THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 153 



clover lectured on "Arts : Present and Future" or a con- 

 sideration of the present and prospective condition of the 

 domestic arts. He spoke at some length of the various 

 uses of paper in recent years, and of the numerous and 

 increasing applications of glass to the purposes of econo- 

 my and of ornament. He referred to the marvellous tal- 

 ent shown in the preparation of articles of food and the 

 use of machinery in this way. References were also made 

 to steam and electricity for motive power, and its possible 

 developments in the future. The lecture was illustrated 

 by humorous anecdotes and allusions. 



Monday, Feb. 8, 1892.— Pvof. Edward S. Morse of Sa- 

 lem lectured on Japanese Pottery. The lecturer said that 

 the most civilized nations do not necessarily produce the 

 most artistic pottery. In the rudest tribes we sometimes 

 find traces of high artistic merit ; but where the highest 

 cultivation is combined with artistic taste, the effect can- 

 not fiiil to be charming. The Japanese are superior in 

 these qualifications and we find them excelling all other 

 nations in their pottery. Their pottery of any decided 

 merit dates back not more than four hundred years. On 

 account of the limited communications in Japan we find 

 the pottery of each of the provinces has a distinctive char- 

 acter. In other countries it is of one general type. The 

 Japanese excel in porcelain also ; but in this they do not 

 show the same originality of design. Their pottery is to 

 their porcelain as the etching is to the steel engraving. 

 The Japanese potter has a heavy wheel on the ground which 

 he causes to revolve rapidly, and as he is on his knees on 

 a level with the wheel, has complete control over the clay 

 before him, and is thus enabled to produce the most deli- 

 cate pottery. In Japan the calling of a potter is considered 

 a very honorable one, and hence attracts the most talented 



ESSEX INST. BULLETIN, VOL. XXIV 20 



