hatred, and to forget the makers of it in their hatred. Through books, out of print now and forgotten, one can get a glimpse of these poor men, confused by the power of this new factor in industry, and maddened by hunger. One reads for example how to an old mill in a lovely Yorkshire valley came a party of workmen one wild night in March—how, armed with crowbars, bludgeons, and hammers, they pushed open the door of the engine-room and gazed in. By fitful moonlight they could see the engine—the foe that had taken the food from their children's lips. It was still now. Its cruel soul slept. They gazed half-stupefied, half-fascinated. Then they fell on the monster and hacked it to pieces. When a force of armed men, representing the owners and masters, came over the hill in the morning they did not even think of showing fight to them, still less of showing fear. They set off for another mill—there to hack and maim another machine.
The impulse was blind of course, but the presentiment of the machine-breakers was only too true. Machinery increased productive power enormously, but its effect on the children of the factory people and working population was not very favourable![1]
- ↑ And this has become more than ever apparent, thanks to the labours of the school doctor. Take for example this Chart, transcribed by Charles Roberts, F.R.C.S., showing the actual relative heights of boys
