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and¡¡a¡¡saw¡¡extends¡¡the¡¡aperture¡¡along¡¡the¡¡pen¡¡itself¡£
The¡¡inside¡¡edges¡¡of¡¡the¡¡slit¡¡are¡¡smoothed¡¡and¡¡polished
by¡¡the¡¡emery¡¡wheel£»¡¡burnishing¡¡and¡¡hammering
produce¡¡the¡¡proper¡¡degree¡¡of¡¡elasticity¡£¡¨
It¡¡is¡¡asserted¡¡that¡¡more¡¡steel¡¡is¡¡used¡¡in¡¡the¡¡manufacture
of¡¡pens¡¡than¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡swords¡¡and¡¡guns¡¡in¡¡the
world¡£¡¡This¡¡fact¡¡partly¡¡verifies¡¡the¡¡old¡¡saying£»¡¡¡¨The
pen¡¡is¡¡mightier¡¡than¡¡the¡¡sword¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Three¡¡things¡¡bear¡¡mighty¡¡sway¡¡with¡¡men£»
¡¡The¡¡Sword£»¡¡the¡¡Sceptre£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Pen£»
¡¡Who¡¡can¡¡the¡¡least¡¡of¡¡these¡¡command£»
¡¡In¡¡the¡¡first¡¡rank¡¡of¡¡Fame¡¡will¡¡stand¡£¡¨
CHAPTER¡¡XXVII¡£
SUBSTITUTES¡¡FOR¡¡INK¡¡UTENSILS¡¡£¨¡¨LEAD¡¨¡¡AND¡¡OTHER
PENCILS£©¡£
¡¨BLACK¡LEAD¡¨¡¡PENCILS¡¡AN¡¡EXCELLENT¡¡PEN¡¡SUBSTITUTE
UNDER¡¡CERTAIN¡¡CONDITIONSITS¡¡COMPOSITION
¡¨BLACK¡LEAD¡¨¡¡CONTAINS¡¡NO¡¡LEAD£»¡¡HENCE
THE¡¡NAME¡¡IS¡¡MISAPPLIEDTHE¡¡DISCOVERY¡¡OF¡¡ITS
PRINCIPAL¡¡SOURCE¡¡OF¡¡SUPPLY¡¡AN¡¡ACCIDENTA
DESCRIPTION¡¡OF¡¡HOW¡¡IT¡¡IS¡¡MINEDTREATMENT
BEFORE¡¡BEING¡¡INTRODUCED¡¡INTO¡¡THE¡¡GROOVED
WOODUSE¡¡OF¡¡RED¡¡AND¡¡BLACK¡¡CHALK¡¡PENCILS
IN¡¡GERMANY£»¡¡1450THEIR¡¡USE¡¡IN¡¡MEXICO¡¡IN¡¡EARLY
TIMESWHO¡¡MANUFACTURES¡¡LEAD¡¡PENCILSEMPLOYMENT
OF¡¡THE¡¡COMPOSITION¡¡OF¡¡LEAD¡¡AND¡¡TIN
IN¡¡MEDIAEVAL¡¡TIMESBAVARIAN¡¡GOVERNMENT¡¡IN
1816¡¡A¡¡MANUFACTURER¡¡OF¡¡LEAD¡¡PENCILS¡£
THE¡¡black¡lead¡¡pencil£»¡¡under¡¡many¡¡circumstances£»
is¡¡a¡¡very¡¡useful¡¡substitute¡¡for¡¡the¡¡pen£»¡¡in¡¡that¡¡it
requires¡¡no¡¡liquid¡¡ink¡¡for¡¡marking¡¡the¡¡characters¡¡on
paper¡¡or¡¡other¡¡materials¡£¡¡The¡¡peculiar¡¡substance
which¡¡fills¡¡the¡¡central¡¡channel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stick¡¡of¡¡cedar
has¡¡the¡¡property¡¡of¡¡marking¡¡when¡¡it¡¡touches¡¡paper£»
and£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡marks¡¡thus¡¡made¡¡are¡¡susceptible¡¡to¡¡easy
removal£»¡¡a¡¡pencil¡¡of¡¡this¡¡kind¡¡is¡¡available¡¡for¡¡purposes
which¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡answered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡pen¡¡and¡¡ink¡£
The¡¡substance¡¡misnamed¡¡¡¨black¡lead¡¨¡¡contains¡¡NO
LEAD¡¡and¡¡is¡¡a¡¡carburet¡¡of¡¡iron£»¡¡being¡¡composed¡¡of
carbon¡¡and¡¡iron¡£¡¡It¡¡generally¡¡occurs¡¡in¡¡Mountain¡¡districts£»
in¡¡small¡¡kidney¡shaped¡¡pieces£»¡¡varying¡¡in¡¡size
from¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pea¡¡upwards£»¡¡which¡¡are¡¡interspersed
among¡¡various¡¡strata£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡met¡¡with¡¡in¡¡different
parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£
Its¡¡principal¡¡source¡¡of¡¡supply¡¡until¡¡about¡¡1845£»
when¡¡it¡¡became¡¡exhausted£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Borrowdale¡¡mine
in¡¡Cumberland£»¡¡England£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡discovered¡¡in
1564¡£¡¡About¡¡1852¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡mines¡¡were¡¡opened
containing¡¡this¡¡substance¡¡in¡¡Siberia¡¡and¡¡from¡¡which
place¡¡the¡¡best¡¡products¡¡are¡¡now¡¡obtained¡£
The¡¡accidental¡¡discovery¡¡of¡¡this¡¡mineral¡¡at¡¡Borrowdale
was¡¡during¡¡the¡¡reign¡¡of¡¡Queen¡¡Elizabeth¡¡who
made¡¡many¡¡inquiries¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡name¡¡of¡¡this
mineral¡¡was¡¡locally¡¡known¡¡as¡¡wad¡¡£¨graphite£©¡£¡¡So
