432 TECHNICAL EDUCATION xvn 



mean figuring natural objects : making plans and 

 sections, approaching geometrical rather than 

 artistic drawing. I do not wish to exaggerate, 

 but I declare to you that, in my judgment, the 

 child who has been taught to make an accurate 

 elevation, plan and section of a pint pot has had 

 an admirable training in accuracy of eye and hand. 

 I am not talking about artistic education. That is 

 not the question. Accuracy is the foundation of 

 everything else, and instruction in artistic drawing 

 is something which may be put off till a later 

 stage. Nothing has struck me more in the course 

 of my life than the loss which persons, who are 

 pursuing scientific knowledge of any kind, sustain 

 from the difficulties which arise because they 

 never have been taught elementary drawing; 

 and I am glad to say that in Eton, a school of 

 whose governing body I have the honour of being 

 a member, we some years ago made drawing im- 

 perative on the whole school. 



The other matter in which we want some 

 systematic and good teaching is what I have 

 hardly a name for, but which may best be ex- 

 plained as a sort of developed object lessons such 

 as Mr. Acland adverted to. Anybody who knows 

 his business in science can make anything sub- 

 servient to that purpose. You know it was said of 

 Dean Swift that he could write an admirable poem 

 upon a broomstick, and the man who has a real 

 knowledge of science can make the commonest ob- 



