“Travelling students are apt to place too much value on perspective sketches.  Good ones make a nice showing on returning home, but they are of little value to any one but the maker.  It is usually possible to find photographs of the things over which one spends so many hours making pretty sketches.  But sketches do have a certain value in teaching rendering, and encourage the habit of observing closely the effect of light and shade.

“Beautiful pencil sketches may be made on English metallic paper by simply drawing the shadows on carving in full sunshine:  colored papers are very useful to gain quick effects with the use of Chinese white.  A pad of Whatman water-color paper, imperial size, is much better to work on than a small cramped little book; and it may be used as a drawing-board, thus diminishing the number of articles to carry.  The T-square will run along the edge of the block well enough for sketches, but it is better to carry a straight-edge to clamp on the edge of the block with thumb-screws for the square to work on.  Have a canvas bag made with a flap in which to carry the block.  It will keep out the dirt and dust of travel and be of great service.

“Sometimes valuable color notes are to be had in crowded buildings where it is not convenient to sit down and make a large study.  For such cases a small pocket water-color block will be very useful.  There is a small vest-pocket water-color box carrying six colors, which may be set over the thumb, a water-bottle attached, and with it one can stand unobserved in a corner and get color notes which otherwise must be passed by.  In studying fresco painting, tempera is very useful.  It is mixed up with water and applied to paper, but may be worked over in the manner of oils,—­a great advantage in making studies.

“The chambre eclaire is invaluable as an aid to drawing, in blocking out water-colors.  It will enable one to make a drawing in an hour which otherwise would require all day.  It is an instrument little known outside of Paris, but is much in use there among architects.  It consists of a prism mounted on a telescoping leg which may be fastened to the drawing-board.  The eye looks through the prism and sees the building reflected on the paper; all that remains to do is to trace this outline.  It does not teach one to draw, but it does save time, and produces better drawings than can be made without it.  The best place to buy them is of Cevalier, on the Seine, near the Pont Netif, Paris.  Only those with the best prisms are of any use:  such a one, with two adjustments only, can be had for sixty-five francs.  The table which is necessary for its use costs fifteen francs additional; that is, a total cost of sixteen dollars.  In buying a table, be sure and get one with sliding legs which can be taken off the head and packed flat.