The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-11-01
ssChaIk Your Bobbins.,,

But the month that follows
Sure viii pinch Us worse.
'sChalk Your BObblns.'s
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 the cotton spinning. In the
early part of his career his business was not
remarkably extensive, but suddenly he made q
tremendous start, and soon distanced all his
rivals. He grew immensely rich, as We all
know, but we do not know the lucky accident
to which he was indebted for his enormous
wealth. b.
In the early days Of cotton spinning machin-
cry, . great deal of trouble used to be caused by
flaments Of cotton adheriDg to the bobbins or
tapes which then formed portions of looms.
These 6laments sccumulating soon clogged
the wheels and other parts of the machinery,
and rendered it necessary that they should be
cleared, which involved frequent stoppages and
much loss Of 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 employ
ed some of the ablest machinest in the king
dem-among them James Watt-who suggest
ed various corrections, but in spite OF all they
could do, the inconvenience remained-the
cotton would adhere to the bobbins, and the
evil sppeered to be insurmountable.
Of course these delays seriously affected the
wages of the operatives, who, on Saturdays,
generally came short in proportion to the stop
pages during the previous days. It was no.
ticed, however, that one man always drew his
full pay--his work was always accomplished
~ Goo hod IN
every other in the factory was idle. Mr.. Peel
was Informed of this, and knew there must be
q secret somewhere. It was important that it
should be discovered if possible.
The man was watched, but all to no purpose;
his fellow workmen tried to 'spump' him, but
they couldn't; at last Mr.. Peel sent for the
man into his private Office.
He was a rough looking Lincolnshire man
unable to read or write-little better, indeed,
than mere animal. He entered the presence"
pulling his forelock, and shutting of the
ground with his great clumsy wooden SHOES.
"Dick,'' said Mr.. Peel. ferguson, the
overlooker, tells me that your bobbins are al
ways clear-is that so?'' sI5"
'sEe's Master, t be-" ahsz3 y7ss ~
ssWell Dick, how do you manage it-have
you any objection to let me know"
"Why, Master Pill, it be a soarl O. secret
loike, ye see, and if OF told T, others I'd knows
moch as OIL replied Dick with cunning
grin. - 30
'Of course, Dick, I'll give you something il
you'll tell me-and if you can make all the
looms in the factory work as smoothly al
yours" les
.Ev'ry one n em Measter Pill"
swell, what shall give you? Name your
price Dick, and let me have your secret"
Dick grinned, scratched and shook his great
head, and shufied for few minutes, while MIR,
Peel anxiously awaited his reply. The cotton
lord thought his servant would probably ask a
hundred pounds or 80, which he would most
willingly have given him Presently Dick said:
"Well, Master Pill, I'll tell ZEE all about it,
if you'll gi' me-s quort O beer O. day as long
as I'm in the Mills-you'll save that ten"
Mr.. Peel rather thought ne should, ana
quickly agreed to the terms.
"You shall have it Dick, and half gallon
every Sunday into the baagain."
"Well, them" said Dick, first looking eau
tiously round to see that no one was near
'this be it," and putting his lips close to Mr.
Peels 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 efectually
prevented the adherance Of the cotton. AS the
bobbins were white the chalking had escaped
detection.
Mr.. Peel was ssgacious man, and saw
through the affair at glance. He at once
patented the invention-had ''chalkiDg" ma
chinery contrived, and soon took the lead il
| the cotton spinning department. This was tn
foundation of his princely fortune. 1t is bu
rioht IN add that he pensioned off Dick hand
somely.