The Globe. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1499, 5 December 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1878.

A paper in the Scientific American of October 12th, gives a description of a novel school that has been established in Boston, and which is strongly illustrative of the practical turn that seems inherent in the race. It is a private enterprise, but has been housed by the city, and consists of a large room fitted up with work-bonches, divided into four-foot sections, forming, in fact a large carpenter's shop, where, on evenings, boys are taught tho " use of the half-dozen universal tools, i.e., the hammer, plane, saw, chisel, file, and square." It has been in operation for one year, and the school report says, during that time thirty-two boys were admitted, their ages ranging from twelve to sixteen. The necessary tools are furnished by tho proprietary, and a course of twenty-four lessons in wood-carving may be gone through, which has been prepared with special intention to give the greatest possible amount of instruction, with the least expenditure of tools or material. It is not designed to make finished workmen in wood carving, but to take advantage of the natural inclination toward handicraft that belongs to many boys and to develop it and guide it to useful applications. There were more applications for admission than could be received. If any boy was absent two successive evenings he forfeited his place, which was then filled up from the candidates for admission. A rank list is kept and pasted on the wall, and each boy knows how his work is estimated by consulting the list. The report says that, " perhaps twelve of the scholars had received some instruction (before entering) in the use of the saw and knife, but none had had any previous training in wood carving or the use of the chisel." The experience of the founders leads them to the belief that it would be easy to establish, in connection with all the State schools for boys, an annex for giving the same kind of instruction. " Three or four hours a week, for one year only, of the grammar school course would be enough to give the boys that intimacy with tools and that encouragement to the inborn inclination to handicraft, and that guidance in its use, for want of which so many young men now drift into overcrowded and uncongenial occupations, or lapse into idleness and vice. Northern and Central Europe have been doing this or similar work for years; and such teaching has done very much to hasten the industrial development of the countries that have tried it." There is matter in the above worthy of serious consideration, and in thinking it over, we do not see any insuperable difficulty in introducing something of the same kind here. If there is any place more than another where such instruction is valuable, it is in a new colony like this, where self-dependent people have every chance and incentive to make use of any extra knowledge, it may be their good fortune to have acquired. Indeed, it takes a " handy man" to make a good colonist, and if the possibility of learning the use of common tools were put in the ; way of our youth in a systematic mannor, it would form a most important addition to tho usual studios, and, wo do not doubt, tho opportunity would be eagerly sought after.

Explanation is greatly wanted aa to why the finest steam fire engino in Canterbury is, as it were, laid up. What is there in the fact of it being stationed at the Kailway to account for its non-employment at fires which have, more than once, occurred quite near to its home ? Surely not because it is the property of the General Government and not of the city ? If that system is to be carried out, if that excuse is to be put forward, the argument, if carried to its logical conclusion, might, and if justified, will at some future time be productive of very unpleasant and dangerous consequences. It is a bad rule that will not work both ways. Anybody acquainted with the good management and vigor of that in every way fine body of men—the fire brigade o£ Chriatchureh—would not for a moment ineuio ( fchem by supposing they would deny their semtfi, or that the City Corporation would deny the use of their engines for use at fires which might at any moment break out on railway premises. Yet this would only be copying the rule adopted by the great G. G. at the depot. Or yet another hypothesis may be hazarded. To resurrect an old Joe Miller—a student sent to another for the loan of a book. " Tell your master," said he, "if he lik.es to come here and read it he can have the use or it as long as he pleases." Shortly afterwards 'the bookman (irjpUed to the other for the loan of hb bellow*. "W you master," said he in his turn "if he likes to come here and blow, he can'uie them for eye;*." Sow, if the fire engine is only to be used "on the premises, the story of the book m& the bellows might so me fine day be fully, as it has now been halt capped. Again.it is incredible fcaafc c-ut of the very large body of men employed at tha railways, not travelling on them mini, a com-

pact brigade cannot be formed, and in good hands be drilled up to the highest pitch of perfection. We refuse to believe that the men themselves would not gladly give their services, and if allowed would, we are sure, by a praiseworthy emulation, in a short time become a credit to themselves and an incentive to still greater perfection in the non-official brigade. And once formed where is the renson they should not run with their (our) engine wherever it is required, or wherever they can got with it ? If there is any other reason than those we have named we should like to hear it. There are ways and means of moving the most costive of constitutions, and we are much mistaken if that engine will not, before very long, have to be trotted out to perform, when wanted, the work it is intended for.