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HOME TRAINING IN CABINET WORK
should not be true to my own convictions in connection with these
cabinet-work lessons, if I did not try to impress upon the reader the
value of the moral, mental and physical discipline of manual labor,
whether as a daily avocation or a restful and strengthening change for
the brain worker in hours of leisure.
   To almost every boy or man, however, is given some natural tend-
ency or capacity, which, if fostered, would enable him to excel in
this special direction, but all are not born mechanics or cabinet-
makers, any more than great painters or poets, and it is more with
the purpose of encouraging and aiding those who are inclined to find
pleasure and recreation in cabinet-work, than to instruct the journey-
man, that the plans and drawings of this series are chosen.
   In putting these home lessons into practice it is necessary that the
worker should have some natural ability for this kind of work, to be
able to learn readily the use of the necessary tools and how to keep
them in proper condition so that it will be a pleasure to work with
them.
   A fondness for and knowledge of woods will also add much to
the pleasure of the work, and a sense of proportion is also very neces-
sary, but this, however, can be acquired by careful observation. At
least some knowledge of drawing is required to be able to read and
understand a detail, and to lay out work. The teaching of drawing
in the public schools, and evening schools, is a very helpful factor
in this direction, especially in the more practical elements of compo-
sition and design.
   In this connection there would seem to be no better practical
application of lessons in drawing, than the working out of some one
or more of the pieces shown in this series, the plans for which are
intended to be so plain and clearly defined that with proper study and
work the result will be reasonably satisfactory.
   As an easily progressive stage from the six simple pieces given in
the former article, and to lend variety for choice, I have selected for
the second lesson three tabourets and three tables, each of different
design, simple, structural, and easily made, any one of which will
make a useful addition to the home.
   Any suggestion, or choice for future pieces for study and prac-
tice, will be cheerfully considered and adopted if practicable. Re-
ports of progress and photographs of anyfinished article will be glad-
ly received and reproduced from time to time, as the series proceeds.
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