Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-09-02

A few years since, on radiant SPRING after
noon, two men, who from thgif conversation
appeared to be foreigners; stopped before the
gate of one of olr lerge workshops in Phila-
delphia, for the manufacture of locomotive en-
gines. Entering a small Office, the elder of
the two men inquired of the superintendent in
attendance if he would permit them to inspect
the works.
You can pass in and look about, if you
please - said the superintendent, vexed appa-
rently, at being interrupted in the perusal of
his newspapers. He then scanned the two
strangers more closely: They were respecta-
bly, clad, any evidently made no pretension to
official dignity of any kind.
{" Is there any one who can show us over the
establishment and explain matters to us )? -
! asked Mr. Wolfe the elder of the strangers:
| You must pick your own way, gentlemen y
replied the superintendent, " we are all too bu-
sy to attend to every party that comes along.
! III thafk you not to interrupt the workmen
by asking questions"
| 1t was not so much the matter as the man.
her of his reply, that was offensive to Mr..
| Wolfe and his companion. 1t was spoken
with certain official assumption of superiority,
mingled With contempt for the visitors, indica-
ting naughty and selfish temper on the part
of the speaker.
a think we will not trouble you, said Mr..
Wolfe, boWitlg arid taking his companions
arm, they passed out.
..If there is anything L dislike it is incivila
| ty,'' said Mr.: Wolfe, when they were i'll the
street. Il do it6t blame the man for not
wishing to show us over his establishment he
is no doubt annoyed and Interrupted by many
needless visitors but he might have dismissed
us with courtesy. He might have sent us
away better content with gracious refusal
! than with an ungracious consent"
"Perhaps we shall have better luck here "
said the other stranger; and they stopped be
fore anOtheF workshop of similar kind. They
were received by a brisk little man, the head
clerk apparently, who in reply to their request
to be shown over the establishment, answered
& Oh yes come with me, gentlemen. This
way So saying, he hurried them along the
area strewed with iron bafs, broken and rusty
heaps of iron, and fragments of old cylinders
into the principal workshop:
i Here, without stopping to e&tlsin any one
thing, he led the strangers along with the evi
dent intention of getting rid of them as soor
as possible When they paused where the
workmen were riveting the external casting o
a boiler, the clerk looked at lis watch, tapped
his foot ageinet an iron tube, and showed 9th
er signs Of impatience, Wheredpon, Mr.
Wolfe REMARKED We will not detan you NJ
longer SIR and with his friend took leave.
This man is an Improvement OH the 9th
er," said Mr.. Wolfe but all the civility hi
has is on the surface it docs not come from
the heart. We nust look further"
5 The strangers walked on for nearly half
mile in silence, when one of theth pointed to
picture of locomotive with train of car
r underneath. 1t overtopped small building
= not more than ten feet in hight, communica
s ting with yard afid a workshop. "Look,
4 said the observer, here is a machinist who's
e name is not on our list. Probably it wa
: thought too small concern for our purpose,
said his companion. Nevertheless, let u
S try it,, said Mr.. Wolfe.
They entered, and found at the desk a mi(
It die aged man, whose somewhat grimmy a.
IS pect and apron round his waist, showed tha
he divided his labors between the worshop an
the counting-room.
n 1--WE want to look over your works, if yo
is have no objection"
le 1t will give me great pleasure to show yc
20 all tkst is to be seen,' said the mechanic, wit
ID a pleased alacrity, ringing bell and tellir
le the boy who entered to take charge of the {
le fee.
He then led the way, and explained to Il
strangers the whole process of constructing
" locomotive engine. He showed them how Il
gs various parts of the machinery were man
factured, and patiently answered all their que