* * * * My personal acquaintance with some of
these old local bequests and the general ignorance about them exactly coincides with the experience of some of the Rural Community Councils now publishing reports. For example, the Hert- fordshire R.C.S., in co-operation with the County Council, arranged a meeting between master craftsmen and repre- sentatives of the charities ; and it was generally agreed that " apprenticeship has practically died out." The master craftsmen were unanimous in the belief that apprenticeship was the right form of training, especially in village crafts, and they look forward to its revival. Now that apprenticeship is not part and parcel of rural social life as once it was, though it still usefully exists, villagers have forgotten the very exist- ence of the charities. It has proved enough in some villages merely to advertise their existence ; and signs of revived interest may already be chronicled. They are welcome. Apprenticeship is one of the best systems for saving boys from
blind-alley work. * * *'
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