The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-27
OTACI{ERY.

When we have occasion to record fearful
railroad accident, or the fall of building, by
which some persons are killed. others fatally
injured, and others again seriously wounded
and bruised, we assume that the catastrophe
| in this, as in all like cases, could not have
happened without gross carelessness 1t is
hardly possible that viaduct or other struc-
ture on any railway route could give way
with the pressure it was designed to bear,
unless through imperfectness Of original con-
struction or a want of due vigilance in watch
ing the gradual progress of decay by wear
and tear.
Both these causes, most probably, are
chargeable with the casualty, which affords
only another of many illustrations Of the sim
| gularly loose way in which we manage affairs
| involving interests no less important than life
| ITSELF We do things in such hurry that 1t is
not at all surprising that our steamers blow
up, our houses tumble down, and our bridges
go to pieces under the least extra strain
There is no thoroughness and finish in our
fabrics, from a pin or button to the largest
| piece Of masonry. We turn our hands with
wonderful readiness to every kind Of business.
We have natural facility enough for every
| species of productive industry.
There is nothing done anywhere that we
do not attempt to do, and there is nothing
made that we do not try to make. But there
| is lack ofartistic perfection, and solid honest
substantially, in the least and greatest crea-
ton of our spinners and weavers, our cobblers
and cutters, our carpenters and builders.
| Our cloth has suriace-hnish and shine
on it, but it won't wear. 1t rubs OFF
amazingly quick. The colors are brilliant,
but they will fade. Our knives won't cut,
and the edge is always turning. Our buttons
are perpetually breaking up and breaking of.
The bodies Of our shoes are forever losing
their soles. The chairs we sit on crack and
cavern under us. The spring-beds we sleep
on are a vanity and delusion. The carriages
we ride in break down and pitch us out head
long. Our dwellings crack and shrink, and
warp, and sometimes crumble up like card
houses, and come down with crash. In
short, we do every thing so fast that we
do nothing well. If we run up a
huge storehouse or hotel in fort
night, we regard 1t as a notable example of
expedition, as il it were far more important to
accomplish work quickly than to make it
solid and lasting. We are more concerned to
f get through with job, or a certain amount OF
labor, than careful about how we do it. Our
manufactures are made to sell; and in order
to promote that grand aim, cheapness and
outside glitter are the conditions to be COM
passed Hence all our best pains are spent in
giving a fabric high polish, fiashy exte-
rior finish and fneness, while there is nothing
beneath but the coarsest, slovenliest botch-
work. This really disreputable manner oi
working at all kinds of trades, and the
habit Of imposition it cultiYate5 in the me-
chanic, has had the double effect of retarding
i progress in constructive skill, and making us
content with a very low degree of expertnes:
in any kind of handicraft. What a product
lacks in real merit and solidity we make uF
for in deceptive appearance and so thai
people are taken in by the fraud, we do no
! care for the consequences, either as respects
their interests or the credit of the trade.
: This Generalization in our industry ha,
), been going forward for years, and unless it b,
, corrected, no protective tariffs win prevail
=. against the superior integrity and thorough
ness offoreign workmanship. The devil-may
a care way in which we build and dig, and en-
. gineer, and fabricate, is telling against us a
. home and abroad
a That propensity to cheat which is exhibite
L in Yankee clocks, wooden nutmegs, and a
? sorts OF wretched gmcrackery by which
A cunning knave may turn dishonest penny
). has destroyed faith in the character of ou
}. artisans and their predictions; and even Anne
= ricans buy American fabrics wltha feeling tina
. the chances are ten to one that they will b
I gammoned and humbugged out Of their eye
, Ouackery with us seems 70 be the order {
the day, and ii has had so marvellous sue
cess that ii Is hourly creeping into all ou
. pursuits and professions
! We have empires at the bar, in the pulpl
among the doctors, in our colleges, our bank
9 our eounting-rooms, factories, and workshops
o and, indeed, everywhere. Our drink and foo
'e are drugged; pills, powders, desOctiOns, an
g every species Of abominable nostrums ar
IN Manufactured and sold by tons; We buy sill
30 garments aud find them more than half col
" tDni ne pay an extra price foT hat wa