prolonged war. We could obtain the raw material cheaper, and had a great superiority in the abundant water-power, then unemployed, in every part of New England. It was also the belief of Mr. Lowell, that the character of our population, educated, moral, and enterprising as it then was, could not fail to secure success, when brought into competition with their European rivals; and it is no small evidence of the far-reaching views of this extraordinary man, and his early colleagues, that their very first measures were such as should secure that attention to education and morals among the manufacturing population, which they believed to be the corner-stone of any permanent success. "Impressed with these views, Mr. Lowell determined to bring them to the test of experiment. So confident was he in his calculations, that he thought he could in no way so effectually assist the fortunes of his relative, Mr. Jackson, as by offering him a share in the enterprise. Great were the difficulties that beset the new undertaking. The state of war prevented any communication with England. Not even books and designs, much less models, could be procured. The structure of the machinery, the materials to be used in the construction, the very tools of the machine-shop, the arrangement of the mill, and the size of its various apartments - all these were to be, as it were, reinvented. But Mr. Jackson's was not a spirit to be appalled by obstacles. He entered at once into the project, and devoted to it, from that moment, all the time that could be spared from his mercantile pursuits. "The first object to be accomplished, was to procure a power-loom. To obtain one from England was, of course, impracticable; and, although there were many patents for such machines in our Patent Office, not one had yet exhibited sufficient merit to be adopted into use. Under these circumstances but one resource remained- to invent one themselves; and this these earnest men at once set about. Unacquainted as they were with machinery, in practice, they dared, nevertheless to attempt the solution of a problem that had baffled the most ingenious mechanicians. In England the power-loom had been invented by a clergyman, and why not here by a merchant? After numerous experiments and failures they at last succeeded, in the autumn of 1812, in producing a model which they thought so well of as to be willing to make preparations for putting up a mill for the weaving of cotton cloth. It was now necessary to procure the assistance of a practical mechanic, to aid in the construction of the machinery; and the friends had the good fortune to secure the services of Mr. Paul Moody, afterwards so well known as the head of the machine-shop at Lowell. "They found, as might naturally be expected, many defects in their model loom; but these were gradually remedied. The project hitherto had been exclusively for a weaving-mill, to do by power what had before been done by hand-looms. But it was ascertained, on inquiry, that it would be more economical to spin the twist, rather than to buy it; and they put up a mill for about 1700 spindles, which was completed late in 1813. It will probably strike the reader with some astonishment to be told that this mill, still in operation at Waltham, was probably the first one in the world that combined all the operations necessary for converting the raw cotton into finished cloth. Such, however, is the fact, as far as we are informed on the subject. The mills in this country Slater's, for example, in Rhode Island - were spinning-mills only; and in England, though the power-loom had been introduced, it was used in separate establishments by persons who bought, as the hand-weavers had always done, their twist of the spinners. "Great difficulty was at first experienced at Waltham for the want of a proper preparation (sizing) of the warps. They procured from England a drawing of Horrock's dressing machine, which, with some essential improvements, they adopted, producing the dresser now in use at Lowell and elsewhere. No method was, however, indicated in this drawing for winding the threads from the bobbins on to the beam; and to supply this deficiency, Mr. Moody invented the very ingenious machine called the warper.. Having obtained these, there was no further difficulty in weaving by power-looms. "There was still great deficiency in the preparation for spinning. They had obtained from England a description of what was then called a bobbin and fly, or jack-frame, for spinning roving; from this Mr. Moody and Mr. Lowell produced our present double speeder. The motions of this machine were very complicated, and required nice mathematical calculations. Without them Mr. Moody's ingenuity, great as it was, would have been at fault. These were supplied by Mr. Lowell. Many years afterwards, and after the death of Mr. Lowell, when the patent for the speeder had been infringed, the late Dr. Bowditch was requested to examine them, that he might appear as a witness at the trial. He expressed to Mr. Jackson his admiration of the mathematical power they evinced; adding, that there were some corrections introduced that he had not supposed any man in America familiar with but himself. "There was also great waste and expense in winding the thread for filling or weft from the bobbin on to the quills for the shuttle. To obviate this, Mr. Moody invented the machine known here as the filling-throstle. "It will be seen, by this rapid sketch, how much there was at this early period to be done, and how well it was accomplished. The machines introduced then are those still in use in New England brought, of course, to greater perfection in detail, and attaining a much higher rate of speed; but still substantially the same." Of the provisions made for the workers in the factories and the social problem raised by the new industry, Mr. Lowell wrote as follows: " By the erection of boarding-houses at the expense and under the control of the factory; putting at the head of them matrons of tried charac-. ter, and allowing no boarders to be received except the female operatives of the mill; by stringent regulations