Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

hood was a greater thing than life itself. When a father planned out a commercial life for his boy, he did it in all faith, thinking his boy was sure to go along that road. But how many boys failed to do so? He was a far better boy who knew how to make his mind do what he wanted it to do. Faculties neglected were apt to become atrophied, and if they failed to deal with the whole child they would produce, not a man but a monstrosity, and however skilled such a one might be for the accumulation of wealth, he was not trained for life. On these grounds the speaker supported most cordially the views of Mr Haslam.

Alderman W. E. Clegg said that the specialist was apt to regard his own subject as the most important. It was for those of them who were non-experts to see that the experts and faddists did not run their particular fads to extremes, but kept them in their proper places. He thought modern languages should be given an important place in the education of those intended for a commercial career.

Dr Hicks (Principal of University College) remarked that the school was not the place where specialization should be carried out. It might be possible so to arrange the curriculum of some schools as to get every possible advantage from the training point of view, and at the same time to have some influence on the future career of the pupil.

Mr A. Nixon (Sale) thought that as England was a great commercial nation they should recognise the necessity of a distinct commercial specialization in the schools. Very few of those who had to enter commercial life were able to go to the universities. Why could not the school work be divided so as to meet the needs of those intended for a commercial career? As regards the influence upon the character of the pupil, it all depended upon the teacher, and a commercial master might influence the mind of his pupils for good as powerfully as the man who gave lessons in Latin.

Messrs J. Hynes, E. Helm, J. Proctor, J. Karfoot and H. E. Blain continued the discussion, to which Mr Haslam briefly replied.

The Conference was then adjourned for lunch.

The afternoon session was held in the Cutlers' Hall, the first item on the program being

THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.

In the course of his address, Mr Blain said that the account he had to give of the year's work was one of increasing prosperity for the society. It was impossible to review the work of the society without realizing its definite usefulness to the shorthand teachers of the country, and the positive and valuable assistance which it gave in the furtherance of commercial education. With regard to the recent Education Act, there could be no question that there was now an opportunity of directing attention to the most unsatisfactory manner in which the important subject of shorthand had been dealt with by the school boards of the country. He ventured to say there was no subject included in the syllabuses of those bodies which had been entrusted to teachers possessing smaller evidences of knowledge or capability. He earnestly hoped that societies such as the I.S.S.T. might be able to demonstrate to the new education authority the necessity for altering the existing conception of the most important aim in connection with an evening school. That should not be to secure the largest attendance, but to see that the teachers were capable of producing good results. With regard to the membership of their society, their roll now showed a total of 295, not including the May examination, as against a total of 264 in the corresponding period of last year. It was with very great pleasure that he saw the third place in point of membership among the districts of the society was occupied by London. There had been a very slight decrease in the number of candidates for membership during the year, but there had been a considerable increase in the number of candidates at the Society's students' examinations, so that the Executive had decided to hold quarterly examinations in speed and theory during the coming year. regarded the finances, the society had in hand a balance of about £40, notwithstanding the heavy expenses of the year. Mr Blain concluded by tendering to the officers and workers of the society his thanks for their services to the organization. Mr A. Nixon proposed and Mr A. Davis (Sheffield) seconded a vote of thanks to the President for his address, and the motion was carried with acclamation,

