Page:The cutters' practical guide to the cutting of ladies' garments.djvu/115



'''A Sketch of Our Cutting Room. BY A RECENT STUDENT.'''

In issuing the New Prospectus of our Cutting Academy, our aim is to convey as vividly as possible to intending Students, what it is they enter upon and seek to accomplish, what we undertake to do for our Students, together with the daily routine of our Academy. A recent Student of a literary turn of mind, after completing his course of tuition, wrote out a little history of his observations and experience while at our Academy ; and as this was shown to us just as we were on the eve of drawing up a New Prospectus, we thought we could not do better than allow our late Student's record to accompany it, for the enlightenment of young men and others who are anticipating a Course of Lessons at our Office.

'''HOW I BECAME A CUTTER. BY A MASTER TAILOR'S SON.'''

We, that is, my father, mother, and myself, were sitting round the fire one evening in December last year, when the conversation turned upon my future ; and as I look back on that family group in my father's home, I cannot help thinking that this had formed the subject of mauy conversations between my parents, when I had little thought on the matter. "John," said my father, "it seems to me the time has arrived when you must strike out for yourself ; you have had as good a training in the practical part of the tailoring business, as I can give you, and I think it will be well for you now to go into the scientific, and so complete your education as a tailor." This took me somewhat by surprise. I had often

thought of and very much desired to become a Cutter ; I had studied the trade literature, and my imagination and ambition had even painted a scene, where I was the leading cutter in a high class tailoring trade ; and now that my father suggested the first step in this direction, I felt a flush come over my face, as I replied, " Very good, father, I shall always try to do as you wish me ; but I don't quite understand what you mean." " How should you like to spend three months at the Tailor and Cutter Academy ?" asked my father; bringing visions to my mind of numbers of young men like myself, drafting, cutting out, attending lectures, and so forth, so that I was eager and ready. In an instant my enthusiasm was aroused, and I replied, " Oh ! that would be splendid father, I should like it immensely." After a little while