ECONOMY IN THE CHOICE OF GOOD MATERIALS. 93 



putting in operation his improvements, viz., the shirring, cord- 

 ing, and napping machines, are of the most simple construction ; 

 and are just such as should be suggested to the mind of any per- 

 son requiring machinery for these purposes. 



Independent of all pecuniary considerations, he has taken 

 great satisfaction in trying to improve articles of necessity or 

 convenience, for the use of man. Those which first engaged 

 his attention were in the hardware line, and such as were 

 immediately connected with his occupation. Whenever he 

 observed an article in common use, in which there was ob- 

 viously a great defect, whether growing out of the choice of 

 unsuitable materials for the purpose, or in consequence of a 

 wrong construction of the thing, he commonly applied his mind 

 to the subject, to find, if possible, the best way of improving it, 

 or removing, the defect, always contesting the common maxim, 

 that for the interest of the trade, " things should be so made that 

 they will not last too long." A theory, the fallacy of which is 

 only equalled by the demoralizing influence of the sentiment, 

 and the pecuniary loss both of the mechanic or manufacturer, 

 and the consumer. The more completely things are made, the 

 more satisfaction and enjoyment will be found in their use, and 

 the greater will be the demand, especially as nothing can be so 

 well made but that time will dispose of it in some way. 



The imperfections of these things, many of which are looked 

 upon only as trifles, of no sort of consequence, he considered as 

 of great importance, as not only the cause of much waste of time 

 and money, but also productive of great moral evil. Nor is it 

 exaggeration to say, that a great proportion of the annoyances 

 that disturb the mind, and give rise to such evils, arise from the 

 use of articles badly constructed, or from some cause not fitted 

 to the use for what they are intended, to say nothing of their 

 being the immediate cause of serious harm. 



" And the cable of a furlong is lost through an ill- wrought inch," 



At this early period, the manufacture of cotton and wool, ex- 

 cept in families, was hardly commenced ; and the manufacture 



i 