As

Mr F. J. Hallett (Taunton) then read a paper entitled THE EDUCATIVE INFLUENCES OF PHONOGRAPHY. He said that at a time like the present, when the cause of education was passing through a transitional stage, it was impossible to forget that during the past twenty years or so, the needle of the educational compass had not remained stationary. He thought that the present was the time, if ever, for them to educate public opinion, and particularly the schoolmasters of the country, with regard to shorthand. Let teachers ever seek to disprove the popular misconception that there was nothing in it, and that it was merely a mechanical accomplishment, having no educative value. He claimed that the study of Phonography possessed real educational value, as a training for the ear, the eye, and the hand. The study of the system induced a quickening of the memory, an attention to accuracy and detail, and it encouraged also the analytical faculty in the student and practitioner. Mr Hallett contended that it was not too much to say that in the advanced stages of the system, a student's powers of inventiveness were called forth, and that the wealth of phonographic material for the expression of the same combination of consonants exercised the writer's powers of discrimination. The powers of observation were enhanced by the consideration of the choice of outlines and the necessity that the writer must be ever on the alert for words which require vocalizir g in order to prevent the possibility of clashing with other words. Closeness of application and concentration were demanded by the student of the system, and hence the study of it helped to cure the evil of mind-wandering. Promptness of decision and persistency of effort were also qualities which were cultivated by the proper study of Phonography. He claimed, too, that the system aided culture and the development of literary powers, while he knew of no subject which afforded a more thorough acquaintance with the English tongue. In the matter of pronunciation, the student of foreign languages might derive immense help from Phonography. It was passing strange, Mr Hallett said, that while British educationalists generally were now aware that Germany had been in the vanguard of the educational movement for many years past, they were not equally aware that there was no country in the world where shorthand's place in education was so fully appreciated as it was in Germany. He considered that this was due, (1) to the low conception taken of what was necessary in a shorthand teacher; (2) to the fact that able teachers in their enthusiasm were at one time willing to teach the subject for inadequate payment, and educational authorities appraised the subject accordingly; (3) because, as a rule, schoolmasters were unacquainted with the subject, and, in many cases, only introduced it on sufferance; (4) because few inspectors knew anything about the subject; and (5) because of the exclusion of shorthand as a compulsory subject in the leading public schools. Mr Hallett said they should urge upon schoolmasters, not so much the time-saving nature of the art, but its exceptional value as an educative factor, provided it was in the hands of qualified instructors.

Mr F. Heelis (Leeds), who opened the discussion, said that many inspectors spoke of shorthand as a bread and butter subject. Personally, he did not see that it was any the less educative on that account. He was convinced that Mr Hallett's paper would help them to a higher and better conception of their work as shorthand teachers.

Mr J. Karfcot (Chorley) thought Mr Hallett had attempted to elevate the subject into a position which it scarcely deserve). He admired the enthusiast, however, and he thought the paper would give them all great encouragement.

Captain M. J. Woollett (London), Messrs T. Catley (London), A. Nixon, and H. E. Blain also took part in the discussion. Mr Hallett briefly replied to the various points raised, and the members proceeded to hold the

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING.

The annual report, which was read by Mr W. H. Jones, the secretary, showed a satisfactory year's work in every department of the society. The report was adopted,

The Chairman announced the result of the voting for the members of the executive, the following being elected for the ensuing year: Messrs S. Abson, H. E. Blain, J. T. Beck, J. W. Brooks, E. J. Cross, B. de Bear, E. Heelis, J. Hynes, W. H. Jones, J. Karfoot, A. Nixon, G. F. Sandiford, J. Singleton, Seth Whiteley, and Miss K. Pickard.

The following resolutions, of which notice had been given, were carried after considerable discussion :—

That the last sentence of Clause 20 of the Articles of Association be deleted, viz. :-"Should any of such fifteen or other number of persons required to fill such vacancies fail to secure a majority of the votes recorded, their names, together with the three next below, shall be again submitted to the members for a second voting upon."

That the following words be added to Clause 20 of the Articles of Association :-"The Executive shall have power to co-opt to its number three members each year."

At the Executive meeting which followed, Mr J. Singleton (Leeds) was elected President for the coming year, and Messrs E. J. Cross (Manchester), B. de Bear (London), J. Hynes (Manchester). A. Nixon (Sale), and H. E. Blain (Liverpool), Vice-Presidents. Messrs F. Heelis and W. G. Cryer were re-elected auditors, and Mr W. H. Jones, of Manchester, general secretary and treasurer.

A very busy day was brought to a pleasant termination by a Dinner and Social Evening, held in the Carlton Restaurant. (To be concluded.)

TWO YORKSHIRE STENOGRAPHIES.

BY ALEXANDER PATERSON, F.J.I.

