MODERN BLACkSMITHING 



27 



LITERATURE 



AVING thoroughly learned the trade, 

 it is important to keep posted 

 in this matter by reading books 

 and trade journals. As far as 

 books are concerned, we have a 

 few treating on horse-shoeing, 

 with both good and bad ideas. 

 As to blacksmithing, this book, 

 ' Modern Blacksmithing," is the first in that line, 

 written by a practical blacksmith and horse-shoer. 



Our trade joui nals must be read with discrimination. 

 They are mostly edited by men having no practical 

 experience in the trade, and are therefore not respon- 

 sible for the articles these papers contain. Many 

 articles are entirely misleading. Blacksmiths having 

 more experience with the pen than the hammer, and 

 anxious to have their names appear in print, write for 

 these journals. 



Prize artjcles are also doing more harm than good, 

 the judges giving the prizes to men with ideas like 

 their own, not being broad-minded enough to consider 

 anything they don't practice themselves, and the result 

 is a premium on old and foolish ideas. 



But we should not stop at this. We should read 

 much. Anything, except bloody novels, will help to 



