they  are  seen  to  have  tjiven  what  is  the  most  attractive  field  for  the  ri;4ht  use  of  lead  in
the  minor  building  arts.  Chapter  XII 1.  shows  many  good  modern  examples  which  have
cautrht  the  spirit  of  the  old  work  without  slavish  imitation.  Despite,  however,  much
precept  from  those  who  seek  to  raise  the  level  of  the  crafts,  very  small  is  the  number  of
people  who  make  pipe-heads  of  merit,  and  this  complaint  is  true  of  all  leadwork  which
has  artistic  possibilities.  The  fault  lies  rather  with  the  average  plumber  than  with  the
averatfe  architect.  There  is  a  clear  enough  call  for  good  design  and  for  a  return  to
sound  and  traditioucd  methods,  but  nearly  all  the  "  ornamental  "  leadwork  done  at
technical  schools  is  unspeakably  bad.  In  more  than  one  of  the  books  on  plumbing
which  have  won  a  deservedly  high  place,  hints  on  •'ornamental"  work  are  given  by
instructors,  who  are  past  masters  in  technical  mysteries.  Most  of  the  e.\amples  used  to
mould  the  decorative  sense  of  the  student  are  wholly  bad.  Until  the  authorities  of
technical  schools  realise  that  the  craft  of  leadwork  must  be  taught  by  one  who  is  an
artist,  as  well  as  a  technical  expert,  these  grievous  productions  will  be  thought  by  the
risine  eeneration  of  plumbers  to  be  "  artistic."  There  are,  of  course,  honourable
exceptions.  Professor  Lethaby,  Mr  F.  \V.  Troup,  and  others  have  struggled  manfully  to
fill  London  County  Council  students  with  a  wise  spirit,  and  individual  architects  have
souo-ht  to  instil  into  the  mature  plumber  some  right  feeling  for  his  material.  In  practice,
however,  if  good  leadwork  is  wanted,  the  few  firms  who  specialise  are  almost  the  only
sources  of  supply.  The  Worshipful  Company  of  Plumbers  has  done  as  much  as,  if  not
more  than,  any  City  Company  to  support  and  improve  the  craft  it  represents.  If  the
Company  would  devote  to  some  instruction  in  artistic  righteousness  a  tithe  ot  the
energy  which  it  gives  to  improving  technical  conditions,  a  good  and  greatly  needed
work  would  be  done.
