DELICATE INSTRUMENTS

Too Long; Didn't Read

Owing to the universal use of watches, resulting from their cheapness, the possessor of a pocket timepiece soon ceases to take a pride in the delicate mechanism which at first added an inch or two to his stature. At night it is wound up mechanically, and thrust under the pillow, to be safe from imaginary burglars and handy when the morning comes. The awakened sleeper feels small gratitude to his faithful little servant, which all night long has been beating out the seconds so that its master may know just where he is with regard to "the enemy" on the morrow. At last a hand is slipped under the feather-bag, and the watch is dragged from its snug hiding-place. "Bother it," says the sleepy owner, "half-past eight; ought to have been up an hour ago!" and out he tumbles. Dressing concluded, the watch passes to its day quarters in a darksome waistcoat pocket, to be hauled out many times for its opinion to be taken. The real usefulness of a watch is best learnt by being without one for a day or two. There are plenty of clocks about, but not always in sight; and one gradually experiences a mild irritation at having to step round the corner to find out what the hands are doing. A truly wonderful piece of machinery is a watch—even a cheap one. An expensive, high-class article is worthy of our admiration and respect. Here is one that has been in constant use for fifty years. Twice a second its little balance-wheel revolves on its jewelled bearings. Allowing a few days for repairs, we find by calculation that the watch has made no less than three thousand million movements in the half-century! And still it goes ticking on, ready to do another fifty years' work. How beautifully tempered must be the springs and the steel faces which are constantly rubbing against jewel or metal! How perfectly cut the teeth which have engaged one another times innumerable without showing appreciable wear!