the commencement of their production we find them in competition with the productions of the most famous potteries in the world with the results of long experience to guide the selection of the articles exhibited, as well as a large and great variety in stock from which to select, on the part of their competitors, while on the part of the American tiles, the selection was hurriedly made from a then meagre stock, and hastily shipped to the place of competitive exhibition, which was at Crewe, England.

This exhibition was conducted under the auspices of the oldest and most influential agricultural society in Great Britain, which was the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agricultural Society, and the first premium was a gold medal, value £10, which was awarded to Low's exhibit, and it was for the "Best collection of art tiles of English or American manufacture; hand-painted, impressed or embossed, relievo or intaglio."

The second prize, a silver medal, was awarded to one of the English exhibitors, one of the largest manufacturers in Staffordshire.

It should also be remembered that this competition and award of the first medal occurred in less than sixteen months from the incipiency of their manufacture of art tiles, and to all who are interested in American art and progress the success of these tiles should be a matter of great congratulation.

At the following exhibitions, the first medal was awarded to these tiles: American Institute Fair, New York, 1880, bronze medal; St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanics' Asso

ciation, St. Louis, 1881, special award, silver medal; Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics' Association, Boston, 1881, gold medal.

Mr. Low completed a course of several years' study in Paris, in the ateliers of Couturé and Troujou. After this time, for a number of years, he devoted himself to decorative and scenic painting, in the mean time becoming greatly interested in the study of ceramics.

He eventually turned his attention to the study of the methods of tile-making, and commenced at the root, not shrinking from or in any way shirking the elementary labor, upon which so much after progress in all arts is due; he spent a year in the pottery, designing as well as imitating shapes; but the imitative part did not last long; he soon produced something which bore the stamp of his individual ideas. Then came the firing or burning of the ware, the erection of works and kilns, then other and more systematically conducted experiments, born of renewed earnestness.

Success crowned his efforts. This was not all that had to be done; it is sometimes easier to produce a good thing than to find a market; doubtless all who take interest in such things should at once buy them; but they do not, they wait, one or may be all think them very nice; but when it comes to the actual parting with the money it is altogether a different thing.

But so good were these tiles from the very commencement, and their merits so extraordinary and apparent, even of those which might be called primary, that the well-known furnishing house, Messrs. Wellington & Burrage, of Boston,·