valuable¡¡was¡¡it¡¡regarded¡¡that¡¡it¡¡commanded¡¡a¡¡very
high¡¡price£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡price¡¡acted¡¡as¡¡in¡¡inducement¡¡to
the¡¡workmen¡¡and¡¡others¡¡to¡¡pilfer¡¡pieces¡¡from¡¡the
mine¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡years¡¡scenes¡¡of¡¡great¡¡commotion
took¡¡place£»¡¡arising¡¡out¡¡of¡¡these¡¡depredations£»¡¡and
the¡¡result¡¡was¡¡that¡¡the¡¡proprietors¡¡adopted¡¡such
stringent¡¡rules¡¡that¡¡hardly¡¡anything¡¡was¡¡known¡¡of
the¡¡internal¡¡economy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mine¡¡till¡¡about¡¡sixty
years¡¡ago£»¡¡when¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Parkes¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡description¡¡of¡¡it£»
from¡¡which¡¡I¡¡may¡¡condense¡¡a¡¡few¡¡particulars¡£
The¡¡mine¡¡is¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mountain¡¡about¡¡two
thousand¡¡feet¡¡high£»¡¡which¡¡rises¡¡at¡¡in¡¡angle¡¡of¡¡about
45¡¡degrees£»¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡that¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mine¡¡which¡¡has¡¡been
worked¡¡during¡¡the¡¡last¡¡century¡¡is¡¡near¡¡the¡¡middle
of¡¡the¡¡mountain£»¡¡the¡¡present¡¡entrance¡¡is¡¡about¡¡a
thousand¡¡feet¡¡from¡¡the¡¡summit¡£¡¡The¡¡opening¡¡by
which¡¡the¡¡workmen¡¡enter¡¡descends¡¡by¡¡a¡¡flight¡¡of
steps£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡the¡¡treasure¡¡within£»¡¡the
proprietors¡¡have¡¡erected¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡brick¡¡building¡¡of
four¡¡rooms£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡which¡¡is¡¡immediately¡¡over¡¡the
entrance¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mine¡£¡¡This¡¡entrance¡¡is¡¡secured¡¡by¡¡a
trap¡door£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡room¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡it¡¡serves¡¡as¡¡a
dressing¡room¡¡for¡¡the¡¡men¡¡when¡¡they¡¡enter¡¡and¡¡leave
the¡¡mine¡£¡¡The¡¡men¡¡work¡¡in¡¡gangs£»¡¡which¡¡relieve
each¡¡other¡¡every¡¡six¡¡hours£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡hour¡¡of
relief¡¡comes£»¡¡a¡¡steward¡¡or¡¡foreman¡¡attends¡¡the¡¡dressing¡
room¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡men¡¡change¡¡their¡¡dresses¡¡as¡¡they
come¡¡up¡¡one¡¡by¡¡one¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mine¡£¡¡The¡¡clothes
are¡¡examined¡¡by¡¡the¡¡steward¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡no¡¡black¡lead
is¡¡concealed¡¡in¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡men¡¡have¡¡dressed
they¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡mine£»¡¡making¡¡room¡¡for¡¡another¡¡gang£»
who¡¡change¡¡their¡¡clothes£»¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡mine£»¡¡and¡¡are¡¡fastened
in¡¡for¡¡six¡¡hours¡£¡¡In¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡four¡¡rooms¡¡of¡¡which
the¡¡house¡¡consists¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡table£»¡¡at¡¡which¡¡men¡¡are
employed¡¡in¡¡sorting¡¡and¡¡dressing¡¡the¡¡mineral¡£¡¡This¡¡is
necessary£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡usually¡¡divided¡¡into¡¡two¡¡qualities£»
the¡¡finest¡¡of¡¡which¡¡have¡¡generally¡¡pieces¡¡of¡¡iron¡
ore¡¡or¡¡other¡¡impurity¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡which¡¡must
be¡¡dressed¡¡off¡£¡¡These¡¡men£»¡¡who¡¡are¡¡strictly¡¡watched
while¡¡at¡¡work£»¡¡put¡¡the¡¡dressed¡¡black¡lead¡¡into¡¡casks
