watch-case is so connected. It is fastened at
the end of a bar; and, while it is vibrating
there, a graver is brought up to it, on a sort
of miniature railway; and it peels off the gold
in the pretty pattern required. We saw a
ribbon-like circular pattern; concentric rings,
and vertical ornamentation; and we were told
that by the combination of the patterns
provided for by the machine before us, as endless
a variety might be obtained as of changes from
a peal of a dozen bells.

With all its prettiness, this process, and
every other connected with the ornamenting
of the watch, was less interesting to us than
those which relate to its time-showing
properties. We were not sorry that the last
stage of our sight-seeing was the preparation
of the enamel face, with its indices of hours
and minutes.

We went to the little workshop of a superior
artisan, who works here, but lives in the
country. His intelligent daughters help him
in the lettering department of his little
business; and very pretty work it is for them.
The affair is simple enough. Round pieces of
copper are cut, with scissors, out of a strip
which comes from the rolling-mill; the size
being determined by a brass pattern. The
edges are slightly turned up, in order to hold
the enamel, when melted; and the necessary
hole in the middle has its edges turned up,
on the same side, for the same reason. The
enamel is made of putty-powder, and several
other materials. In its unground state it
looks just like a bit of thick earthenware;—
the white very white; the cream-colour very
pure. This is ground down in a mortar
extremely fine, mixed with water, to about
the consistence of soft clay, and spread
smoothly over the copper ground.
Half-a-dozen of these faces are put down before the
open mouth of the little furnace, to heat
gradually, in order to avoid the irremediable
mischief of a crack. When they have done
reeking, they are ready for further cooking.
With a little pair of tongs, one at a time is
carefully placed upon a stand in the furnace.
Presently it begins to shine. It is turned
round and round, that the whole may be
equally done. When it is all one white heat,
it is brought out, and another is put in.
When cool, the surface is rubbed smooth with
sand; inequalities are filled up; another
coating is given; it is " fired " again, and
then polished to the degree we are accustomed
to see.

Then comes the part which the novice must
be extremely shy of undertaking, so very
important as it is,— the marking the hour
figures. The face is throughout placed on a
little wooden platter, which revolves with a
touch. On this platter it receives its polishing
and all other treatment. It is now turned
round, to be ruled with the utmost exactness,
with as many radiations from the centre as
are wanted. Thick strokes are laid on where
the figures are to be, of a metallic paint,
composed of copper, iron, and other ingredients,
prepared in a peculiar manner. The decisive
figure-strokes are then cut in with the help
of an essential oil; and the surplus paint
brushes off with a touch of the brush. There
is a mystery in most houses of business. The
secret here is how the minute-face is sunk in
the hour-face. We could understand, however,
how the excessively small figures were
done, though hardly how human eyes could
stand such a trial. Our host proved to us
what the faculty of sight becomes capable of,
by relating an achievement of his own. Some
years ago he wrote, in enamel, "the Lord's
Prayer, with every i dotted, and every t
crossed, in the space of half the wing of a
house-fly." He keeps it framed as a locket;
and it is the wonder of all strangers who see
it. He was advised to send it up to the
Exhibition; but he dreaded its being lost.
He paid very dear for his enterprise, as we
should think; but he seems rather to glory in
the result than regret it. By working in a
blaze of sun-light he " aged " his sight thirty
years in a single fortnight. He now requires
strong magnifiers to work at all.

We observed here the glass globe of water,
whereby the gas-light is concentrated for
evening work, which is seen among the
Birmingham burnishers. It is sad to think
how the senses and faculties of some are
overstrained to minister to the luxuries of
others. If we could reconcile ourselves to
this at all, it would not be in the case of any
toys, be their beauty and the money value of
them what they may; but in the production
of this exquisite talisman, the watch, which
can tell us, in the intervals of tides and
sunsets, where the stars are, and what they are
doing, behind the veil of the noonday light
and the midnight cloud.

A GENTEEL ESTABLISHMENT.

IN my hot youth, I once wanted some
money. I do not mean to say that this was
the only time that I have ever experienced
a similar want during that excited period.
But I have particular reasons for referring
to that especial occasion.

I had not arrived at the age which is known
as " years of discretion; " indeed, even at the
present moment it is the opinion of some of my
friends—But that is a consideration into which
it is needless to enter. Let it suffice to state,
that my money was "locked up" in the
hands of a guardian —a gentleman of the old
school, who devoutly believed that he was
acting the part of my best friend by depriving
me of any free agency in the management of
my own affairs, and letting me spend as little as
possible. Accordingly, through this very
considerate conduct on the part of my "best
friend"—who was personally a perfect stranger
to me, living in a distant and absurd part of
the country —I found myself unable to touch
a guinea without his permission.