
Up: Glassmaking

Reminiscences 27 of 123
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coming in at their mouths, it attacks their lungs and dries them up,
whence most part are pale and short-lived, by reason of the diseases
of the heart and breast, which the fire causes; which makes
Libarius say, 'they were of weak and infirm bodies,
thirsty, and easily made drunk,'-- this writer says, this is their true
character: but I will say this in their favor, that this character is
not general, having known several without this fault."
Such was the character and habits of noble glass-makers
four hundred years since; and whether their descendents still retain their
blood or not, the habit of drinking, believed at that time necessary and
consequent upon the nature of the employment, is, at the present day,
confined to the ignorant, dissolute, and unambitious workmen. The habit
will, doubtless, ere long be done away. Still, so long as the workmen of
the present day cling to their conventional rules,-- act as one body, the
lazy controlling of the efforts of the more intelligent and industrious,--
so long will the conduct of the dissolute few affect the moral reputation
of the entire body. They must not forget the old adage, that "One bad
sheep taints the whole flock." The spirit of the age in no degree tends
to sustain the old saying, that "Live horses must draw the dead ones."
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