GOLD AND IRON 61 



must be placed ; and it is precisely its enormous re- 

 sistance to rupture that makes this metal so pre- 

 cious to us. Never would a gold, copper, marble, or 

 stone anvil resist the blows of the smith's hammer 

 as an iron one does. The hammer itself, of what 

 sul (stance other than iron could it be made! If of 

 copper, silver, or gold, it would flatten, crush, and 

 become useless in a short time; for these metals 

 lack hardness. If of stone, it would break at the 

 first rather hard blow. For these implements noth- 

 ing can take the place of iron. Nor can it for axes, 

 saws, knives, the mason's chisel, the quarry-man's 

 pick, the plowshare, and a number of other imple- 

 ments which cut, hew, pierce, plane, file, give or re- 

 t-eive violent blows. Iron alone has the hardness 

 that can cut most other substances, and the resist- 

 ance that sets blows at defiance. In this respect iron 

 is, of all mineral substances, the handsomest present 

 that Providence has given to man. It is preemi- 

 nently the material for tools, indispensable in every 

 art and industry. " 



" Claire and I read one 

 day," said Jules, "that 

 when the Spaniards discov- llau . hllt of the stone Age 

 -i '<! America, the savages 



of that new country had gold axes, which they very 

 \\illiimly exchanged for iron ones. I laughed at 

 their innocence, which made them give such a costly 

 price for a piece of very common metal. I think 1 

 see now that the exchange was to their advantage." 



" Ves, decidedly to their advantage: for with an 

 iron ax ih.-y could Ml trees to make their dug-out 



