224 
On Technical Education . 
[April, 
were trained, from institutions like the City Guilds, it would 
conduce very strongly to make them indifferent in learning 
the piinciples of their art ; they would content themselves, 
as at present, 'with being meve employevs of Icibouv , leaving to 
others the acquiring of a knowledge of the principles on 
which their industries were based. And yet it is most desir- 
able, for the owner’s and nation’s success, that he should 
have a sound knowledge of the principles on which his 
industry is based, for it would render him more earnest in 
his business, and it would much contribute to make him give 
personal attention to every detail ; and according to Mr. 
Chance, the large glass and chemical manufacturer at Bir- 
mingham, “ success in any manufacturing pursuit depends 
mainly upon the most minute attention to the smallest point 
which may be concerned in the perfection of the article to 
be produced, and that is why I think thoroughness of edu- 
cation is so important: a man who has had a thorough 
education will appreciate perfection much more than the 
man who has been superficially educated.” A sound know- 
ledge of the principles of his business also causes the manu- 
faCturer to take a greater pride in his employment, and it 
makes him keep himself better informed as to what is being 
done in other countries. & 
Mr. H. Ripley, the then Chairman of the Bradford Cham- 
ber of Commerce, insisted strongly before the 1868 Com- 
mittee on a good scientific education for owners and 
manageis, on account of advantages like those named that 
spring from it. I will give one question and his answer. 
Question (4267) : “ Comparing them (French and German 
manufaCtui ei s) with English gentlemen of the same order, 
do you think they are on the whole more intelligent, parti- 
cularly on scientific subjects, than a similar class in this 
country ? ” — “ I expressed an opinion on that subject years 
an d I expressed it again very strongly last year at 
Bradford, in the spring. I have come in contact with manu- 
facturing gentlemen abroad whose friendship I could claim 
point of view, these men are superior in scien- 
tific knowledge to gentlemen of a similar class in England • 
they are undoubtedly superior in scientific knowledge to any 
men occupying similar positions in England ; they have ap- 
pealed to me to be more in earnest than our manufacturers 
are on this subject, and I am ready to use the word 
alaimed : the only thing that has alarmed me is the 
earnestness with which these foreign manufacturers are 
conducting their business, and the attention they give to 
every point of detail : comparing them with our own 