In the year 1798 there was issued from the printing office of one John Crome, Waingate, Sheffield, a small stenographic treatise of fifteen pages, with three plates, entitled "The Art of Writing Shorthand Made Easy.' The preface is signed A. C., presumably Alexander Crome, and the date appended is 9th July, 1798. Another edition, with a slightly varied title, appeared three years later. Who was Alexander Crome? All we have been able to glean respecting him is that he was a young man of high Christian character, great promise, and unblemished reputation, who was cut off in the morning of his days, before he had accomplished half the work for which Nature seemed to have destined him. The above we gather from some lines to his memory, now before us, of which the following quotation is a specimen :

If learning leads her sons to high renown,
Crome from her hands might justly claim the crown;
Science the most abstruse he knew to trace,

And in her temple early gained a place;

His studious mind with useful knowledge stored,
Profane and sacred history explored;
Able to measure and define by rule,
Crome proved the learned infidel a fool.

Crome's system is described briefly by both Lewis and Pitman, and is also casually alluded to by Levy. "The most striking feature of the work, which consists of only fifteen pages of a pocket size, is," says Mr Lewis, "the transformation of the rules into doggerel verse. As for the alphabet, it will be sufficient to observe that, though the author does not retain the loops, he has fallen into a greater error by devoting to two letters characters the same in shape and only differing in size, a principle that may be admitted in linear characters representing letters approaching in sound; but cannot receive the same indulgence when applied to letters so dissimilar as (k and (p,h and m~, ~, and w, etc." Pitman reproduces a specimen of the verse, which is extremely halting, but this defect may be pardoned when one bears in mind that the primary object is to impress the rules more readily upon the memory. There is a short list of arbitrary characters which the pupil could extend at pleasure, as might suit his fancy or requirements. The system is not a good one, and was probably never very extensively used.

The treatise was rewritten in prose and republished, with modifications, by one A. W. Stones, at Whitby, North Riding

[ocr errors]

of Yorkshire, in 1814. Mr Stones, who described himself as "teacher of mathematics at the classical academy, High Stakesby, near Whitby," claimed to be the original author of the work, which is designated A Complete System of Shorthand, illustrated by nine engravings, adapted to the pulpit and courts of law, and every purpose of expeditious writing." It comprised ninety pages, with nine plates, and was printed by Messrs Clark and Medd, of Whitby. There was another and larger edition published in 1815, and a third, a copy of which is in my possession, in 1818. Although there had been two previous issues, this latter is designated the second edition, leading one to infer that it was merely a re-issue of that of three years earlier. It is de cribed as "A Complete System of Shorthand, adapted to the Pulpit and Courts of Law and to every purpose of neat and expeditious writing, perfectly legible and distinct in all its parts." There is a note at the beginning which would seem to indicate that the copyright belonged to the publishers. They state, inter alia, that the rapid sale of the first edition had rendered a second necessary, and added that "no exertions have been spared to make the present edition in every way deserving of the very liberal patronage it has received, by making several valuable additions and improvements."

Stones's consonant signs are, with one exception, identical with those of Crome. The six vowels are denoted by a point and a comma, a, i, and o being represented by the point, and e, y, and u by the comma in Crome's system all the vowels are denoted by the point. In short, the system is simply that of Crome, very slightly modified. The volume contains the "Lines to the Memory of the late Mr Alexander Crome," from which we have taken the extract above quoted, and it is stated that Stones and Crome were "particularly acquainted;" but this is the only allusion made to the latter, nor is there anything to show that the treatise is not the unaided production of the professed author.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