for the government of these houses; by all these precautions they gained the confidence of the rural population, who were now no longer afraid to trust their daughters in a manufacturing town. A supply was thus obtained of respectable girls; and these, from pride of char acter, as well as principle, have taken especial care to exclude all others. It was soon found that an apprenticeship in a factory entailed no degradation of character, and was no impediment to a reputable connection in marriage. A factory-girl was no longer condemned to pursue that vocation for life; she would retire, in her turn, to assume the higher and more appropriate responsibilities of her sex; and it soon came to be considered that a few years in a mill were an honorable mode of securing a dower. The business could thus be conducted without any permanent manufacturing population. The operatives no longer form a separate caste, pursuing a sedentary employment, from parent to child, in the heated rooms of a factory; but are recruited, in a circulating current, from the healthy and virtuous population of the country. By these means, and a careful selection of men of principle and purity of life as agents and overseers, a great moral good has been obtained. Another result has followed, which, if foreseen, as no doubt it was, does great credit to the sagacity of those remarkable men. The class of operatives employed in our mills have proved to be as superior in intelligence and efficiency to the degraded population elsewhere employed in manufactures, as they are in morals. They are selected from a more educated class - from among persons in more easy circumstances, where the mental and physical powers have met with fuller development. This connection between morals and intellectual efficiency has never been sufficiently studied." 66 MR. LOWELL'S summing up of Mr. Jackson's character is as follows. It would stand as well, it seems to us, for the portrait of almost any of these great cotton leaders whom we have named and of that older generation of Boston merchants who did so much to make New England what it is. Reviewing the career of Mr. Jackson, one cannot but be struck with the multifarious and complicated nature of the business he undertook, the energy and promptness of his resolution, the sagacity and patience with which he mastered details, the grasp of mind that reached far beyond the exigencies of the moment. Yet these qualities, however pre-eminent, will not alone account for his uniform success, or the great influence he exercised. He had endowment morally, as well as intellectually, of a high order. The loftiest principles- not merely of integrity, but of honor, governed him in every transaction; and, superadded to these was a kindliness of feeling that led him to ready sympathy with all who approached him. It was often said of him, that while no one made a sharper bargain than he did, yet no one put so liberal a construction upon it when made. His sense of honor was so nice that a mere misgiving was enough to decide him against his own interest. With his extensive business and strength of character, he necessarily had collisions with many; yet he had few enemies, and to such as felt inimical toward him he harbored no resentment. Prompt in the expression of his feelings, he was equally so in the forgiveness of injuries. His quick sympathies led him to be foremost in all works of public spirit, or of charity. He was fearless in the expression of his opinions, and never swerved from the support of the right and the true from any considerations of policy or favor. He felt it to be the part of real dignity to enlighten, not to follow the general opinion. "In private, he was distinguished by a cheerfulness and benevolence that beamed upon his countenance, and seemed to invite every one to be happy with him. His position enabled him to indulge his love of doing good by providing employment for many meritorious persons; and this patronage, once extended, was never capriciously withdrawn. "The life of such a man is a public benefaction. Were it only to point out to the young and enterprising that the way to success is by the path of honor not half-way, conventional honor, but honor enlightened by religion, and guarded by conscience - were it only for this, a truth but imperfectly appreciated even by moralists, the memory of such men should be hallowed by posterity." WE have already alluded in these pages to the organized effort which has recently been inaugurated for the preservation of beautiful and historical places in Massachusetts. Since our notice of the matter, a second conference of persons interested has been held in Boston, at the Institute of Technology. President Sprague of the Massachusetts Senate presided; at this meeting speeches were made by Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, Judge Shurtleff, Professor Charles Eliot Norton, and others; and letters from Governor Brackett, Dr. Holmes, Mr. Whittier, and many others who are warmly interested in the effort were read. The conference appointed a committee to promote its purposes; and the circular which this committee has issued touches so many of the interests for the promotion of which the NEW ENGLAND MAGAZINE exists that we commend it to the attention of every New England reader, with the wish that societies like this Massachusetts one might be organized in every New England State. "The fundamental facts of the subject with which the Committee has to deal are two, namely: "Ist. It is the self-interest of the Commonwealth to preserve, for the enjoyment of her people and their guests, all her finest scenes of natural beauty and all her places of historical interest. "2d. Private ownership of such scenes and places now prevails, so that not only is the public completely barred out from many especially refreshing and interesting spots, but these valuable places are often robbed of their beauty or interest for some small private gain. "The problem calls for intelligent action on the part of the Legislature, and generous action on the part of private citizens. The Committee will ask the Legislature