DEPART MENT OF AND ART. A.D. 1860-1873. Part II. rative use of iron, and, by appreciating the spirit both of the Gothic and Renaissance architects, was on the threshold of introducing a novel style of architecture, when, alas! death, at the early age of forty-two years, has cut short his promising career." South Kensington Museum, June 21, 1866. HENRY COLE. AN ADDRESS, DELIVERED IN THE LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE, 8TH DEcember, 1875, BY SIR HENRY COLE, K. C. B. AT DISTRI BUTIONS OF PRIZES. A.D. 1875. Selections. HE Directors of this Institution have put into my ADDRESSES hands a printed pamphlet suggesting the duties which I have to perform this evening. I find an appropriate text at the beginning of this little pamphlet. Sir Thomas Wyse, in 1837, said, if not in this very room, yet in the presence of some of the gentlemen whose heads are now as white as my own:-"The time is fast approaching when your institution will be an example, not scoffed at, not doubted, not dreaded, but imitated; when, no longer single, you will be enabled, looking around from this spot, to count your progeny rising up in every direction, like that of the celebrated Asiatic tree, whose seed, wherever they fall, spring up in forests each nobler and more fruitful than its parent." Sir Thomas Wyse was a prophet, and his prophecy has been amply fulfilled. But Sir Thomas did not contemplate that those things which somebody has called "godless" things, should be in intimate alliance with the old and venerated Universities of Oxford and of Cambridge; that they should be in alliance with the Society of Arts, and, finally, that they should ally themselves with Government and receive prizes from the Science and Art Department. The prizes of this evening refer to general education and to Art. They refer also to chemistry, physical geography, mechanics, and natural history; but there appear to me to be some omissions. I ADDRESSES BUTIONS OF of Music. am supposed to have the art of saying disagreeable things, and not always preaching smooth things, and I hope the directors will excuse me if I point out one or two things in which I think the institution is deficient. You cannot go into any school in Germany, or into any institute resembling this, without finding that one of the things taught, and taught most efficiently, is Music. The same thing happens in Switzerland and in Holland; it happens somewhat less in France; it happens more or less in Italy; but, undoubtedly, you will find throughout the length and breadth of Europe that Music forms part of education. Three hundred years Importance since, when Liverpool existed in some kind of shape, every gentleman was supposed to know Music, and I have no doubt that then the singing in the churches-there were few, if any, dissenting chapels was much more effective than it is now: undoubtedly England was once called a musical nation, and at that time people had their glees and madrigals, which contributed to the happiness of men and women. I would therefore ask the directors why Music is not taught in this institution? Somebody has said there is no time. There is more than enough time, and the fact is that if you did not go on grinding away at all sorts of things which men and women little understand or care for, you would have plenty of time for Music. If the directors would take up Music as a science and art, they would greatly increase the numbers attending the school. There are some special local reasons why they should do this. There is a movement started in Liverpool for finding out Liverpool lads and lasses to whom Heaven has given the genius of Music, and for having them properly trained at the National Training School for Music. England is perhaps the only civilized country in Europe at present, which has not a system for finding out its musical genius. No doubt you will find a great deal of that genius in Liverpool, and I have expectations that before I leave the town, it will be announced that some patriotic gentlemen have determined that, at least, six free scholarships shall be founded for obtaining the best musical talent. I shall be greatly surprised if the number does not increase. Surely the Institute will establish one scholarship for youths and another for girls. If people do not now understand the virtue of getting a living by the musical abilities which God has given them, they will find it out sooner or later. National During the last session, Parliament-and Lord Sandon had a AT DISTRI BUTIONS OF PRIZES. A.D. 1875. great deal to do with the business-determined that every child in ADDRESSES the public elementary schools who was taught singing could earn a shilling. What does that mean? Why, it means that if two millions of children are all taught singing, they will draw a sum of Part II. £100,000 from public taxation to promote Music. Are you going to be laggard on this question, which the Government is trying to get every child to take up? Selections. of drill. Then again, in almost every place in Germany you find that the boys and girls are taught drill and gymnastics. If you want to Importance make your young men strong and patriotic, so that they can fight as patriots, and say to the whole world, "Don't come troubling us, or we will give you a warm reception if you do," you ought to take up systematic drilling. They are all cultivated gentlemen at this institution; but remember, this drilling is being established also among two millions of the poorer classes who are sent to public elementary schools. Surely you are not going to be behindhand in the matter! Arts. The Institute is already in alliance with the Society of Arts, and Society of that Society gives prizes. It has recently re-arranged its curriculum of subjects for which it gives prizes, and has introduced the subject of Health, the subject of Cookery, and other branches of Health, Domestic Economy. Now, I am told that some ladies are coming Domestic Cookery, up to receive prizes in Drawing; perhaps there may be one or two Economy. who are coming up to receive prizes in general education; but I fear none of them will come up for prizes in Science, and therefore I venture to suggest to the directors that they should pay attention to this new programme of the Society of Arts, which is preeminently intended for the benefit of women, by fostering a knowledge of Clothing and its materials, Cookery, Health, Housekeeping, and thrift and care. These subjects are also matters of elementary education; and in any school where a child has passed what is called the Fourth Standard-if it can be certified as knowing about clothing, the making-up of dresses, shirts, and things of the kind, together with cookery-that school gets four shillings a year for that child out of the pockets of the taxpayers. These are subjects peculiarly suited to the Blackburne House School for girls. Well, I believe I have now got to the end of my fault-finding, and I am going into some other points for your consideration. No ADDRESSES BUTIONS OF Pauperism in Mr Carlyle on Capital and Labour. doubt all the classical young gentlemen taught in this institution have heard of "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." Possibly they may know or have had their attention directed to the fact that other nations besides Rome have declined and fallen-Egypt and Greece, and perhaps there are some nations declining now, say the Turks. Heaven only knows if we English are; but I do think that the points which must lead to the decline of a people are those which might as well be called to the attention of youth as the abstract and past theory of "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." I do not know whether or not any of you have been asked if you think England has got to its climax, or whether you can see any symptoms going on now which will lead people to think that England is going to decline. I say, at once, I do not believe she is at present; but there are a number of plague spots about England which, if not taken in hand in time, must inevitably lead to the decline of the country. There is Pauperism; and in that respect, I am told, Liverpool is not a bit better, but perhaps a little worse, than the average of towns in the country. Then there is the great ignorance which prevails; one class knowing nothing about other classes. I ask how much your wives know about their domestic servants. And yet, if you do not know anything about those who live in your own houses, how can you know anything of others who are not living in your houses, yet moving all around you? There is another question which I suppose even school boys may learn a little about, and that is Labour and Capital, as it is called; and, without vouching for my entire faith in the statement it contains, I will read you an extract from a letter written by Thomas Carlyle. Mr. Carlyle, who was eighty years of age last Saturday, wrote :-"The look of England is to me at this moment abundantly ominous; the question of Capital and Labour growing ever more anarchic-insoluble altogether by the notions hitherto applied to it; pretty certain to issue in petroleum one day, unless some other gospel than that of the dismal science' come to illuminate it. Two things are pretty sure to me: the first is, that 'Capital and Labour' never can or will agree together till they both first of all decide on doing their work faithfully throughout, and like men of conscience and honour, whose highest aim is to behave like faithful citizens of this universe and obey the Eternal |