The merits or demerits of the system have already been indicated. It is fairly brief, but not sufficiently legible, even when written with moderate care, for ordinary stenographic purposes. To quote from Pitman's History,' "the consonant signs are injudiciously chosen, and consequently do not join well in the writing." Stones prided himself upon the relatively small number of strokes that it was necessary to use in forming the alphabet, a most unreliable test of superiority. For example, he says, 'Byrom's takes thirtythree strokes with the pen to write the alphabet, Ewington's also takes thirty-three, Gurney's thirty-two, Hudson's thirty, Mason's thirty, and by this system twenty-three. In this I certainly claim the superiority, having improved and reduced the alphabet (which is the chief and principal agent in all systems) from thirty-three to twenty-three strokes. By this scheme no motion of the pen is thrown away; in most systems three strokes are sometimes taken to form one single letter, three strokes by this system make three letters, etc., which is not the case in any other on the same principle." The illustrative plates contain specimens of the system as written. In the case of many words it looks extremely simple, but in not a few cases the characters have a twisted unnatural look, and these give the page an unsightly appearance. Of Stones nothing is known beyond what is told us on his title page. A few months ago we endeavoured to obtain some biographical information, but with only a small measure of success. A friend to whom we wrote, who has resided in Whitby over half a century, took an immense amount of trouble in the matter, but without any particularly satisfactory result. The local literary authorities were unable to tell anything respecting him. Whitby is rather proud of its literary reputation, which dates back to the times of Cadmon, the first Saxon poet, in the Seventh century, and some years ago a tiny little volume was issued purporting to give a list of all the Whitby authors from that period down to the date of publication. That work gives the name of A. W. Stones as the author of a shorthand treatise published 1815; a'so that of a Rev. William Stones, Wesleyan minister, who had been stationed there about the same time, and had established his claim to authorship by publishing a sermon or

[ocr errors]

some other small theological treatise. Curiously enough, the local literary savants were and had all along been under the impression that the minister and the stenographer were one and the same person, one of them being fairly upset" when it dawned on him that it was possible he might have been under a wrong impression during a long series of years. In short, nothing whatever was known of Mr A. W. Stones at Whitby, but there were some old standards, who had heard of an academy being carried on at High Stakesby, about half a mile outside the town, during a brief period, early in the last century. This furnishes one among many illustrations we have met with proving how treacherous local memory becomes after the lapse of a very few years. In all proba bility Stones went to Whitby as a salaried usher, and left after the lapse of a few years, either upon the discontinuance of the school (for it had not a lengthened existence) or for the purpose of taking a new appointment in some other part of the country.

BOOK-KEEPING EXAMINATION PAPERS.

No. 64. INTERMEDIATE.

Messrs T. Wallis and W. Grey entered into partnership on the 1st April, 1903, as dealers in woollen goods. Wallis introduced £5,000 capital consisting of stock £4,000 and cash £1,000. Grey introduced a similar amount made up of premises valued at £900, a consignment of goods in Natal £1,200, bills receivable £1,800, and two debts due to him, viz. A. Brown £450 and B. Sharp £650. The transactions for April are shown below. In working the exercise use day books, cash book, journal (where necessary), and ledger. Close the books as on the 30th April, 1903, the value of stock at that date being agreed at £4,300.

Profits in equal shares.

April 1.-Paid cash into bank

[ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

2. Sold to A. Brown, goods

[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]

14.-Sold to Harris and Co.

Goods from stock.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

£ s. d.

406

[blocks in formation]

1775

£66,899

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

15

17

25

268

14

5 15

100 O

O O O O O O

6000

[ocr errors]

Part of Sach's goods

Paid salaries by cheque

16.- insurance of stock, etc., Ist

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors]

balance of J. Sach's goods to "W. Brown

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

AN OMITTED LETTER.-The mistake of a clerk in copying the terms of a bond was responsible for two actions, which came before Mr Justice Darling in the King's Bench recently. In 1902 Bills were promoted in Parliament for the construction of tramways and electric lighting stations in Saddleworth and Springhead Urban District (Yorkshire), and Mr Binns and Mr Marrian, the defendants, entered into agreements for the payments of costs. The draft, it was stated, provided that the costs should be paid upon the passing of the Bill 'for the construction of the tramways," but the clerk engrossing the bond left out the "f," and made it read "or," and the tramways being completed the defendants claimed that they were not liable. The Court held that "or" should read "for," and gave judgment for the plaintiffs. The clerk's error involved a sum of £1,920,

"

FOREIGN COMMERCIAL EXERCISES.

GERMAN. 89.

HANDEL.

