The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-10-18


narrowly escaped with his life.
A few years elapsed, during which the
Eoelsh had msde rapid strides in the man.
ufacture Of gold and silver tissues, and It
was only when the French began to feel
the effects Of foreign competition that their
preiudices gave way; and 10 seIf-detence,
thew adopted the loom which they had pre-
viously rejected and despised. The IN
ventor, altogether forgetting the ignomn-
ious treatment be had received, gladly came
forward, and under his superintendence
looms were rapidly constructed, and were
soon employed in most Of the silk manuiac-
turing districts Of France.
Many improvements were made from
time to time by him; yet though the rec
ompense was scarcely commensurate with
the services rendered, jacquard, happy 10
the thought Of being instrumental not only
in adding to the comforts Of the workmen,
but also 10 furthering the interests OF the
employers. lived modestly and retired, with.
out desiring anything more. His disinter-
estedness was only equalledby the upright
ness Of his heart. Many magnificent offers
we're made to him by strangers; but with
firmness, devoid Of pride, be refused them
all, and preferred engaging himself, at q
moderate annuity given by the municipal
council of Lyons, sto consecrate all his
time and abilities to the service ofthe town,
and to perfect, as far as lay in bis power.
his former Inventions
In great measure owing to this ma
chine, the weavers have acquired almost
new existence. If the work is not always
plenty, at least it does not kill them. la
the schools and in the workshops, instead OF
the pale and emaciated beings who former
" earned scauty subsistence with their
very life-blood. are to be seen well-dressed
and ruddv-looking children; and men, no
longer wearing that heart-broken and timd
look which was then characteristic TEA
ture Of their profession, appear at the pres.
ent day the most healthy and well disposed
class Of artisans in Lyons.
The fabrication Of the stufis has also
wonderfully increased In 1888 there
were but two hundred and forty looms in
LYONS for the manufacture Of stutfs; in
1901, at the time Of Jacquard's discovery,
there were two thousand eight hundred; at
the present day there are thirty-two thou
sand looms at work, Of which number the
ingenious machines invented by jacquard
count nearly one-third.
After the Exposition of Arts in 1919, he
received the decoration Of the Legion OF
Honor; recompense justly due to the
humble workman through whose instru-
mentality suffering and unhappy popula-
ton had been regenerated.
Towards the close Of his life, jacquard,
wishing to enjoy the society of his sister
and her children, retired to small villa at
DuiIlons, few leagues from Lyons. Here
he was visited by many illustrious foreign
ers, anxious to converse with the man
whose name had spread over all Europe,
and frequent were the expressions Of sur
prise at finding in so modest retreat one
who had dffused SO much opulence around
him.
Tho manufacturers through you, have
all grown ricb,' remarked visitor.
so much the BETTER replied jacquard.
4 have retired on a moderate competency.
and have no cause to complain; il is suffi-
Gent for me that have been OF service to
my fellow citizens
your townsmen,' said a stranger of dis
tinction. shaye not treated you with proper
respect
q have received more than sought re-
piled jacquard; and desire no further
This useful man, born Of obscure parents,
and who were not forgotten BY him in his
prosperity, ended his days peaceably at
Duillons, in August 1884, and was inferred
10 the village cemetery. A subscription
was opened BY the Conscil des Prud'hom-
mes Of Lyons, for the purpose Of raising
monument suitable to the memory OF him
who had Justly merted the appellation Of
the benefactor Of mankind.
FATHER MATHEw.-This worthy phi
lanthropist is still pursuing his benefcent
career in our adjoining cities. An East
ern magazine thus speaks Of him:
"His visit is made to wear peculiar as
pect. and, we're it not for his own single