224 JAMES SHANKS 



their principles ; certainly they lived in times 

 when the struggle for existence did not 

 appear to be so fierce as it is to-day, but, for 

 all that, we can scarcely conceive such a 

 revulsion of ideas and sympathies in these 

 men, men who, instead of crushing down a 

 weak competition, are known to have given 

 valuable assistance to a young firm just 

 starting in the same business. An unselfish, 

 chivalrous spirit manifested itself sometimes 

 in those days, which might well be treasured 

 as an inheritance more precious even than 

 the most splendid inventions. 



" Do as you would be done by," was not 

 then an exploded fallacy. 



Amongst his workpeople, Shanks was a 

 strict disciplinarian ; there was no laxity or 

 want of vigilance in his management, he 

 expected every soul in his employ to do his 

 duty he was everywhere, he looked into, 

 not merely at everything. Still, he was very 

 tender-hearted and felt deep sympathy with 

 the labouring classes. In him the poor ever 

 had a large-hearted and wise friend, and by 

 those in his employ he was most highly 

 respected, one might almost say beloved. 



James Shanks will ever be remembered by 

 those amongst whom he moved as one of the 



