116 HOME AND GARDEN 



of design, is no doubt the chief cause of the poor 

 quality of decorative value in the mass of jewellery 

 and plate and the many so-called ornamental objects 

 that are seen in shop windows. On the other hand, 

 the work of the simplest Oriental jeweller has that 

 precious quality of rightness of purpose and distinct 

 human interest. It bears on its face the evidence of 

 the one man's clear intention ; it tells its story as the 

 work of a man's hand and not that of a machine, for 

 he has beaten somewhat of his own soul and brain 

 into the simply- wrought object of gold or silver. For 

 none of those mighty agencies of modern times, of 

 steam machinery, of business calculation, of backing 

 by money, can possibly stand in the place of that 

 divine combination of artist and craftsman that alone 

 can as surely bring forth the good work, as the union 

 of soul and body must go to the making of the most 

 perfect living being. 



Then there is a lovable quality about the actual 

 tools. One feels so kindly to the thing that enables 

 the hand to obey the brain. Moreover, one feels a 

 good deal of respect for it ; without it brain and hand 

 would be helpless. When the knife that has been in 

 one's hand or one's pocket for years has its blade so 

 much worn by constant sharpening that it can no 

 longer be used, with what true regret does one put it 

 aside, and how long it is before one can really make 

 friends with the new one ! I do not think any work- 

 man really likes a new tool. There is always some 



