68 
ART EDV CATION. 
Erfurt, and Magdeburg. As for the rest, special schools in Prussia 
are but slightly developed even to-day ; an exception is made only 
by the department of manufactures, in which a satisfactory ad- 
vance in this respect is to be noted. But the need of such schools 
is becoming more apparent from 3’ear to year, and by degrees tlie 
government is likevvise beginning to look more tavorably upon the 
matter. Immediately after the war with France, the authorities of 
the various industrial towns of Prussia were callcd upon, in a cir 
cular issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to follow 
the example of France in the Organization of Drawing and Indus 
trial schools; and their attention was directed to the industrial im- 
portance of these schools, and to the fact that they form the true 
basis of the wealth of France. Regulations in regard to teachers 
of freehand drawing and modelling at the Industrial Schools were 
prepared at the same time. 
It was impossible to judge from the Exhibition höw far these 
efforts have since been realized. Only the “ Society of Mechanics ” 
of Berlin had provided a comprehensive presentation of its activ- 
ity, as regards the Organization and the development of its schools. 
Statistical tables, reports up to the year of the Exhibition, and the 
plans of the building of the socioty, were submitted. 
Together with the lectures on scientific specialties, drawing in 
all its various branches receives the most careful attention in the 
schools of the sooiety ; and at the last International Exhibition at 
Amsterdam, the specimens exhibited by these schools were honored 
by the silver medal. As a considerablc portion of the members 
belong to the building trades, and as a special theoretical and 
practical knowledge in drawing in this brauch appeared to be desir- 
able, the society in the year 1864 organized a special school for 
building-mechanics, divided into four progressive courses, in 
which the pupils were educated up to a point which enabled them 
to pass the examination for master-builders. The attendance was 
very large, espeeiallj' in view of the inducement held out by the 
final aim of the school; and the number of the pupils is still quite 
respectable, although, by the new industrial laws of Northern 
Germany, the examination of mechanics has been done away with. 
According to the report, a still more suitable Organization will be 
introdueed into these special courses during the winter of 1873-74.