Early Life
Pringle was born the son of a railway employee in Dennistoun, Glasgow. Though the family moved for a short time (1869 to 1874) to Langbank in nearby Renfrewshire (where his father had been appointed stationmaster), John received his education in Glasgow and later lived for some time in Maukinfauld Road, Tollcross .
He left school in 1876 and was apprencticed to an optical repairman. Twenty years later he set up in business on his own, offering optical and electrical repairs in his shop in 90 Saltmarket, (now SVDP shop) near Glasgow Cross. It was a famously chaotically run shop, but John kept it running as a business (albeit a sideline from his real love) for over 20 years.
Meanwhile, he pursued a vocation in painting. He attended evening and Saturday morning classes (at the same time as Charles Rennie Mackintosh ) between 1883 and 1888. In 1901, he won a gold medal for life drawing at the South Kensington national competition.
A life as a painter
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“... business training in early life should not be regarded solely as insurance against destitution in the case of an emergency. For from business experience women can gain, too, knowledge of the world and of human beings, which should be of immeasurable value to their marriage careers. Self-discipline, co-operation, adaptability, efficiency, economic management,—if she learns these in her business life she is liable for many less heartbreaks and disappointments in her married life.”
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