Page:The Cutter's Practical Guide 1898 Edition Part 1.djvu/116

4 THE ACADEMY PREMISES

Are situated in as nearly the centre of London as possible, being about half a mile from Charing Cross Station. and within a low yards of Somerset House. The Strand, with its surging crowd of omnibuses and and other vehicles and pedestrians winds its way about 100 vards to the south of the offices, so that whilst we are close to the great tide of trafic, yet there is an absence of that ceaseless roar of the wheel which one experiences in pre mises situated on the main arteries of London thoroughfares. Drury Lane has undergone con- siderable changes during the past few years, and many a bit of Old London, alive with quaint history. has passed away in the improvements which have ro-modelled that particular part sur- rounding our offices. So that instead of gazing on old curiosity shops, our Students now look on the fine new premises off Messrs. Hart. Son, Peard and Co., the celebrated makers of high - class church fittings in brass and other metals. An easy walk brings our Students to either the West End or the City. and some who like to take a little walk in their dinner hour, take a stroll round that particular quarter of the West End where such tailors as Poole's. Hills. Meyer and Mortimer's. &c., carry on their business, and in the vicinity of which much fashionable tailor- ing can be seen in wear.

The premises being built expressly for the Academy and our general business, every modern convenience has been utilised to impart both comfort and efficiency to every department. A large portion is nocisaarily devoted to the Academy, and ccuiiists of tour rooms, two o! these be-ing for the young men. one of the others being reserved specially for ladies. The rooms are lofty and well ventilated. The Students undergo tuition in the two larger rooms. but one lorms tba Lecture Hall. Our hrst picture shows the Cutting Room on the first tlocr. The photographer found it would be impossible to photograph this room with the Students in it, as the peculiar angle at which it bar to be taken neceesitated an exposure of half an hour. So this had to be taken while the Students had gone to dinner. A glance at this will at one show that every possible care is taken to make the room healthy, and to surround them with proper sanitary conveni- ence, which latter are under the supervision of the engineer of the premises. Is will be easily understood there is a great difficulty in photographing the inside of a room so as to convey a good idea of its size. In this case there is one cutting table that only shows at the bottom corner, this being faced by three large windows. In all there are five windows to each of the large Cutting Rooms, this making them very light- and at the same time facilitating the ventila- tion.

The upper room is arranged somewhat differently to the lower one, so as to allow of it being speedily cleared for lectures and exhibitions. It is the same size as the lower room. but being further away from the street is used for the lec- tures and addresses. Our second picture shows the upper room ready for a Lantern Lecture. The screen is fixed at the and of the hall, and the pic tures are projected on it by a very powerful lan- tern. by the aid of the oxy-hydrogen limelight. The subjects vary considerablv, as our Syllabus of Subjects show. On this occasion it is "Gentlemen's Garments for Evening Dress." The slides, in most cases have been specially prepared from photographs taken direct. On another occa- sion the subject will be "Anatomy, and the Lessons it Teachs" the illustrations being produced fully life-size from specially prepared drawings by the best artists, thus "enabling the Student to form as idea of the framework and development of the body equal to a study of life models. As we give a complete list of the lectures elsewhere, we will not dwell further on the phase. as a glance at the illustrations will show the convenience and accomodation there is in the Lecture Room.

On the smaller rooms we need not dwell, beyond stating they are used for special lessen in special subjects. such as practical tailoring. or measuring in connection with competitions, &c. or anything that would only be of interest to the few, or when it is desired to have only a few students present