The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-07-28
GUILDS.

The non-success of Chas. Dickens to
establish Gould of Literature and Art
in Europe caused some remark at the
time, but should not deter the people of
this section from similar efforts in their
various branches of business. "In union
there is strength" is maxim in which
there is no more truth than Gin Guilds
there IS power; = it is duty our people
owe to themselves that they form associs-
tons from among the various branches of
business for mutual protection and in
formation. No community has ever been
known to prosper in which the people
had, each and every man, set up bar
rier between himself and other men.
The f'Guildhall" of London, has, per-
haps, welded as powerful an influence on
the destinies of the English people as
has the House of Comm ns. In the
former have met the merchant Princes and
deep thinking mechanics, whose busy
brains have added material wealth to
their country. To them and not to ar
lament, is London indebted for her
wealth and renown.
A "Guildhalp' here, in which our mer-
chants meet and talk council together will
be of immense value to the community.
provided, they aoillmeet and discuss as they
should mercantile matters. A mechanics
Guild, not an exclusive and simply chari-
table institution, but regular association
of mechanics, or an association from each
branch of mechanics, would be of incalcu-
liable benefit to the working man, for by
means of an association of that kind, they
could fix prices, discuss principles and
regulate all the naia@tsa of their craft
Guilds are Of ancient date, and can be
traced back to the days when Rome was
the proud and exacting mistress OF the
world and indeed, to her Guilds, did she
owe much Of her greatness. In Europe
they are believed by some to be in imita-
tion of, and lineal defendants Of the old
Roman line, but such is not the fact they
had their origin in the proposals Of Saxon
boroughs, after the Norman conquest.
themselves to collect the taxes imposed
on them, rather than be subject to the ex-
actions of the Norman bailiffs. Guilds
introduced the democratic element into
society, and in their progress became the
bulworks OF the citizens liberty, and the
centre of much political power. They
first attained their development in the
free cities Of Italy, where the traders had
to protect themselves against the rapacity
of the nobility; and by the close Of the
18th century, Guilds were general through
out Europe; the shoemakers Guild of
Magdeburg dates 1857, and that Of the
Diapers of Hamburg goes even four years
behind that At one time they gained
great power in France, and during the
14th and 18th centuries, such was their
Influence, that it counterbalanced that of
the mobiles.
In Prussia in or about 1910 the author
tiles became alarmed at their increasing
power, and caused them to be abolished !.
but their want was soon felt and thew
were re-established by the encourage
ment of law in 1910. In France thew
were suppressed about the time our fore
fathers commenced the struggle for lib
erty in this country. In London the
Guilds or Companies" possess much i'm.
portance peculiar to them, and it i,
owing entirely to the fact that the mem
bers observe the laws of the ''Guild," and
by SO doing, the whole become as one, and
can exemplify that old maxim. ar
union there is strength" -
a3 SILvERIMa SILK.s-Whe hen a piece of silk il
dipped into solution of nitrate of silver, and
then exposed wet to current of hydrogen
gas, the nitrate is reduced, add the silk is GOV
cred with a coating of silver
In ancient days the precept was "Know
myself" In modern times it has been sup
planted by the far more fashionable maxim.
''Know thy neighbor and everything about
him.