today rarely makes a door or sash, or sticks a moulding; everything is prepared for him, and fewer tools are needed in the construction of a house, so that in these departments of the is a novice compared to the fathers who were thorough masters of all branches, and understood the details of their art or trade. THE CONTRIBUTOR for April had an admirable series of papers on the question, "Trade or Profession Which?" but more remarkable than the articles was the unanimity of sentiment in favor of the first. It builder's craft, the modern workman was realized by representative men of varied occupations, that professional life in this western country is filled to repletion, and that the ranks of unskilled labor are also getting beyond all demand; further, that the one mistake of American life is an indisposition to adopt a trade by which to sustain a man or give him power to raise a family; this method is deemed too slow, the necessary attention for securing deftness and facility in the use of tools is uncongenial to the rush of modern life, and to the accumulation of a desired fortune, if a quicker and easier, albeit more feverish and speculative method can do it! The old-fashioned custom of apprenticeship is obsolete, with all its moral, mental and industrial advantages, the restraint and supervision of the master over the boys who dwelt in his house, and who was responsible for their learning a trade has passed away; the time of training (say from fourteen to twenty-one) is now deemed far too long, boys assume that they can master the intricacies of any trade in a quarter of the time, and for that, the employer of experience has no security, a binding indenture being ignored altogether; consequently thorough workmen, full graduates, are "few and far between," botches there are innumerable. Poor hands answer when there is demand, and in Utah where the trained class is not replenished from the old world as formerly, imported skill (?) usurps the places which should be filled by a wiser if a younger generation. That the introduction of machinery and the subdivision of labor has had something to do with this question is without doubt; the carpenter of In the shoe factory, few workmen are judges of leather, not one probably could make a shoe from beginning to end; one process alone occupies the time and attention of a man who certainly so far lags behind his educated predecessor, and here the manager or proprietor does not work with his men, and can give no personal supervision to an apprentice or see that he is grounded in understanding by graduating in each separate department. That this condition is seen by many and deplored, is evinced by the efforts which are being made for securing a remedy, and not a few thoughtful educators now conclude that purely class learning is altogether inadequate to the prevailing situation, hence there is an ostensible alliance under various modifications of book and practical culture in progressive schools, such as are called manual, industrial, training or technical, and agricultural colleges; in these there are attempts made to give to natural drift an opportunity of becoming more or less conversant with mechanical labor in all its various forms. This movement has obtained quite an unexpected success in Europe, where the apprenticeship system still largely prevails, and some ten years ago a notable effort was made in New York City by a wealthy gentleman, who realized, that while emigration was supplying the demand for skilled labor, that very labor by union. was preventing its increase, and so arbitrarily was this limited that natural tendency was shut out, and the father, if an expert, was denied the opportunity of giving the benefit thereof to his own sons even, if the limit of trade regulation was reached. The gentleman referred to undertook to create "evening trade schools," where for two and a half hours lads or young men were taught by absolutely practical lessons, several branches of trade, such as bricklaying, stonecutting, plastering, plumbing, carpentry, blacksmithing, vice work, carving, fresco and other painting; the terms were according to the branch and the number of lessons in the course, and while in the early years this experiment did not pay its way the grand philanthropist furnished the five thousand dollars which was deficient after a crowded year. This was not in any sense a charitable or money-making institution, nor was it in the interest of or in opposition to any trade organization, but solely for the benefit of such young men of natural aptitude or desire for the opportunities presented; the departments were supervised by master mechanics, and the school became not only a success as to numbers, increasing from thirty-three the first to three hundred and four the fifth season, but in a practical sense also, for some of these pupils members of the earliest classes, built a number of houses in New York City which for workmanship commanded wide attention. President Young with his strong practical organization affirmed continuously that intellectual culture was insufficient for our circumstances, and manual training as a part of school education was a theme of his (as it was also of President Taylor) which was unrealized to the day of his death; but if education was considered to be defective then, when skill was furnished with every emigration, what shall be said of now, when this fountain of supply is nearly exhausted, and our growing population, nay every settlement in the Territory is evidence that we need this very training-this very supply of cultivated labor day by day! Even from the standpoint of an investment, parents-and if they fail, municipalities, counties, the Territory could well afford to establish and subsidize a host of just such schools; and the increased taxable value of property as the result, would more than counterbalance in a little while all such appropriations; for if State or local aid can be given to the seeker after a book education-if this is its duty, it will be difficult to