THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21412, 2 March 1935, Page 15

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS

The Story of the Royal Society of Arts, By G. K. Menzies, C.B.E. John Murray. This is an account, by the secretary of the society, abridged from the Official History by Sir Henry Trueman Wood, of the activities over a period of 180 years of the amazingly lively and important Royal Society of Arts. The book is beautifully printed, ' and illustrated with excellent photographs; and the account it gives is of absorbing interest. "What," asks Mr E. V. Lucas in an appreciative foreword, "is the Society of Arts?" And the question that immediately follows must be in the mind of every reader of Mr Menzies' account —"What isn't it?" "In a phrase," Mr Lucas answers his own question, "I should call it England's fairy godmother." Founded in 1754, the Royal Society of Arts had for its object "the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in Great Britain," an order whose rapidly increasing stature seems never to have deterred the society. Some of the most distinguished men in close or> two centuries have been members, and many have been proud to receive its honours—our own Lord Rutherford among them. It is the mother of all exhibitions, the source and example for nearly all learned societies; and the British Industries Fair now being Tield at Birmingham and in London is a direct outcome of its work, for in 1908 the responsible government department was formed to carry on the idea which the society originated. The objects of its interest and encouragement have ranged from cheap boxes of colours, through designs for tea sets, the improvement of turnips and the introduction of mangolds, the protection of copyright in works of art, methods for the successful importation of foreign foods (New Zealand is known to it, according to the design on the end-papers, by her honey), to the marking by tablets of London houses associated with famous men, and the preservation of Efngland's ancient and beautiful cottages. The main impression given by the brief account here noticed is one of extraordinary practical vitality; and if only half of it were true, the society would still be worthy of the enthusiasm of its secretary, and of the goodwill and assistance of all liberal minded men.