for the purpose of teaching, encouraging, and advancing all the Fine Arts, both small and great.  We do the whole of our collective work in this country by means of societies:  it is an Englishman’s instinct, if he ardently desires to bring about a thing, to recognise that, though he cannot get what he wants by his own effort, he may get it by associating other people with him and forming a society.  Everything is done by societies.  One need not, therefore, make any apology for desiring to see another society established.  That of which I dream would be, to begin with, independent of all politics, controversies, or theories whatever; it would not be a society requiring an immense income—­in fact, with a very small income indeed very large results might be obtained, as you will immediately see.  The work of the society would consist almost entirely of evening classes; it would not have to build schools or to buy houses at first, but it would use, or rent, whatever rooms might be found available-perhaps those of the day-schools.  All the arts would be taught in these schools, except those already taught by the South Kensington Department, but especially the minor arts, for this very important and practical reason, that these would be found almost immediately to have a money value, and would therefore serve the useful purpose of attracting pupils.  At the outset there must be no fees, but everybody must be invited to come in and learn.  After the value of the school has been established in the popular mind there would be no difficulty in exacting a small fee towards the expenses of maintenance.  But, from the very first, there must be established a system of prizes, public exhibitions of work done by the students, concerts at which the musicians would play and the choirs would sing, and theatricals at which the actors would perform.  Partly by these public honours, and partly by showing an actual market value for the work, we may confidently look forward to creating and afterwards fostering a genuine enthusiasm for Art.

How are the funds to be provided for all this work?  The money required for a commencement will be in reality very little.  There are the necessary tools and materials to be found, a certain amount of house service to be done and paid for, gas and firing, and perhaps rent.  Observe, however, that the materials for Art students of all kinds are not expensive, that house service costs very little, light and firing not a great deal; and even the rent would not be heavy, since all our schools would be situated in the poor neighbourhoods.  There only remain the teachers, and here comes in the really important part of the scheme. The teachers will cost nothing at all. They will all be members of our new society, and they will give, in addition to or in lieu of an annual subscription, their personal services as gratuitous teachers.  This part of the scheme is sure to command your sympathies, the more so if you consider the current