The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-10-18
MISCELLANY.
"Chalk Your Bobbins."

Every one knows that old Sir Robert Peel,
father OF the late Prime Minister of England,
and grandfather OF the present Baronet, made
his money by cotton spinning. In the ear
ly part of his career his business was not re-
markably extensive, but suddenly he made a
tremendous start and soon distaneed all his
rivals He grew immensely rich, as we all
know, but we do not all know the lucky acci-
dent to which he was indebted for his enor-
nous wealth.
In the early days of the cotton spinning
machinery, great deal of trouble used to be
caused by iilaments of cotton adhering to the
bobbins, or tapes, which then formed portions
of looms. These filaments accommodating soon
clogged the wheels and other parts of the ma
chinery, and rendered it necessary that they
should be cleared, which involved frequent
stoppages and much loss time.
The great desideratum was to find out some
plan of preventing this clogging by the cotton,
and Sir Robert, or Mr.. Peel as he was then,
spent vast sums in experiments. He employed
some of the ablest men in the kingdom--a-
mong them James Watt-who suggested vari
Gus corrections, but spite Of all they could do
the Inconvenience reinained-the cotton would
adhere to the bobbins, aud the evil appeared
to b. iasurmountlble.
OF course. these delays seriously affected the
wages of the operatives, who. on Saturdays,
generally came short in proportion TO the
stoppages during the previous days 1t was
noticed, however, that one man always drew
his full pay-his work was always accomplish
ed-in fact his loom never had to stop while
every other in the factory was idle. Mr.. Peel
was informed of this, and knew there must be
secret somewhere. 1t was important that it
should be discovered if possible.
The man was watched but all to no purpose!
his fellow workmen tried to pump" him, but
they couldn't; ut last. Mr.. Peel sent for the
man into his private office.
He was a rough looking Lancashire man
unable to read or write-ttle better indeed
than mere animal. He entered the "presence"
pulling his forelock, and shufiling on the
ground with his great clumsy wooden shoes.
Dick" said Mr.. Peel, Ferguson the over
locker, tells me that your bobbins are always
clean-is that So"
SEES Master, t be-"
"well, Dick, how do you manage it-have
you any objection 10 let me know?"
"Why, Master Pill, t be a soart O. secret
loike, We see, and if oi told, t'others d know
3 moch as OIL" replied Dick, with cunning
grin.
"Of course. Dick, I'll give something if you'll
tell me--and if you can make all the looms in
the factory work as smoothly as yours"
"Ev'ry one 'on 'em, Measter Pill.'
"Well, what shall give you? Name your
price, Dick, and let me have your secret"
Dick grinned, scratched his great, shock
head, and shuffled for few minutes, while
Mr.. Peel anxiously awaited his reply. The
cotton lord thought his servant would proba-
bly, ask a hundred pounds or so, which he
would most willingly have given him. Pre-
sently Dick said:
swell, Master Pill. I'll tell zee all about it. if
you'll 81 me - quart o. beer day as long
as I'm in the Mills-you'll save that ten.
Mr.. Peel rather thought he should, and
quickly agreed to the terms"
"You shall have it. Dick, and half gallon
every Sunday into the bargain"
swell them" said Dick, first looking eau
tiously round to see that no one was near
this be it'-and putting his lips close 10 Mr..
Peel's ear, he whispered:
"Chalk your Bobbins? ?"
That indeed was the great secret. Dick had
been in the habit of furtively chalking his bob
bins, which simple continuance had efIectuay
prevented the adherence of the cotton. As the
bobbins were white, the chalking had escaped
detection.
Mr. Peel was a sagacious man, and saw
through the affair ut glance. He at once pa
tented the invention-had "ckalking" machi-
merry contrived. and soon took the lead in the
cotton spinning department This was the
foundation of his princely fortune. 1t is but
right to add that he pensoined off Dick hand
somely.