AMERICAN PREFACE. 
At last on tliis side of tlie Atlantic an earnest, wide-spread 
activitj' in behalf of populär art-education is beginning to mani 
fest itself, not only among educators, but among business men, 
distinguished for the interest they take in the development of 
American industry. As to the character of this activity, different 
opinions prevail. Some believe it is a mere edueational spasm 
which will soon pass away; others tliat it is only the begin 
ning of what we are to see, — of a new era in education. That 
the latter are right, that this new-born activity is justified by 
enduring considerations of educational and industrial policy, a 
survey of the more conspicuous facts will make evident enough. 
This survey must embraee not only the field at home, but the 
foreign as well. 
AN AGE OF INDUSTRIAL CONFLICT. 
While no one can, say that the time approaches when Europe 
will cease to “ tremble under the drums and tramplings ” of mar- 
tial hosts, j r et it is very clear that she is now to behold a long 
age of industrial conflicts among the leading nations, witli issues 
quite as momentous as any that were decided at Waterloo or 
Sedan. Tlhs age has fairly set in, as a glance at the past, by 
way of comparison, will show. 
At the beginning of the present centuiy, it was the well-drilled 
soldier upon whom the different nations of Europe relied for 
defence: the well-trained workman counted for little. To be 
sure, Napoleon, when first consul, recognizing the vital importance 
of industrial education, took vigorous measures to promote it in 
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