and all who are your true friends must join 

 in this prayer. 



I desire to preach from the same parable as regards the 

 teaching of Science — to exercise the functions of a Medical 

 Officer of Health for Science ; but my task is a difficult one. 

 Professor Herkomer spoke to willing ears ; his meaning 

 was clear ; he was dealing with a popular subject of which 

 we all have some understanding-. I cannot but recognise 

 that my subject is generally misunderstood, and its public 

 importance greatly underrated in consequence. Some in- 

 scrutable influence has led those who have organised this 

 Institute to appreciate the needs of Art, and having had the 

 wisdom to take proper advice, they have put you in pos- 

 session of the elements of a perfect system of art sanitation ; 

 but the needs of the sister subject Science have yet to be 

 grasped here and elsewhere. The sanitary condition of 

 the dwellings which Science has to put up with throughout 

 our country is most faulty, ill-arranged, out of date, and 

 oftentimes abominable ; and if this Polytechnic, indeed 

 Polytechnics and schools generally, desire to place the 

 teaching of Science under healthy conditions, heed must 

 be given to the inspector's warnings. 



I might almost take Professor Herkomer's address, 

 write science for art, add a few passages here and there, 

 and redeliver it as my own. Decorative art, that art which 

 enables artists to decorate, you were told cannot be taught 

 on the large scale, it cannot even be taught in schools — it 

 must be taught in the workshop. Decorative science, 

 science which decorates its possessor and enables him or 

 her to be scientific, scientific knowledge which can be made 

 use of in the service of the world, also cannot be studied 

 except in the workshop and in Nature, to whom also the 

 artist must resort. As Professor Herkomer said most 

 truly : all technical education will fail if established on a 



