true, it is a dream; but dreams have before now come about of things
so good and necessary to us, that we scarcely think of them more
than of the daylight, though once people had to live without them,
without even the hope of them.

Anyhow, dream as it is, I pray you to pardon my setting it before
you, for it lies at the bottom of all my work in the Decorative
Arts, nor will it ever be out of my thoughts: and I am here with
you to-night to ask you to help me in realising this dream, this
HOPE.



THE ART OF THE PEOPLE {2}



'And the men of labour spent their strength in daily struggling for
bread to maintain the vital strength they labour with: so living in
a daily circulation of sorrow, living but to work, and working but
to live, as if daily bread were the only end of a wearisome life,
and a wearisome life the only occasion of daily bread.'--DANIEL
DEFOE.

I know that a large proportion of those here present are either
already practising the Fine Arts, or are being specially educated to
that end, and I feel that I may be expected to address myself
specially to these. But since it is not to be doubted that we are
ALL met together because of the interest we take in what concerns
these arts, I would rather address myself to you ALL as representing