Part 14 (2/2)
”Nor was the era, of which I have been speaking, an idle one. Like Rip Van Winkle, it began slowly to awaken from its long sleep and become alert. Printing was invented and the Bible, along with other books, gradually reached the hands of the common people. In the meantime, Columbus had made his voyage to America and returned with tales of new lands, stimulating in others a spirit of adventure. The recently evolved compa.s.s, as well as the fact that larger and more staunch s.h.i.+ps were now to be had, lured persons previously shy of the sea to voyages of discovery. On every hand new ideas were coming to light. In the clock world somebody began making screws to replace the primitive little pins and rivets. .h.i.therto employed to fasten wheels and dials in place; gla.s.s came into more general use, and by 1600 crystals began to be quite generally in evidence; and the appearance of the minute hand gave evidence that the universe was a busier place and short intervals of time becoming of greater worth. But although the sale of clocks increased, watches were not yet in general use. They were too much of a luxury. People therefore consulted their clocks (if they were lucky enough to have them); hied them to the village square if not; or depended upon their sundials of which there were still many in use.
Watchmen also went about the streets crying the hours.
”The rich, to be sure, purchased watches, but they bought them more for ornaments than for use. Those who could afford it frequently owned several, wearing them around their necks on chains or ribbons, and displaying a different one to suit either their costume or their fancy.”
”But weren't those old egg-shaped watches heavy and ugly?” asked Christopher.
”Oh, by this time watches had got far beyond that original design and had now become monuments to the goldsmith's art, being small and fas.h.i.+oned in every imaginable design. I regret to say that a great portion of the labor went into the cases, which were beautifully made by hand. There were flowers with watches concealed in their centers; baskets of tiny fruits, hearts, animals, death's-heads--every form that was novel or original. Some cases had on their covers miniatures set in jewels; and there were cases of leather studded with decorations in nail heads. In every instance it was the outside of the watch that interested both purchaser and goldsmith--not the inside. Can you wonder, therefore, that the watch deteriorated into being a mere toy and ornament?”
”How could people be so ridiculous!” exclaimed Christopher with scorn.
”It would have been ridiculous had the art of making watches stopped there,” McPhearson acquiesced. ”But fortunately, if the public was content with such pretty, silly toy affairs, the horologers were not.
Patiently they continued the struggle to make timepieces better; and to prove that all this nonsense about pretty watches was not without value, I will tell you that it was while making a white enamel base on which to paint a miniature that some clever person bethought him how nice a watch face of white enamel would be with black figures printed upon it.”
”It is never all loss without some gain, is it?” smiled Christopher.
”And clocks?”
”Clocks, too, were sharing the general improvement,” answered McPhearson. ”The old system of the balance with its accompanying weights and chains had pa.s.sed, and the pendulum, now becoming less of a puzzle, was coming into vogue. Makers had, however, been convinced by this time that pendulums did not look well hanging down across the faces of clocks, and so they now put them at the back, their swingings being frequently concealed by projecting dials. So you see, the world was moving on.”
As he concluded this speech, McPhearson took off his working gla.s.ses, subst.i.tuted for them another pair, and began packing up his tools.
”There!” exclaimed he to Ebenezer, ”I think you will find Seventeen will do better after this. Don't blame the poor thing. It wasn't her fault.”
”I'm glad to hear you say so, sir,” returned the butler with a broad smile. ”I always did like that clock.”
”The others, you say, are all right.”
”Mostly, sir. Number Fifteen lagged a little and kept the master botherin' for a while, but she's catchin' up now. I wouldn't dare have you touch her 'cause she's runnin' too close to be disturbed.”
”Then I'll go along. Give my respects to Mr. Hawley, Ebenezer.”
”I will, sir,” and the butler let his visitors out.
CHAPTER VIII
AN ADVENTURE
As they went out to board a returning bus, Christopher remarked regretfully:
”I'd have given a cent to see the rest of those clocks.”
”What clocks?” inquired McPhearson with surprise.
”Why, Mr. Hawley's.”
The Scotchman halted abruptly in the middle of the sidewalk.
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