ABC OF THE STEEL SQUARE O 



professes to follow. It is not enough, nowa- 

 days, for a person to have attained the character 

 of a good workman ; that phrase implies that 

 quantum of excellence, which consists in work- 

 ing correctly and neatly, under the directions of 

 others. The workman of to-day, to excel, must 

 understand the principles of his trade, and Ix 

 able to apply them correctly in practice. Such 

 a one has a decided advantage over his fellow- 

 workman ; and if to his superior knowledge he 

 possesses a steady manner, and industrious hab- 

 its, his efforts cannot fail of being rewarded. 

 It is no sin not to know much, though it is 

 a great one not to know all we can, and put it 

 all to good use. Yet, how few mechanics there 

 are who will know all they can? Men apply for 

 employment daily who claim to be finished me- 

 chanics, and profess to be conversant with all 

 the ins and outs of their craft, and who are 

 noways backward in demanding the highest 

 wages going, who, when tested, are found want- 

 ing in knowledge of the simplest formulas of 

 their trade. They may, perhaps, be able to per- 

 form a good job of work after it is laid out for 

 them by a more competent hand ; they may havx 

 a partial knowledge of the uses and application 

 of their tools ; but, generally, their knowledgv 

 ends here. Yet some of these men have worked 