holding¡¡about¡¡one¡¡hundred¡weight¡¡each£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡state
it¡¡leaves¡¡the¡¡mine¡£¡¡The¡¡casks¡¡are¡¡conveyed¡¡down
the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡in¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡manner¡£¡¡Each
cask¡¡is¡¡fixed¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡light¡¡sledge¡¡with¡¡two¡¡wheels£»
and¡¡a¡¡man£»¡¡who¡¡is¡¡well¡¡used¡¡to¡¡the¡¡precipitous¡¡path£»
walks¡¡down¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sledge£»¡¡taking¡¡care¡¡that¡¡it
does¡¡not¡¡acquire¡¡momentum¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡overpower
him¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡cask¡¡has¡¡been¡¡thus¡¡guided¡¡safely¡¡to
the¡¡bottom£»¡¡the¡¡man¡¡carries¡¡the¡¡sledge¡¡up¡¡hill¡¡upon
his¡¡shoulders£»¡¡and¡¡prepares¡¡for¡¡another¡¡descent¡£
Up¡¡to¡¡about¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eighteenth¡¡century¡¡the
mine¡¡was¡¡opened¡¡only¡¡once¡¡in¡¡seven¡¡years£»¡¡the¡¡quantity
taken¡¡out¡¡at¡¡each¡¡time¡¡of¡¡opening¡¡being¡¡such¡¡as¡¡was
deemed¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡serve¡¡the¡¡market¡¡for¡¡seven¡¡years£»
but¡¡when£»¡¡at¡¡a¡¡later¡¡period£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡found¡¡that¡¡the
demand¡¡was¡¡increasing¡¡and¡¡the¡¡supply¡¡decreasing£»¡¡it
was¡¡deemed¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡work¡¡the¡¡mine¡¡six¡¡or¡¡seven
weeks¡¡every¡¡year¡£¡¡During¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡working£»¡¡the
mine¡¡is¡¡guarded¡¡night¡¡and¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡a¡¡quantity
sufficient¡¡for¡¡one¡¡year's¡¡consumption¡¡has¡¡been¡¡taken
out£»¡¡the¡¡mine¡¡is¡¡secured¡¡until¡¡the¡¡following¡¡year¡£
Several¡¡hundred¡¡cartloads¡¡of¡¡rubbish¡¡are¡¡wheeled¡¡into
the¡¡mine£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡block¡¡up¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡completely£»
and¡¡this¡¡rubbish¡¡acts¡¡as¡¡a¡¡dam¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡springs
and¡¡land¡¡waters¡¡from¡¡flowing¡¡out£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡mine
gradually¡¡becomes¡¡flooded¡£
When¡¡the¡¡Year's¡¡mining¡¡is¡¡concluded£»¡¡the¡¡barrels
of¡¡black¡lead¡¡are¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡market£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mode
of¡¡effecting¡¡the¡¡sales¡¡was¡¡described¡¡by¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Faraday
some¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡to¡¡be¡¡as¡¡follows£º¡¡A¡¡market¡¡is¡¡held¡¡on
the¡¡first¡¡Monday¡¡of¡¡every¡¡month¡¡at¡¡a¡¡house¡¡in¡¡London£»
where¡¡the¡¡buyers£»¡¡who¡¡are¡¡generally¡¡only¡¡seven
or¡¡eight¡¡in¡¡number£»¡¡examine¡¡each¡¡piece¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sharp
instrument¡¡to¡¡ascertain¡¡its¡¡hardness£»¡¡those¡¡which¡¡are
too¡¡soft¡¡being¡¡rejected¡£¡¡The¡¡person¡¡who¡¡has¡¡the
first¡¡choice¡¡pays¡¡45s¡£¡¡per¡¡pound£»¡¡the¡¡others¡¡30s¡£
But£»¡¡as¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡addition¡¡made¡¡to¡¡the¡¡first¡¡quantity
in¡¡the¡¡market£»¡¡the¡¡residual¡¡portions¡¡are¡¡examined
over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡again¡¡until¡¡they¡¡are¡¡exhausted¡£¡¡At
one¡¡time¡¡the¡¡annual¡¡sale¡¡was¡¡said¡¡to¡¡amount¡¡to¡¡the
value¡¡of¡¡L40£»000¡¡per¡¡annum£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡has¡¡been¡¡greatly
reduced¡¡since¡£
A¡¡mode¡¡of¡¡applying¡¡manufacturing¡¡processes¡¡to