draw a line and say that no aid shall be given for the acquisition of that knowledge which is bread and life. itself, or that quite as much shall be given any way, as is in that provision which is made for specialists, such a school teachers, chemists or analysts, or for advanced lessons in art mining or other branch of science which indicates professional, instead of mechanical preference. Under the universality of the present system it can hardly be claimed that the results justify the labor and expense, for with it there is said to be not less than one hundred thousand criminals in these United States, and while these may not exist because of education, certain it is that the restraining influence of prevalent culture is not so potent as its enthusiastic advocates have promised. In England where facilities for the acquisition of a trade are easy and educational opportunities are fair, there is but one criminal to eighteen thousand of her population. The census reports of this country a decade ago exhibited an increase of crime which had been cumulative from 1850 onwards, or as statistics tell from one in 30,452 of the population then, to one in 837 in 1880; and still more strange the stern fact comes out, that "tradeless native American youth furnished eighty-one per cent. of these," while the foreign element engaged mainly in trades, furnished but nineteen per cent. of the crim inals incarcerated, and Judge Cowen of New York declared that "ninety per cent of its convicts were young men averaging twenty-five years of age," and that "a large number of these belonged to the higher educated classes." Utah may have no such record as this; her youth as a rule, are moral and industrially inclined, but undesirable leisure is just as fatal to social health (and more perchance) than undue compulsory labor. This New York trade school already alluded to carries on its work now in large and brilliantly lighted rooms, covering a plot of land 200X113 feet, and the progress of its pupils is said to be unusually rapid under the supervision of master mechanics, who show how each piece of work is done, and why it should be done in that particular way; it is also said that "no rude or profane word has ever been heard within those walls, and that even when inconveniently crowded, the young men are invariably courteous to each other, and respectful to their teach We are often carping-intelligently too at the outgo of our coin or currency for imported goods. The New York mechanics had their grievance: it was found that some three thousand workmen came in there every spring from Europe, leaving their families, and then return ing in the fall taking their large earnings home with them, and they endeavored to remedy this by furnishing skilled labor from the legitimate citizen, and so keeping that money in their own country for its undivided prosperity! Here was an example and a lesson that ought to come home to "the children of light;" it might have been said in historic times and by high authority that "the children of this world are wiser in their generation' than they, but we know of no prophecy which declares for a continuation of that condition. It is believed that there are skilled men everywhere in this community yet, who would enjoy imparting to a class or classes their experience and ability in artisan or mechanical pursuits; and the necessity for this sacrifice (if unpaid for their services) is now more important than ever; our numerous youth, the passing away of many of the fathers, the certainty of growing necessity and assured employment, all prompt in this direction, at least until the narrow and contracted routine of general schools admit of industrial training, for which there is no present prospect; for late events have demonstrated that our Agricultural College although subsidized by the general government only escaped destruction by the veriest chance, for there seemed to be but little sympathy with or appreciation among educators of its industrial combination with book-culture and mental opportunity. Free schools are the order of the day, or free opportunity rather, for taxation sustains and provides every appliance which this modern craze demands, but in this New York school so lavishly alluded to, terms vary with the instruction demanded, twenty dollars is charged for the six months' course in bricklaying, twelve each for stonecutting and plumbing, fifteen for carpentry, and ten for fresco and other painting. There is no occasion for us to follow this precedent or any other; we run too much in old or imported grooves already, are too thoroughly copyists, but we can be original if we try, we can cull from the experience of others, and we can improve upon that to meet our own circumstances, and so bring that which we borrow and cannot improve upon into undisputed harmony with our highest social and religious thought! This growing Territory needs this extension of trade culture, this developing of trade proclivity: it is in line with our faith, it is temporal salvation, it is in keeping with the counsel of our best men, it echoes and repeats the claims of the most enthusiastic home manufacturer, and it does this in a line which has been without advocates "lo these many years." Dare hope plume itself upon the summer's thought and next winter's realization, or have we faith in the brain power and receptivity of our posterity? Unless this or other measures are adopted we shall be but "hewers of wood and drawers of water," and if we require skilled labor, mechanical ability, power to transmute our abundance into pleasant homes and beautiful surroundings, we shall have to call upon the uninterested "stranger and alien," they will have to do for us that for which we now have the capacity and opportunity, both given to us by the way, for the building of a superior civilization and social life, if we apply faculty in the spirit of wisdom and of truth, as this people have proved "many a time and oft" in their chequered yet progressive experience of now over sixty