106 THE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION. 



Lawrence and John walked about for some time among 

 these things, observing and examining all that they saw, 

 until at length they came back to what would be called in 

 a church the singers' gallery, where there was a seat, upon 

 which they could sit and rest themselves, and, at the same 

 time, look down over the balustrade to the scene below. 



Immediately beneath them, on the lower floor, was a 

 steam-engine, and various other machines connected with 

 it. A little farther on was a large table with a blowpipe, 

 and several other contrivances attached to it for glass- 

 blowing. The glass-blower was sitting at the table at 

 work, making a great many curious things, and a number 

 of persons young men, young women, and children were 

 standing around the table watching the operations, and 

 buying the articles which the man made as soon as fin- 

 ished, or selecting them from a large supply of similar ar- 

 ticles which he had on the table before him, and which he 

 had previously made. 



It was curious, John thought, to see the process of spin- 

 ning glass silk as this man performed it. He had on his 

 left hand a wheel, about a foot in diameter, which was 

 mounted on a stand, and made to turn by a crank. To 

 spin the glass thread, or silk, he held the end of a glass rod 

 in the flame of the blowpipe before him, to keep a portion 

 of it melted, or at least softened enough to be drawn out 

 into a fine thread, and this thread, as fast as it was drawn, 

 he wound round the wheel, turning the wheel all the time 

 with his left hand. 



Of course Lawrence and John could not see the thread 

 from the distance at which they were sitting, it was so fine ; 

 but they could see the glass rod, and the glow of light at 

 the end of it, where it touched the point of the flame of the 

 blowpipe, and they could also see the wheel turn, which 

 served as a reel to wind the skein upon. 



