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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt:...culmination of good which restriction evolves. Man’s ingenuity is aroused; appliances are forthcoming which free the child from hurtful toil, which add to the available number of workers, and so reduce the cost of production that advantages accrue to masters and hands. “Four years ago it was necessary to have a child called a server, sitting by the side of the weaver, to put the hair on to the reed, by which it was drawn across the warps. “It was soon found that by employing children half-time production would decrease, and higher prices to weavers must be given. “ This led to the substitution of an appliance for dispensing with the server; the weaver now serves herself, and the reed which once was held by her and drawn to and fro, is fixed to an arm having a rotary motion from the loom and worked by the weaver’s feet, so that serving and weaving are but one operation. This system has released many little children from lengthened and injurious labour. I made a house to house visit in Melford, the seat of this trade, and found but 11 children at work. I repeat that it is a proof of what we can effect; horsehair and cocoa fibre factories and workshops can be visited with pleasure; what was disorder and dirt four years ago, is now system and cleanliness. ' ' “ In Haverhill, there were 30 looms three years ago, now there are 70, and the children who served are weavers upon the new system. The slip-shod, dirty looking boy or girl is passing away, and decent clothing cover them; the factory is a factory now, and the manager will express himself loudly in praise of the Act, ’tis doing good for everybody. All this is satisfactory, but when I tell you that I have had a private view of five looms for horsehair...