In Finanzkreisen war heute das Gerücht1 verbreitet, die Bank von England habe sich an die österreichisch-ungarische Bank mit dem Ersuchen3 gewendet, ihr mit 2 bis 3 Millionen Lstr. Gold zu Hilfe zu kommen. Dieses Gerücht hat sich nicht bestätigt; wenigstens ist ein derartiges Schreiben der Bank von England der österreichisch-ungarischen Bank bis heute Nachmittag nicht zugegangen. Dagegen scheinen solche Absichten bei der Bank von England allerdings zu bestehen, worauf schon die Erörterung dieser Frage in der englischen Presse, zumal in den,,Daily News" hindeutet11. Es ist daher begreiflich 12, dass man in hiesigen Finanzkreisen die Möglichkeit einer solchen Hilfsaktion zu14 gunsten der Bank von England mit Interesse erörtert.

Das wesentlichste15 Bedenken16, welches sich bei der Erörterung dieser Frage aufdrängt17, bezieht's sich 18 wohl auf die Beschränktheit unserer eigenen Mittel. Wenn das Geschäft nicht anders durchzuführen wäre, als durch eine Verringerung des Goldschatzes der österreichisch-ungarischen Bank, so müsste der Vorschlag der Bank von England wohl abgelehnt werden, da man gerade in der gegenwärtigen kritischen Zeit in eine Schwächung der metallischen Notendeckung und sohin in eine Reduktion der steuerfreien 25 Notenreserve, nicht einwilligen könnte.

Diesen Bedenken wurde auch in den Kreisen der Finanzwelt lebhafter Ausdruck" verliehen28. Die massgebenden? Kreise der Notenbank selbst hatten noch keinen Anlass30, zu der ganzen Angelegenheit offiziell Stellung zu nehmen, da, wie bereits erwähnt32, die Bank von England an die österreichisch-ungarische Bank noch nicht herangetreten33 ist.— Berliner Börsenkurier.

I rumour, report; 2 spread abroad, circulated; 3 request; 4 confirmed, ratified; 5 of such a nature; 6 on the other side of the question; 7 by all means; 8 continue to exist; 9 discussion, debate; 10 all at once, particularly; 11 indicates; 12 comprehensible, conceivable; 13 belonging to this place; 14, 14 in favour; 15 most essential; 16 consideration; 17 thrusts upon; 18, 18 refers; 19 means, stock of material; 20 diminution; 21 proposal; 22 declined; 23 weakening; 24 note covering, gold reserve against note issue; 25 free from tax; 26 consent, acquiesce; 27 expression; 28 bestowed; 29 influential; 30 occasion, cause, reason; 31 affairs; 32, 32 already mentioned; 33 approached.

ENGLISH VERSION OF LAST WEEK'S EXERCISE.

FRENCH. 87.

THE ALCOHOL QUESTION.

One may easily see that on such principles the exploitation of any industry whatever by the State should be a fundamentally established idea, and this not only from the point of view of lowering of price, but also of improving the quality, there being nothing to fear from competition by the mere fact of the existence of the monopoly, because all the works of the monopoly have the habit of doing the one as badly as the other.

On the other hand, is the monopoly of any use at all in present circumstances, and, above all, is it practical?

We do not think so, and for the following reasons: The leading advocates of the monopoly take their stand on considerations of public health. We know by experience what it is worth; but let us admit that the reason is a good one. Nothing is more easy for the State, which has the control of the distilleries, than to allow none but well rectified alcohols to be consumed. Now, we may say that at the present moment they are well rectified in all the large distiljeries and refineries of alcohol. In order to give complete satis

faction to the thoroughgoing hygienists, nothing is needed but to complete the present regulations by a decision compelling alcohols declared by traders as of bad flavour, or discovered to be so by experts in the hygienic laboratory, to be submitted to methylization, either on the spot, or at the works of a methylizator, where they shall be capsuled under the leaden seal of the Régie, as it is stipulated in the regulations. By this means, none but hygienic alcohols, as they say in the Chamber, would be allowed to pass without being under leaden capsules.

It is well understood that the same measure shall be applied to all alcohols without distinction of origin, and especially to the frightful fiery drinks made from sulphited wines or acid ciders. Then hygiene will be satisfied without putting the State under obligation to buy back the manufactories-which would only be to pile up the deficit-and not without transforming all the persons employed in the manufactories into state officials.-L'Echo du Commerce.

SPANISH.
88.

ON THE BOURSE.

