Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-08
LEGAL market ope
asy, light der FOR THE WORKING

asy, light deU @AOn THE WOkAING
lies, sll TO sfeam and invention had Inrr0duced
Gu sKsetory system and the large manufac-
? Turing establishments, the workmen in many
branches OF manufacture had the tools or
the single machines of his trade at his own
house, and labored through the day with his
wife and children about him; his toll light
ened by their aid, and monotony driven
away by the attentions of the one and the
sports and glee Of the others. As machinery
became more complex and vast, and the
power that drove it was such as to render
home occupation no longer possible, it be-
came necessary for the workman to leave
home and its charms, and to spend the long
hours of toll amid surroundings that were
cherries and discomforting; tor the wife's
| sympathizing voice there was the hiss and
shrek of the steam monster; for the CHEEKY
tones of the little ones, the harsh
buzz, and rattle, and clangor of revolv-
ing wheels and never resting machinery
If we may believe in prognostics uttered by
some of the men of science, it is not impossi-
be that, for many mechanics, the days of
h:me labor may return and family attrac-
tions once more smile upon the mechanic as
he employs his energies in winning susie
nance for his household. The fairy that is
looked to to accomplish the welcome change
is that accomplished of modern miracles,
electricity. AT recent meeting of the So
ciety for utilization of electric force in Paris
the president, NJ Bontoux, in his address,
said that the aristocracy OF machinery, and
the source of the manufacturing capitalists
privileges, lies in motive power. The arti-
san whose employment at all requires the
use of such power in his work, is compelled
to perform his labors in the employers fac
tory. Thousands of workingmen and wo-
men must wear out their bodily powers and
lavish their bodily strength in impelling the
sewing machine, or the lathe, or other ma
chine of the smaller industries The
increasing ability, however, to di-
vide and distribute electric en-
ergy gives promise of coming change in
this respect, change that may be nearer than
most persons suspect. Sooner than is gen.
orally imagined, if we may confide in what
experiment and discovery appear likely to
place within our reach, the ability to bring
force, now so costly as TO make it monop-
oily, within the reach of very many of those
whose occupations require motive power. A
little wire, magical in its properties and
wondrous in its strength, will find quiet and
silent entrance to the artisans home At
touch of his finger it will spring into action,
and with the obedience of the most passive |
of Slaves, will toll at his will, saw, file, ham,
mer, and hundred other things as he shall |
require, and light up his nights and heat his |
house besides. Then machinery will be |
and, by the kindly aid of the !
electric force the mechanic in many branches
viii become his own master, no longer COM
manded by another's voice, or cramped by |
observance of arbitrary rules, or
tied down to strict attendance at prescribed
hours. All this freedom may be abused, |
but where well used it will benefit, for the |
artisan, liberated from perpetual super
vision, will become more manly and conse-
quently more Independent, forming his own
habits and thinking his own thoughts. The
artisan will be enfranchised freed of per-
petual dependence; instead OF being the
slave of the power he uses, he will be its
master, magician that can summon his
subservient sprite at will. He will escape
the communicating influences and associa-
tons of the workshop, the whisky-drinking
But if such a use of the
electric power would be beneficial to the
artisan, what blessing to the wife, whose
husband is retained within the influence of
her virtues instead of surrounded by cor
rupting fellow-laborers. What a deliver
ance for the daughter, who could pursue her
toll within the wholesome influence of the
family, and where she could obtain practical
of the way OF performing
womsn's domestic duties. /