26 MODERN BLACKSMITHING 



drilled me. I was given a good file and a piece of 

 iron, this iron I filed square, round, triangle, hexagon 

 and octagon I wore out files and pieces of iron one 

 after another, the master giving instructions how to 

 stand, hold the file, about the pressure and strokes of 

 same, etc. The same careful instructions were given 

 in blacksmithing. The apprentice was given some 

 work, and he had to forge it out himself, no matter 

 what time it took, nor did it make any difference if the 

 job, when done, was of any use, the apprentice was 

 simply practicing and accustoming himself to the use 

 of tools. Thus the elementary rules were learned in a 

 few weeks, and the apprentice made capable of doing 

 useful service that would repay for the time lost in the 

 start. 