to act for the best interests of the Commonwealth by establishing a Board of Trustees, capable of holding lands for the use and enjoyment of the public; and the Committee will ask the owners of lands, and the possessors of money which can buy or maintain lands, to endow the Trustees with suitable lands and considerable funds immediately upon their incorporation. With the fostering approval of the Legislature, the large and small gifts of enlightened citizens have provided Massachusetts with colleges, libraries, art museums, and hospitals. When the State shall have established the necessary organization, gifts of beautiful and interesting places and sites may confidently be expected, for no nobler use of wealth can be imagined. "Judge William S. Shurtleff of Springfield, Hon. Henry L. Parker of Worcester, and Moses Williams, Esq., of Brookline, have been appointed a Sub-Committee on Legislation. The establishment of an advisory Board, in addition to the Board of Trustees, will probably be recommended to the Legislature, its members to be elected as Delegates from existing incorporated associations. The State possesses many thriving historical and out-of-doors societies, and they will be called upon to unite in establishing and assisting a Board of Trustees which shall be capable of holding property valuable to one and all. Such acts of the Trustees as involve the assumption of permanent trusts will come before this Board of Delegates for confirmation. "The Committee desires to hear from the officers of all societies which may wish to send Delegates to the proposed Board, and also from the officers or members of any societies which may see fit to assist the Committee by adopting resolutions favoring the establishment of the proposed Board of Trustees for public places. "The Committee hopes to be informed of all movements now on foot looking to the opening to the public of any beautiful or historical places, as also of all lands which it may be desirable and possible to obtain for the proposed Trustees. Letters may be addressed to the nearest member of the Committee, or to the Secretary, Charles Eliot, 50 State Street, Boston. "Lastly, the Committee requests all persons who may feel interested in this attempt to facilitate the preservation of natural scenery and of historical memorials to send contributions for this purpose to the Treasurer of the Committee, George Wigglesworth, Esq., 89 State Street, Boston. If the working fund can be made large enough, the work of the Committee can go on prosperously; otherwise it must languish. "Committee: Francis A. Walker, Sarah H. Crocker, Marion Talbot, Wm. C. Burrage, C. S. Rackemann, George C. Mann, L. Saltonstall, F. L. Olmsted, C. S. Sargent, Moses Williams, Sylvester Baxter, Elizabeth Howe, Wm. S. Shurtleff, Joseph Tucker, Christopher Clarke, Richard Goodman, Franklin Carter, George Sheldon, Henry M. Dexter, Henry M. Lovering, George R. Briggs, J. Evarts Greene, Henry L. Parker, Philip A. Chase, W. C. Endicott, Jr., Henry P. Walcott, Chairman; George Wigglesworth, Treasurer, Charles Eliot, Secretary." In this general connection we would express the pleasure with which we learn of the earnest effort which is being made to establish a strong association for the care of the White Mountain region. Many of the most beautiful places in the White Mountains have already been desecrated and despoiled in the most reckless and unnecessary manner; and there is danger that the modern Goth and Vandal may work much greater mischief there, unless put under stringent police regulations. The White Mountains should be regarded by New Englanders as a public trust. New England altogether is becoming more and more with each successive year the great pleasure resort for the people of the whole country. It is because her shore, from Campobello and Mount Desert to Cape Ann and Cape Cod, is of peerless attraction, and because her hills and mountains are beautiful. This beauty is her most precious natural possession; it is, if we may speak to those who will take no higher view of things, her chief stock in trade-beauty and utility here being immediately one. This alone should dictate the most careful protection of the beauties of our shores and mountains, and short shift with whatever is ruthless and wanton. But it is upon a higher plane than this that we urge that the time has come when this province can no longer be left to haphazard; and we welcome the news from the White Mountains, for the claims of the White Mountains are pre-eminent. IT is a thing worthy to be made special note of, and a very grateful thing, that the Boston Board of Aldermen has just swept from the stage, by a vigorous use of the broom for such cases provided, a nasty play which was being presented at one of the theatres of the city, and locked up the doors of the theatre, pending assurances from the management of a decent respect for its obligations to the public. It is grateful, because it reveals what some are liable to forget, that even in this free country - of free speech, free press, and all the other freedoms-the public is not without power and machinery to protect itself, and that there is no freedom here except the freedom to do right. But it is grateful chiefly because it has proved the occasion of eliciting from the managers of other Boston theatres such emphatic endorsement and such clear expression of their feelings as to the duty of the directors of the modern stage in what concerns the public morals. "If it were fit for the young and old people of Boston to see,” said one, "I am confident that the board would not have taken this unprecedented action." Another was inclined to blame the audiences that crowded to see the play. "There will never be anything kept upon the stage for which there is not a lively demand by the patrons of the theatre," he said. 