148
EXPOSITION AT VIENNA.
either too far away from their homes, or closed when they have leisure to visit them,—in'the evening or on Sundays,— or that they are so crowded by mere loungers as to drive earnest students away. Then, it is complained, that the present facilities for education are not quite what are needed, or what the workmen understand by the term Technical Education. It is felt that something practical must ere long be accomplished if the English artisans are to maintain their high reputation as cunning and skilful workers, especially in view of the fact that the apprenticeship system, as. with us, is almost obsolete. It is thought by many that the mediaeval system of Trade Guilds, if they could be revived, would meet the needs of to-day. The discussion upon this point, if related fully, would prove extremely interesting to workmen ; but it can only be briefly noticed here, in preference to the European, Continental, Government Trade-Schools, for the reason that the English are trying to bring about an improved system of training, more in accordance with the free, American government ; namely, by individual or combined effort in preference to clamoring for state help ; the feeling being one of watchful jealousy lest the government crush out all the springs of healthy, free individual action, dwarfing the people into mere automatic beings, with everything marked out for them and limited.
It is well known that the technical and practical knowledge how to work at any trade in the best way, is a valuable possession. It can only be acquired at the cost of time, money» mental and bodily labor. It is a species of capital, only to he parted with for a fair return. F ormerly, each employer of labor, for the most part, had learned his own trade as an apprentice, had worked at it for a time as a journeyman, or as his own employer, and taught apprentices to help him in his business. Hence, he had a direct interest in making his assistants the best possible workmen, and imparted freely to them all the ordinary knowledge and all the more hidden secrets of bis trade. But with the modern system, of great capital, of large workshops and factories, which has been inaugurated during the last century, the duty of teaching apprentices devolves on journeymen, who—except in the case of a father and son—have not only very little interest in teaching the youth, but w T ho,