The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-12-07
From the Taunton Daily Gazette, I
ISAAC BABBITT.

Franklin has been sneered at by some profound
philosophers foo mechanical, too material, too
earthly. But Frankus was truly American
lite, one OF new type, and destined perhaps, TO
benefit the human ace as much one ofabstract
speculation, or monkish spiriluality-It not more.
Whitfield converted some sinners, but Frank lin,
setting people at work and raising them above
temptatons-what multitude OF sins. in all com
ing ages. he will prevent! Franklin's philoso.
ply is the conquest of matter by mind; aud if
God displays his greatness by creating and gov
erning matter, surely the conquest of it is, at
least, as noble as disputing about that which mat
ters nothing But this is depression
Who is aac Rabbit? He is Boston man
of the self made, Ben. Franklin sort A solid
substantial, lion. like, wholesome looking man,
fifty Or so, and fourisbing. He started in lite
there as matchmaker and goldsmith, in which
be succeeded well. Feeling that too close appli-
cation was injuring his health, he set himself
about some chemical experiments, which requ,r-
ed more action and resulted in the manufactura
OF Britannia ware, which he established IN this
town His improvements in this important arti-
Gle Of domestic drove the British ware
sfIt0sy cutttetS Of The market nd sxeitpd
the wonder and establishment OF the London man
ufacturers. Finding, as is too common with in
ventors, that the profits OF his lmprov were
mostly the prey OF others, he applied hmse lf to
brass founding IN which his success was so mark
ed tnat II attracted the attention OF Mr. Alger, the
South Boston Founder, who took large contract
oil Costing cannon for government relying upon
Mr. Rabbits skill to carry him through it. His
confidence was not misplaced, for Mi Babbitt sue
ceeded i'll oDviating the difficulties of the business
and casting several hundred pieces of heavy
bronze ordnance OF an excellence never before at
tanned.
| He next turned his attention to the reduction
OF friction in heavy machinery. Friction is the
great destroyer OF motion, and Toe of engines =
Nature, in her machines, has taken wonderful
pains to guard against IT, She not only supplies
nice lubricatinz fluid, the sinovum, to ali the
joints OF her animals, but she sheathes the articu-
latlons with very smooth coating, called a car
tilage Were the bones allowed TO rub and grind
togetherthey would by rapid motion, burn through
and set the animals fat on fire. A race. horse
running his mile in two minutes without carti-
| lagos. would set himself in blaze But who
shall give carriages to the Iron Horse?
Mr. BSbbtt has done it. 1t had been long known
that any metal runs easier another than GU il.
self. But it remained for Mr. Babbitt to discover
an alloy of soft metals which being confined in
the journal boxes by lip or hllet OF hard metal,
admirably serves the purpose OF a cartilage. With
this lining the journal may fl perfectly snug and
runs with very little oil, and almost no heat or
friction The locomotive which on the old plan
could only run or 10000 mil before its boxes
were worn our, can now run $4,000, and be as
good as new, or ii by any accident the lining
should get out Of ORDER it can be cheaply replac
ed The saving OF power, though not a yery
large percentage, IL OF immense importance in
the aggregate; even the saving OF 60 per cent OF
the OIL, which 1t effects, amounts to an annual
fortune on any railroad This alloy consists of
SO parts OF tin, OF copper, and OF antimony.
II has been adopted by the government OF the
United States, and its use is very extensive in
Europe. In TACT, 1t marks new era in MACH.
merry.
The happy competence which this great in.
vention has secured to Mr. Babbiit, has by no
means seduced him from his labors in prat,cal
science. With his new means he has set him.
self TO the task of improving the great staple com
forts Of lie. Cleanliness is most Important con.
dition of health, comfort and intellect. and bv
practical chemical inquiry MIR Rabbit has ef
iected most decided and palpable Improvement
IN the means OF securing it, so that the engineer
VIII md as much advantage in "babbiitng" him
sell as ms engine. The preparation which Mr..
Babbitt calls the "Cytherean Cream OF Soar ;,
little as Il may excite observation. and much AZ
II may sound like the thousand and one trumperv
cosmetics that crowd the bellies or the dandv's
toilet table, is really an era in general domestic
happiness, victory over one OF ITS teIlest toes.
and blessing IN store Tor the daily lite OF every
oody. II Is perfectly effectual puriher withou.
oeing destroyer. II seizes every particle of |
MIN, excrehon or miasma which NAV attach 10
the coarsest or most delicate skin, aud carries II
of, leaving the wonderful tissue as bale and
nh a. t. ~.