The situation in our financial market is becoming more cheerful. Now that the first weekly session is over, the exchanges have acquired a certain degree of firmness, and money has emerged from its hiding place in order to cope with the demand for it.

The sales effected by the short interest have, as a matter of course, promoted compensating purchases which inspired the bull pools with animation; and, as the fears which the Melilla incident had excited have vanished, the movement in quotations has been consistently in the upward direction, so much so that the Internal Loan passes from 74.35. at which it was quoted on Monday, to 76,5, at which figure business was finally done on Saturday, without the occurrence of any retrograde movement in our principal index of credit in the course of the week.

After the removal of the restraint on the circulation of floating bills which have been accumulating in the portfolios of the discount houses, it is by no means strange that the money market should proceed at a good pace. Furthermore, the satisfactory settlement of the account at the end of the month has stimulated speculators to buy back double quantities; also money, taking all things into consideration, appears to be easy, because some people began by doing business at 32 céntimos, and at the end of the period to which we refer are dealing on the basis of 0,15.

In another direction also, the arbitrage with Barcelona has contributed to improve the tone of our own market, which now finds itself in a healthy condition, a fact which will make itself noticeable in the coming week, unless some cause or other of perturbation should arise which may give a twist to the natural course of exchange.—Heraldo de Madrid.

ESPERANTO. The free lessons in Esperanto are suspended for the summer months, but will be resumed in September. Any information meantime will gladly be given by Mr W. T. Stead, or the hon. secretary of the Esperanto Club, Mr B. Mudie, 67 Kensington Gardens square, London, W.

SUMMER READING-Messrs A. and F. Denny, the wellknown cash booksellers of 147 Strand, London, W.C., send us a copy of their Annual List of Sixpenny Books. It is remarkable to note what an astonishing number and variety of works by modern and living authors can now be obtained, produced in good style at sixpence each (less discount for cash). The list includes nearly 750 titles, and these will be largely added to before the summer is over. Fiction, of course, predominates, but general literature is represented by Tennyson and Dante among poets; Gladstone, Huxley, Wace, and Herbert Spencer among men of science and philosophers; and Lord Avebury, Lord Roberts, and MajorGeneral Baden-Powell on subjects on which they are acknowledged authorities. All interested in cheap literature should obtain Messrs Denny's list.

[merged small][merged small][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small]

In a passage to be found in the fifth book of the Bible the Promised Land is spoken of as, among other things, a land whose stones are iron." The application is supposed to be to the masses of meteorolite stone found in many parts of the earth, from which the early races of mankind seem to have made their weapons and tools, though there is also evidence that at a very distant date mining operations were carried on for iron and that, in the words of Job, "Iron is taken out of the earth."

Not only is the metal found in all parts of the globe, but it makes its appearance in many forms. It is found in all kinds of earth, and often gives a colour to the soil. In all spring and river waters the presence of the mineral can be traced, while some springs have such a strong mingling of iron that they are known as mineral waters. It is also found in plants and animals. addition to its many uses for articles of all kinds, iron is taken in small doses as a means of giving new vigour to the human frame, and in its purest form is white in colour.

In

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

X

If we think for a moment, we shall see that the progress of the world in many ways could not have been made without iron. Locke has well said that were the use of iron lost among us, we should in a few ages be reduced to the wants and ignorance of the ancient savage Americans," and had he lived in this age he would have seen many fresh reasons in support of the truth of his view. In the absence of iron or steel, the steam-engine and the spinningjenny could not have been brought into use till the end of time, and we should not have been able to travel over the iron road which to-day links all parts of the earth; these are but a few of the great services which this useful metal gives to mankind.

An account of a visit paid many years ago to some great iron works at Glasgow will afford a notion of the manner in which iron is prepared for the various uses to which it is put. Pig iron reaches the place by a canal. The first work is that of refining the metal, and for this purpose it is melted by means of a powerful blast. When thoroughly boiled or melted, it remains in a liquid state for an hour and a half; it is then run into a mould and cooled as rapidly as possible, and receives the name when this is done of refined metal. At this stage it is broken small and thrown into puddling furnaces, where it is converted into malleable iron. (To be concluded.)

« AnteriorContinuar »