188 HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN, AND 



much value to our work. We desire to arouse a zeal which 

 shall stimulate the artizan to produce something more than a 

 mere marketable article, something which shall be at once gen- 

 uine and beautiful, wrought out too as with the laborer's whole 

 heart, finished " to the nail," substantial and graceful, — the real 

 thing and no passable imitation of it. We need some offset 

 to the fierce competitions of trade, the tendency of which is 

 to reduce the real worth of manufactured articles, and sacrifice 

 much to the mere outside gloss, whilst the essential elements 

 are overlooked. There must be such occasions to arouse men 

 to a sense of professional honor, and to suggest the question, 

 " whether amongst the hazards of business life, it is not worth 

 while to venture something for the sake of gaining arepvUation 

 as a thorough workman ? " Is it not far better to pay a fair 

 price for a genuine article, than to receive for a comparatively 

 small sum what would be dear though it cost nothing ? That 

 would be the most generous and profitable competition, which 

 should aim to add the utmost grace and beauty to common 

 materials. Who does not know, yet how many do not realize, 

 that a graceful chair or table of oak is infinitely to be desired, 

 before a tasteless structure of mahogany or rose wood? 

 Schools of design are greatly needed in our new land. We 

 earnestly hope that the beginning of such institutions for men, 

 and we are happy to add for women, which are now enjoyed, 

 may be fostered to a strong and serviceable maturity. The 

 common mechanic requires the instruction which is to be 

 gained in such institutions; it is just what is needed to change 

 our ugly houses of four stories or of one story, into graceful 

 dwellings, and to shape the plainest cottage furniture into 

 graceful outlines. 



It is an interesting feature in these shows, that for the most 

 part, articles of moderate cost and universal utility are brought 

 under our notice. We are not called upon to admire, with 

 misgivings, the exquisite workmanship of most costly and luxu- 

 rious articles, which too often only help to cherish an insane 

 taste for display, and must be out of the reach of all save the 

 wealthiest. Not that elegant and costly articles are not to be 

 made ; on the contrary, there are those who are sent into the 



