Reviving Crafts
It is partly bad, partly good news, that the supply of local craftsmen is becoming unequal to the demand. The virtual extinction of the apprentice system which survived for a while the end of the guilds, rapidly reduced the number of boys and young men who learned the various crafts. Machine- made work (which includes even the common horseshoe) depressed most of the local crafts, and was thought to threaten their complete extinction ; but a number of the crafts—in iron, wood and leather—refused to die, and lately there has been a strong reaction in their favour. Buyers desire handwork. That Saxon word is identical with the Latin word manu- facture, but has a quite contrary meaning. This revival of the craft, or at least this revival of a desire for craftsmen's work, has been noted in Lincolnshire, among other counties, and special emphasis has been laid on it by the Lindsey Community Council, which is urging an alternative to the prentice habit. The nation looks after the bright boy, who may extend his education by aid of a scholarship, and it looks after the mentally deficient, but it does nothing .for the boy (and he may be intellectually slow) who has a native gift for making things ; is, in fact, a creative artist. It is high time that craftsmanship took its place in the curriculum of the elementary school, especially now that the school age is being increased. There is room in the country for a great many more craftsmen.
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