years! H. W. Naisbitt. AN ART STUDENT IN PARIS. I. THE readers of THE CONTRIBUTOR will please pardon me if I relate an experience which did not happen in the place designated by the title of this article, but which cleared the way for me to enjoy the rare privilege of attending the world-renowned Julian Academy of painting, and of dwelling over a year in the highly educational influence of Paris, that great city of art and culture. Being a firm believer that the highest possible development of talent is a duty we owe to our Creator, I made it a matter of prayer for many years that He would open a way whereby I could receive that training which would befit me to decorate His holy temples and the habitations of Zion. But as is generally the case in the early career of a painter, life's path was continually beset with embarrassing disappointments, until, when the dark clouds of adversity seemed most discouraging our kind and merciful Father in heaven answered my prayers. June 4th, 1890, three of us were blessed and set apart to a mission at the city of Paris. On the twenty-third day of the same month we bade farewell to our families and friends, arriving at our des tination on the following twentyfourth day of July. This incident and many others of like character has led me to encourage my young brethren and sisters who may have seemingly insurmountable obstacles in their pathway to a realization of righteous ambitions, to put your trust in God, and He will be pleased to remove every hindrance to your success; but you must manifest by your works that you are in earnest, and seek Him by much fasting and prayer. Language is feeble to explain the benefit a sojourn in the city of Paris imparts to an aspirant for knowledge; for it is not only within the walls of a school room that one learns lessons, but from the monuments of architectural skill and taste which adorn its boulevards. The combined skill of centuries of the sculptor's art which have enriched its galleries and magnificent parks; likewise the inspirations of the artist thrown upon canvas, of which this city is a veritable storehouse, spanning art history from its earliest. period to this progressive nineteenth century. Here can be seen the indelible footprints of the inventive sons of science, even from the misty past unto Our modern Edisons, gathered within the walls of its Arts et Metiers and museums. The relics of antiquity, historical monuments, precious manuscripts and vast libraries furnish food for the student of history. At every turn one finds material to nourish and broaden the intellect. This condition of things naturally draws to this treasure vault the learned and ambitious of the earth, so that the very air seems pregnant with art and refinement; yet there is a spirit of freedom that makes one feel at ease in his particular station in society. Pride is not so manifest as in some of our western cities. Intelligence, ability and talent command respect, whether clad in poor or rich garments. Some may ask, but what about the wickedness of this great city? My dear reader, when one is in the midst of such excellent opportunities for only a short period he has no time to look into the dark abyss of crime, or ferret out what broods no good to any human soul. However, I will testify that truth, virtue, love and union have fled, not only from this Gentile city, but from the cold, unthankful world, to these elevated mountain tops, to be nurtured by the oracles of God. Do not understand from this that no honest, good and noble people are to be found; on the contrary enough are met with to greatly increase our charity for all mankind. This fact also stimulates in us a greater desire to become able advocates of the glorious message of life and salvation. Having conveyed so much of a general impression of Paris, I will now proceed to render a word sketch of the famed art school of Paris, where eight earnest Utah students laid a foundation upon which to build their aspirations in the world of art. There are several schools of painting of more or less merit, but the École des Beaux-Arts-a national institution and the Academie Julia, Peinture, take the lead. The beautiful specimens of architecture, with their surroundings of tastefully planned lawns and walks, flowers and shrubbery, which characterize the institutions of learning in our own beloved America, led me to imagine the Julian Academy with its age and artistic qualities as superior to any we had been accustomed to see. I well remember my feelings as we wended our way to school the first morning. We resided in what is called the Latin part of the city, about three miles from the academy. Our course was on boulevards St. Michel and de Sebastopol where are to be seen the Pantheon, Notre Dame and the tower of St. Jaques, all noted specimens of architecture, which inspire the soul with veneration for the genius of man. Leaving those grand boulevards we entered Rue St. Denis, a narrow street. we pass grocery shops, shoe, drug, dry goods, vegetable and every other kind of shops that the modern Shylock has ever thought of; expecting every moment to behold the magnificent academy building my fancy had pictured. When, all at once, here we are! Yes, we were here in a narrow court or yard of a feather cleaning and pillow factory; a few packing boxes and bales of feathers lying about. In front of us, on a two-story, rickety old building was the sign, sure enough, Academie Julia, Peinture. With quick steps Ascending an old stairway we landed in the sky-lit atelier of the renowned school of painting. Part of the walls were covered with prize studies from models, and part with daubs of paint flipped on the wall with the palette knife. There are five such ateliers in this branch of the school, but there are two others located in different sections of the city; one is exclusively for ladies. In each atelier there is a platform raised about two feet, for the model to pose upon. The students form a half circle around this platform in three or four rows; the inside row of easels |