Washington sentinel., 1898-02-12
TT 49,. SENTINEL
The Medieval Blacksmith.
Good Words.

In every age OF history the black
smith has been much esteemed, |
and has always occupied fore
most place among handicraftsmen.
During the time of war his great |
skill and intelligence were in con-
slant request. 1t is interesting to |
find the smith repeatedly spoken
OF in very remote times The Phil
istines carried into captivity the
smiths OF Jud8a so that no weap-
ons could be forged. In the book |
Of Samuel this calamity gives rise
to the pathetic expression: "There
was no smith found throughout all
the land OF Israel" During later
period Jerusalem fell into the hands
Of the BabylonianS. The Hebrew
smith and Cunning worEmen'
were again taken as captives to
Babylon, consequently the Jews in
both these instances, when de-
prived Of their armorers, fell an
easy prey to their enemies, and so
it has been in the history Of every
nation. Cases could be multiplied
so as to illustrate this fact, and
TO show also how those nations
who possessed good smiths in their
camp were mostly victorious in
times OF war. The smiths handi-
work was very much priced during
more peaceful times. When Sol
omon was building the Temple at
Jerusalem he called to his aid
"Hiram, man OF Tyre, worker
in brass" whom we are told was
"hlled with wisdom and under
standing and cunning to work in
all kinds ofbrass." And although
the smith is not named separately
as being among the artists and
worknen employed by King Solo
mon, yet 1t IS most probable that
he was thus engaged, and we allow
the imagination to picture the eS
teemed smith at work preparing
and keeping in order the various
tools and implements oi the mason
who hewed the stones-the car
pentsrs who made the doors Of
olive tree, on which were carved
"open flowers, the sculptor who
carved the columns with Oily
work" k"--and the tools required for
the execution OF the lovely handi-
work of Hiram the brass worker,
and those who fashioned the ves-
sells of gold. Yes, the smith was
surely at work here, the recognized
maker OF the tools, and when Sol
omou called the woTkmen to
feast after the completion Of the
Temple, the smith was among the
honored guests who sat at the
Kings right hand. Solomon then
exclaimed, THE chiefs OF my
workmen are but men, but thou
art more" SO the smith was hon
ored at Solomon's feast, and he
has occupied an esteemed position
ever since
History relates how in Anglo
Saxon times the person Of the
- smith protected hY a double
penalty, and awarded the first place
in precedency. He was ranked
before the physician. In tine royal
court Of Wales he sat in the great
nall wi h the king and queen, next
to the domestic chaplain. To show
the importance of the blacksmith
DIR. Smiles relltes the story OF some
delinquency having been commit
ted by Highland smith, on whom
Justice must be done; but as 1t was
impossible to dispense with the
smith, two weavers were gener-
ouslY offered to be hung in his
stead.
Much more might be said re-
specting the importance oi the
smith, but we will refer to his han.
diwork in order to ascertain the
character OF the medieval smith
for it must be remembered thai
every piece Of ironwork illustrate:
the mind and even the character o
the worker. The smallest detai
Enthusiastically exhibits every evi
dence of care that has been be-
slowed upon its production. ihS
honesty and consciousness OF the
worker are indelibly stamped or
his endeavor, because our work i:
part Of ourselves. The contempo.
raries OF the medieval smith were
the artists who built the cathedrals
the masons, architects, sculptors
who put their religion into thei
work. His workmates were meT
of rectitude who reared these m n
uments of"chiselled music, which
have so often been referred to a.
the pride and boast Of the civilized
world. We find the worthy smitl
was not one whit behind his con
temporarjes, for he also was al
ar ist, and beautiful specimens o
his handiwork remain to this day
He wrought the most graceful
forgings by means Of the fewes
possible number Of tools-foTging
which showed his love of the beau
tiful, and a painstaking desire t.
turn out work Of great merit. Tht
numerous exquisite examples o
his handicraft which exis in ou
old gateways, church doors, alta
ratings, weathercocks on oil
buildings, signboards Of guam
wayside inns, still serve as type
for continual imitation.
How Waang Live