8 



A B C OF THE STEEL SQUARE 



ished workman was the result of persistent 

 study and application, and not, as is popularly 

 supposed, a natural or spontaneous production. 

 It is true that some men possess greater natural 

 mechanical abilities than others, and conse- 

 quently a greater aptitude in grasping the 

 principles that underlie the constructive arts ; 

 but, as a rule, such men are not reliable; they 

 may be expert, equal to any mechanical emer- 

 gency, and quick at mastering details, but they 

 are seldom thorough, and never reliable where- 

 long sustained efforts are required. 



The mechanic who reaches a fair degree of 

 perfection by experience, study and applica- 

 tion is the man who rises to the surface, and 

 whose steadiness and trustwortkiness force 

 themselves on the notice of employers and su- 

 perintendents. I have said this in order to give- 

 encouragement to those young mechanics who 

 find it up-hill work to master the intricacies of 

 the various arts they are engaged in, for they 

 may rest assured that in the end work and ap- 

 plication will be sure to win ; and I am certain 

 that a thorough study of the Steel Square and 

 its capabilities will do more than anything else 

 to aid the young workman in mastering many 

 of the mechanical difficulties that will confront 

 him from time to time in his daily occupation. 



