The following abstract is taken from the introductory paragraph of the thesis. "Human industry is the outcome of need, or as the proverb says, necessity is the mother of invention. Rushkin believes that 'Life without industry is guilt, industry without art is brutality'. Man has always been obliged to fashion his tools, weapons, and clothing, to provide himself with shelter against storm and attack of wild animals. He was industrious of necessity before he became an artist by choice. 'Every form of government, every social institution, every undertaking, however great, however small, every symbol of enlightenment or degradation, each and all have sprung and are still springing from the life of the people, and have ever formed and are now as surely forming images of their thought. Slowly by centuries, generations, years, days, hours, the thought of the people has changed; so with precision have their acts responsively changed; thus thoughts and acts have flowed and are flowing ever onward, unceasingly onward, involved within the impelling power of life'."