'Plays are never so bad as the audiences would like to have them, and so long as pieces of this sort pay well they will be produced. Those in which vice is made attractive certainly should be stopped, and that seemed to be the sole purpose of the Clemenceau Case.'" He was surprised that the piece was allowed a second production in New York city or that it had been allowed in the other cities. The business manager of the Boston Theatre had no hesitation in declaring the action of the Aldermen righteous. "The stage," said he, "is first for the entertainment, then for the elevation of the people; in no sense is it for their degradation or disgrace, and it should not be made so. As for the particular piece involved, I have not so much as seen it, but, of course, like everybody else, I have read much that has been written about it by representatives of the press. The dramatic critics, to a man, have condemned it because of its bestial suggestiveness, therefore I know it must be smoky,' to say the least. The Aldermen have seen the show, therefore their action was not taken in ignorance. But after all, it can hardly be claimed that the Aldermen are the best censors in this matter; to my mind the critics 66 of the press are the better. The critics have said with all the force they could command, that such plays have no excuse and no place on the stage. The representative and the respectable members of the dramatic profession, I believe, are of the same opinion. As for the Boston Theatre, I can say that Mr. Tompkins would never even dream of allowing his stage to serve for the production of such a play as the press says The Clemenceau Case' is. The press and the Aldermen have seemingly joined in this matter to protect the public; they have also protected the stage." All of which suggests a few thoughts concerning the present condition of the American stage, especially as regards public morality. It is a pleasure to see the present generation of our literary men turning to the drama to the extent which we are now seeing; for a dramatic era in the history of any literature is almost always a vital and a hopeful era. But our authors do not need the stage as an incitement to literary effort more than our people need it for their culture. It is hopeful to see the indiscriminate hostility to the stage which has so long pervaded great sections of our American society good sections, religious sections-decaying. It is hopeful to have such kindly words as have been spoken in late times by so many of our leading religious teachers Beecher, Swing, Phillips Brooks. The bitterest opposition to the stage which we hear to-day is usually the most ignorant - often from men who never heard a dozen plays of any sort, and those chosen as carelessly as one might seize a random lot of publications at the news-stand, to determine whether the printingpress be a blessing or a curse. Your hand would doubtless catch Howells's last book, of which perhaps twenty thousand have been printed, and Mrs. Southworth's last, and we surely do not mean that Mrs. Southworth's books are bad books. which has three times as many readers; the NEW ENGLAND MAGAZINE, with its circulation of — less than a hundred thousand; some New York Weekly or Police Gazette, with their many hundred thou sands. What then? Stop the printing-press, or discriminate and discriminate, educate and educate? Yet we venture that the proportion of good, bad, and indifferent dramas played in the city month after month is, compared with the good, bad, and indifferent books and papers printed, as two to one in favor of the stage. The morals of the stage have had their ups and downs, like the morals of everything else. When they were at their worst in England, in the day when Wesley and William Law made the protest whose power we still feel, how much better than the theatre was Newcastle's politics? And in those rotten days of decomposing Rome, which the opponents of the drama quote so much, how much better than the actor was the emperor or the priest? To-day, from a fairly large knowledge of actors, we must say that we deem them men and women usually of great humaneness and of many virtues, a bad class to hit upon as representative sinners, - as good a class as our .grocers, whose tea and sugar we do not stop buying when one of them turns out a scamp. We wish that Boston Aldermen would now turn their attention to the bookstalls. These need attention far more than the stage to-day. We shall publish in the next number of our MAGAZINE a much needed article upon "Our Unclean Fiction," showing how an insidious immorality is possessing much of our American fiction that still has welcome in what calls itself good society. Perhaps this evil can only cure itself; but the evil of the journals of crime and filth, which flaunt in the windows of newsstores in our every street, existing simply for the sake of pandering to what is lowest and most brutal among men, and constituting the most productive school of crime in our midst, this is an evil so gross, that it is amazing that a civilized society should permit it for another hour. It should be cured by the policeman, and at once; and the Board of Aldermen that first moves in the matter, will have applause even warmer than that just won from the theatrical managers of Boston. Though clouds of smoke the scene expunge, Of my life struggle to be near her. Yet still my soul this comfort hath; THE SPARE ROOM. -Lucy C. Bull. OUR front room, it was furnished fair, A reservoir of mouldy air, A corpseless catacomb. A stern domestic quarantine Scared childish footsteps from its door, As if a powder magazine Were kept beneath the floor. But when our folks had company, The unused doors were opened wide, And on the lavish luxury We feasted open-eyed; But we were strangers there, and hence A nervous terror flushed each cheek; Before the grand magnificence We dared not move nor speak. And so we sat in vague alarms, And sighed for some supporting pegs For our unnecessary arms And our superfluous legs. We smiled our india-rubber smile, Our hearts were in the barn at play, dead. In moveless suffering we sat on And wept for back-yard haunts to roam, As, by the brooks of Babylon, The Hebrews wept for home. In intellectual kitchens dole Strong men their choicest life away, They keep the pantry well-equipped, Hence blest is he who quits the quest To the front room of the soul. - S. W. Foss. |