APPENDIX, 269 



ing to one beautiftil and sublime result. Another feature specially 

 noticeable in the establishment in question is the principle of 

 subordination. Singular to say, that while the operatives are 

 males*, the foreman of this model factory is a female ; but that 

 circumstance need not shock the sensibilities of our fair friends 

 any more than it ought to offend the prejudices of the sterner sex, 

 inasmuch as the mighty empire of Great Britain is ruled by the 

 gentle hand of a female ; and moreover, in the one case as in the 

 other, the presiding genius, amid all her official cares and duties, 

 takes care to preserve the modesty of her sex. She never in the 

 slightest degree obtrudes herself needlessly on public observation, 

 and probably on that very account the respect shown to her by 

 her subjects is the more profound and devoted. There is, how- 

 ever, one particular in which we would take leave to demur to 

 the idea of this fectory being in every respect regarded as a 

 " model." We have not been able to discover that there is any 

 particular period of the day in which the operatives are allowed 

 to take refreshments. We, in England, have been accustomed 

 to regard the dinner-hour somewhat in the light of a sacred in- 

 stitution. And if the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society 

 mean to set this up as a model institution, we are of opinion that 

 some explanation on this point is desirable. Indeed, we have not 

 been able to discover that the operatives in this establishment take 

 any refreshment whatever. If they do, it must be " on the sly," 

 vulgarly speaking. There is one peculiarity, however, which 

 must tend to popularize this institution, and which has sensed to 

 make it one of the most attractive objects on the show ground. 

 It is the fashion in all the great factories which abound on the 

 banks of the Tyne and throughout the country generally to act 

 on the principle of exclusiveness to a very great extent, and per- 

 haps wisely so. As you approach the door you see an intimation 

 In legible characters, " No admission except on business." This 



* The reporter was in error as to the sex of the workers. 