the¡¡preparation¡¡of¡¡black¡lead¡¡is¡¡described¡¡by¡¡Dr¡£
Ure¡¡as¡¡being¡¡adopted¡¡in¡¡Paris¡£¡¡The¡¡mineral£»¡¡being
reduced¡¡to¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡powder£»¡¡is¡¡mixed¡¡with¡¡very¡¡pure
powdered¡¡clay£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡are¡¡calcined¡¡in¡¡a¡¡crucible
at¡¡a¡¡white¡¡heat£»¡¡the¡¡proportion¡¡of¡¡clay¡¡employed
is¡¡greater¡¡as¡¡the¡¡pencil¡¡is¡¡required¡¡to¡¡be¡¡harder£»
the¡¡average¡¡being¡¡equal¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡both¡£¡¡The
ingredients¡¡are¡¡ground¡¡with¡¡a¡¡muller¡¡on¡¡a¡¡porphyry¡¡slab¡¡and
then¡¡made¡¡into¡¡balls£»¡¡which¡¡are¡¡preserved¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moist
atmosphere¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡paste¡£¡¡The¡¡paste¡¡is¡¡pressed
into¡¡grooves¡¡cut¡¡in¡¡a¡¡smooth¡¡board£»¡¡and¡¡another¡¡board£»
previously¡¡greased£»¡¡is¡¡pressed¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡it¡£¡¡When
the¡¡paste¡¡has¡¡had¡¡time¡¡to¡¡dry£»¡¡the¡¡mould¡¡or¡¡grooved
board¡¡is¡¡put¡¡into¡¡a¡¡moderately¡¡heated¡¡oven£»¡¡by¡¡which
the¡¡paste£»¡¡now¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡square¡¡pencils£»¡¡shrinks
sufficiently¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grooves¡£¡¡In¡¡order¡¡to
give¡¡solidity¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pencils¡¡they¡¡are¡¡set¡¡upright¡¡in¡¡a
crucible¡¡and¡¡surrounded¡¡with¡¡pounded¡¡charcoal£»¡¡fine
sand£»¡¡or¡¡sifted¡¡ashes£»¡¡the¡¡crucible£»¡¡being¡¡covered£»¡¡is
exposed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡degree¡¡of¡¡heat¡¡proportionate¡¡to¡¡the
hardness¡¡required¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pencils£»¡¡the¡¡harder¡¡pencils
requiring¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡degree¡¡of¡¡heat¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡the
pencils¡¡are¡¡shaped¡¡in¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡manner£º¡¡models¡¡of¡¡the
pencils£»¡¡made¡¡of¡¡iron£»¡¡are¡¡stuck¡¡upright¡¡upon¡¡an¡¡iron
tray£»¡¡having¡¡edges¡¡raised¡¡as¡¡high¡¡as¡¡the¡¡intended
length¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pencils£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡metallic¡¡alloy£»¡¡made¡¡of
tin£»¡¡lead£»¡¡antimony¡¡and¡¡bismuth¡¡is¡¡poured¡¡into¡¡the
sheet¡iron¡¡tray¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡alloy¡¡has¡¡cooled£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡inverted
and¡¡shaken¡¡off¡¡from¡¡the¡¡model¡rods£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to
form¡¡a¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡metal¡¡perforated¡¡throughout¡¡with
tubular¡¡cavities¡¡corresponding¡¡in¡¡size¡¡with¡¡the¡¡intended
pencil¡¡pieces£»¡¡the¡¡pencil¡¡paste¡¡is¡¡introduced
by¡¡pressure¡¡into¡¡these¡¡cavities£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡nearly¡¡dry
the¡¡pieces¡¡shrink¡¡sufficiently¡¡to¡¡be¡¡easily¡¡removed
from¡¡the¡¡cavities¡£
The¡¡pencils¡¡just¡¡described¡¡are¡¡alike¡¡throughout¡¡all
their¡¡thickness£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡English¡¡pencils
there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡wooden¡¡holder¡¡to¡¡contain¡¡a¡¡narrow
filament¡¡of¡¡black¡¡lead¡¡running¡¡down¡¡the¡¡middle¡£¡¡So
long¡¡ago¡¡as¡¡the¡¡year¡¡1618¡¡this¡¡mode¡¡was¡¡adopted£»¡¡for
Sir¡¡John¡¡Pettus£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡deputy¡¡g