an autobiography-第70章
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I set out from Gottenburg to Helsingborg； along the shores of the Kattegat。 From Helsingborg I crossed the Sound by a small steamer to Elsinore； famous for its connection with Hamlet； Prince of Denmark。 The old dreary looking castle still stands there。 From Elsinore I went to Copenhagen； and occupied myself for a few days in visiting the wonderful museums。 There I saw； in the Northern Antiquities Collection； the unwritten history of civilisation in the stone； bronze； and iron tools which have brought the world to what it is now。 This museum is perfectly unrivalled。 I saw there the first section of kitchen…middensthat is； the refuse of oyster shells； fish…bones； and other stuff thrown out by the ancient inhabitants of the country after their meals； together with accumulations of rude stone implements； kelts； arrow…heads； and such like。 Then there were the articles of the Bronze Age； with war trumpets； the articles of the early Iron Age； which also contain some remarkable golden war horns。 These are followed by the middle Iron Age； and then by the later Iron Age。 This part of the collection is superb。 But it is impossible for me to describe the wonders of the museum。
I was greatly interested too by the collection of articles at the Rosenburg Castle。 This is the only museum at Copenhagen which is not free； but the price charged is very small。 It contains an extraordinary collection of royal clothes （what would Sartor Resartus say？）； armour； furniture； drinking vessels； and all manner of personal antiquities connected with the Kings of Denmark。
I was especially interested by the collection of royal drinking vessels； from the earliest； made of wood； down to the latest； grand gold and silver flagons。 What most amused me in respect to these boozing implements were the pegs that marked the depths down to which the stalwart Dane was able to swig at a pull one enormous draught of wine。 In some cases the name and date of the achievement of the heavy drinker was engraved on the flagon to record his feat。 〃Take him a peg down〃 was the ordinary saying； and the words have become a proverb amongst ourselves。 For we unquestionably have derived a great deal of our drinking capabilities from our ancestors the Danes。 The whole of the museums at Copenhagen are excellent。
Besides those I have mentioned； are the Ethnographic Museumthe best of its kind； the Museum of Coins； the most complete I have seen； the Thorwaldsen Museum； the Mineralogical Museum； the Zoological Museum； and many more。 The custodians are most kind and civil； and when they see any visitor interested in the collection； they take a special pleasure in going round with him and pointing out the beauty and rarity of the articles； imparting at the same time most interesting information。 I wish those melancholy taciturn 〃staff…in…hand〃 attendant custodians of our British Museums could or would follow their example； and thus aid the chief object of these costly institutions。
Holding the memory of Tycho Brahe in the highest regard as one of the great pioneers of astronomy； I was much interested by a contemporary portrait of him in the Town Hall； but still more so by the remains of his observatory at the top of the great Round Tower； where he carried on his careful observations by instruments of his own design and construction。 These； with many additions； he afterwards transported to the island of Hveen； where the remains of his castle and observatory are still to be seen； While I was mounting the Round Tower I could not but think of the footsteps of the great astronomer who has made it classic ground。
I left Copenhagen for Hamburg by coach。 After passing through the island of Zealand； I was ferried across to the island of Fyen； and after that I proceeded along the mainland of Sleswick and Holstein。 I was much pleased with what I saw of the people of these provinces。 Their farmhouses and cottages were wonderfully clean and neat。 The women were all engaged in scrubbing and polishing。 I believe I saw more brass in the shape of bright door…knockers during my journey than I had seen in all England。 Even the brass and iron hoops round the milk pails； by constant scrubbing； looked like gold and silver。 Every window had its neat dimity curtains edged with snow…white trimming。 The very flower…pots were painted red； to fetch up their brightness to the general standard。 I never saw a more cheerful and happy…looking people than those whom I observed between Copenhagen and Hamburg。 They seemed to me to be very like the people of England especially in the northern and eastern partsin their oval faces； their bright blue eyes； and their light and golden hair； as well as their active minds and bodies； which enable them to do their work with hearty cheerful energy。
I went from Hamburg to Amsterdam by steamer； and after doing a few days' business I went to take a peep at the fine collections of pictures there； as well as at the Hague。 Then I proceeded to Rotterdam； and took ship for England by the Batavian steamer。 I reached home safely after my prolonged tour。 Everything was going on well at the Bridgewater Foundry。 The seeds which I had sown in the northern countries of Europe were already springing up plentifully in orders for machine tools； and the clang of the hammer and the whirl of the lathes and planing machines were working cheerily on from morning till night。
CHAPTER 17。 More about Bridgewater FoundryWoolwich Arsenal。
The rapid extension of railways and steam navigation； both at home and abroad； occasioned a largely increased demand for machinery of all kinds。 Our order…book was always full； and every mechanical workshop felt the impulse of expanding trade。 There was an increased demand for skilled mechanical laboura demand that was far in excess of the supply。 Employers began to outbid each other； and wages rapidly rose。 At the same time the disposition to steady exertion on the part of the workmen began to decline。
This state of affairs had its usual effect。 It increased the demand for self…acting tools； by which the employers might increase the productiveness of their factories without having resort to the costly and untrustworthy method of meeting the demand by increasing the number of their workmen。 Machine tools were found to be of much greater advantage。 They displaced hand…dexterity and muscular force。 They were unfailing in their action。 They could not possibly go wrong in planing and turning； because they were regulated by perfect self…acting arrangements。 They were always ready for work； and never required a Holiday or a Saint Monday。
As the Bridgewater Foundry had been so fortunate as to earn for itself a considerable reputation for mechanical contrivances； the workshops were always busy。 They were crowded with machine tools in full action； and exhibited to all comers their effectiveness in the most satisfactory manner； Every facility was afforded to those who desired to see them at work； and every machine and machine tool that was turned out became in the hands of its employers the progenitor of a numerous family。
Indeed； on many occasions I had the gratification of seeing my mechanical notions adopted by rival or competitive machine constructors； often without acknowledgment； though； notwithstanding this point of honour； there was room enough for all。 Though the parent features were easily recognisable； I esteemed such plagiarisms as a sort of left…handed compliment to their author。 I also regarded them as a proof that I had hit the mark in so arranging my mechanical combinations as to cause their general adoption； and many of them remain unaltered to this day。
The machine tools when in action did not require a skilled workman to guide or watch them。 All that was necessary to superintend them was a well…selected labourer。 The self…acting machine tools already possessed the requisite ability to plane； to turn； to polish； and to execute the work when firmly placed in situ。 The work merely required to be shifted from time to time； and carefully fixed for another action of the machine。
Besides selecting clever labourers； I made an extensive use of active handy boys to superintend the smaller class of self…acting mac
