ACQUISITION AND PRODUCTION. 365 



weapons and armour is far in advance of that shown in 

 appliances for ordinary life. In Old Japan &quot; the occupation 

 of a swordsmith is an honourable profession, the members 

 of which are men of gentle blood.&quot; The arms used by the 

 Komans had become well shaped and finished at a time 

 when, as we learn from Mommsen, the Koman plough still 

 retained its primitive rude structure. Concerning a later 

 stage we read that there were eight factories of arms in 

 Gaul during days in which no other industrial establish 

 ments were mentioned. Then in Mediaeval Europe there 

 was the contrast between the well-made armour and weap 

 ons and the rough domestic appliances. So among our 

 selves. In the old English period there were &quot; two classes 

 of smiths, those who forged arms and weapons for military 

 purposes, and others who were employed in fabricating . . . 

 implements of agriculture.&quot; After the Conquest 



&quot;The art of refining and working in metals was perhaps . . ; car 

 ried to greater perfection than any of the useful arts ; and a superior 

 class of men was engaged in this department of industry.&quot; 



And then we are told that at the beginning of the 15th 

 century &quot; the crafts which were occupied in working in 

 metals were numerous. The armourers were as much dis 

 tinguished as the goldsmiths for their skill and taste.&quot; 

 Meanwhile, as we see in museums, implements for daily 

 use tools, locks, latches, and so forth were very rudely, 

 finished. 



Countless anecdotes about savages who barter valuable 

 produce for beads, gaudy fabrics, and other things used for 

 display, show how strong among them is the wish to dis 

 tinguish themselves by wearing things that are beautiful or 

 costly. The histories of civilized peoples exhibit the same 

 wish. &quot; The trade of goldsmith,&quot; says Mommsen, &quot; existed 

 in Rome from time immemorial.&quot; References to gold orna 

 ments and precious stones meet us everywhere in the records 

 of early historic peoples ; and everywhere we see that these 

 things, significant of large possessions, were marks of class 



