ve discussed the china output of almost every country,
haven't we?"

Theo reflected.

"All the big countries except England."

"How did we happen to leave England out?"

"I guess you did not have time to get round to England," answered
Theo. "Still all the time isn't gone yet, you know; you might tell me
about England now."

They both laughed.

"I believe you are something of a diplomat, Theo," observed
Mr. Croyden. "You are either a diplomat or you are a schemer.
Sometimes it is very hard to tell the one from the other. In either
case you seem determined to give me no peace, so I fancy I may as well
tell you about English porcelain and have done with it. If I do not do
it now I shall have to do it some other time, I suppose."

"I suppose you will," came delightedly from Theo.

"Well, here goes, then!"

The elder man settled back into a comfortable position and Theo
wriggled contentedly into the opposite corner of the seat.

"As you can well understand," began Mr. Croyden, "the discovery of
kaolin set England as eagerly to experimenting at porcelain-making as
it had the other nations. Contrary, however, to other countries the
English Government lent no helping hand to the industry, offering
neither money nor inducements to those who would take it up. Therefore
only those persons who were sufficiently interested in the new
venture, and could afford to make the attempt with their own capital,
dared go into it. Fortunately there were at hand some of these
ambitious manufacturers. Their early experiences are interesting not
so much because of the quality of their work though much of it was
good, as because they were the forerunners of later workers. The paste
they used was not as fine as that of the Chinese or Japanese; or in
fact, that of the early Dresden or Sevres ware. Gradually, however, it
became better, until now--although England turns out almost no true
porcelain, that is, the scientifically blended kaolin and petuntse
clays--she makes some of the most beautiful and durable china
manufactured anywhere."

"What is it made of?" inquired Theo, much puzzled.

"Different combinations of kaolin clays and phosphates; a ware which
in the porcelain trade is known as bone china," replied Mr. Croyden.
"The phosphate of lime that is mixed with the kaolin renders the body
of the ware more porous and elastic. On such china the glaze does not
blend with the body and become an actual part of it as is the case
with