按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
reflection how contented people are to go bungling on； doing a thing the wrong way； when the right way is obvious： and my particular observation wasthat these long saws are ground in a way which offends the grammar of mechanics。 Here's a piece of steel six feet long； but not so wide as the grindstone：what can be plainer than that such a strip ought to be ground lengthwise？ then the whole saw would receive the grindstone in a few seconds。 Instead of that； on they go； year after year； grinding them obliquely； and with a violent exertion that horrifies a fellow like me； who goes in for economy of labor； and have done all my life。 Look at that fellow working。 What a waste of muscle！ Now； if you will come to my studio； I think I can show you how long saws WILL be ground in the days of civilization。〃
His eye； which had been turned inward during his reverie； dullish and somewhat fish…like； now sparkled like a hot coal； and he led the way eagerly。
〃Pray humor him； sir；〃 said Bayne； compassionately。
They followed him up a horrid stair； and entered his studio and a marvelous place it was： a forge on one side； a carpenter's bench and turning…lathe on the other and the floor so crowded with models； castings； and that profusion of new ideas in material form which housewives call litter； that the artist had been obliged to cut three little ramified paths； a foot wide； and so meander about the room； as struggles a wasp over spilt glue。
He gave the doctor the one chair； and wriggled down a path after pencil and paper： he jumped with them； like a cat with a mouse； on to the carpenter's bench； and was soon absorbed in drawing。
When he had drawn a bit； he tore up the paper； and said； 〃Let me think。〃
〃The request is unusual；〃 said Dr。 Amboyne； 〃however； if you will let us smoke； we will let you think。〃
No reply from the inventor； whose eye was already turned inward； and fish…like again。
Dr。 Amboyne and Bayne smoked peaceably awhile。 But presently the inventor uttered a kind of shout。
〃Eureka；〃 said the doctor calmly； and emitted a curly cloud。
Little dashed at the paper； and soon produced a drawing。 It represented two grindstones set apparently to grind each other； a large one below； a small one above。
〃Therethe large stone shall revolve rapidly； say from north to south； the small one from south to north： that is the idea which has just struck me； and completes the invention。 It is to be worked； not by one grinder； but two。 A stands south； and passes the saw northward between the two grindstones to B。 The stones must be hung so as just to allow the passage of the saw。 B draws it out； and reverses it； and passes it back to A。 Those two journeys of the saw will grind the whole length of it for a breath of two or three inches； and all in forty seconds。 Now do you see what I meant by the grammar of mechanics？ It was the false grammar of those duffers； grinding a long thing sideways instead of lengthways； that struck my mind first。 And now see what one gets to at last if one starts from grammar。 By this machine two men can easily grind as many big saws as twenty men could grind on single stones： and instead of all that heavy； coarse labor； and dirt； and splashing； my two men shall do the work as quietly and as easily as two printers； one feeding a machine with paper； and his mate drawing out the printed sheet at the other end。〃
〃By Jove；〃 said Dr。 Amboyne； 〃I believe this is a great idea。 What do you say； Mr。 Bayne？〃
〃Well； sir； a servant mustn't always say his mind。〃
〃Servant be hanged！〃 said Little。 〃THAT for a friend who does not speak his mind。〃
〃Well； then； gentlemen； it is the most simple and beautiful contrivance I ever saw。 And there's only one thing to be done with it。〃
〃Patent it？〃
〃No； hide it； lock it up in your own breast； and try and forget it。 Your life won't be worth a week's purchase； if you set up that machine in Hillsborough。〃
〃Hillsborough is not all the world。 I can take it to some free countryAmerica orRussia； there's a fortune in it。 Stop； suppose I was to patent it at home and abroad； and then work it in the United States and the Canadas。 That would force the invention upon this country； by degrees。〃
〃Yes； and then； if you sell the English patent and insure the purchaser's life； you may turn a few thousands； and keep a whole skin yourself。〃
Little assured Bayne he had no intention of running his head against the Saw…grinders' Union。 〃We are very comfortable as it is； and I value my life more than I used to do。〃
〃I think I know why；〃 said Dr。 Amboyne。 〃But； whatever you do； patent your invention。 Patent them all。〃
Henry promised he would； but soon forgot his promise； and； having tasted blood； so to speak； was soon deep in a far more intricate puzzle； viz。； how to grind large circular saws by machinery。 This problem； and his steel railway clip； which was to displace the present system of fastening down the rails； absorbed him so； that he became abstracted in the very streets； and did not see his friends when they passed。
One day； when he was deeply engaged in his studio； Bayne tapped at the door； and asked to speak to him。
〃Well； what is it？〃 said the inventor； rather peevishly。
〃Oh； nothing；〃 said Bayne； with a bitter air of mock resignation。 〃Only a cloud on the peaceful horizon； that is all。 A letter from Mary Anne。〃
〃SIR；Four of your saws are behindhand with their contributions； and； being deaf to remonstrance； I am obliged to apply to you； to use your influence。
〃MARY ANNE。〃
〃Well；〃 said Henry； 〃Mary Anne is in the right。 Confound their dishonesty： they take the immense advantages the Saw…grinders' Union gives them； yet they won't pay the weekly contribution； without which the Union can't exist。 Go and find out who they are； and blow them up。〃
〃What！ me disturb the balmy？〃
〃Bother the balmy！ I can't be worried with such trifles。 I'm inventing。〃
〃But； Mr。 Little； would not the best way be for YOU just to stop it quietly and peaceably out of their pay； and send it to Grotait？〃
Little； after a moment's reflection； said he had no legal right to do that。 Besides； it was not his business to work the Saw…grinders' Union for Grotait。 〃Who is this Mary Anne？〃
〃The saw…grinders； to be sure。〃
〃What； all of them？ Poor Mary Anne！〃
He then inquired how he was to write back to her。
〃Oh； write under cover to Grotait。 He is Mary Anne； to all intents and purposes。〃
〃Well； write the jade a curt note； in both our names； and say we disapprove the conduct of the defaulters； and will signify our disapproval to them； but that is all we can do。〃
This letter was written； and Bayne made it as oleaginous as language permits； and there the matter rested apparently。
But； as usual； after the polite came the phonetic。 Next week Henry got a letter thus worded：
〃MISTER LITL；If them grinders of yores dosent send their money i shall com an' fech strings if the devil stans i' t' road。
MOONRAKER。〃
Mr。 Little tossed this epistle contemptuously into the fire； and invented on。
Two days after that he came to the works； and found the saw grinders standing in a group； with their hands in their pockets。