La fabricación de un clavo, sin embargo, no es en modo alguno una de las operaciones más sencillas. La misma persona sopla el fuelle, aviva o arregla el fuego según sea necesario, calienta el hierro y forja cada parte del clavo: al forjar la cabeza también se ve obligada a cambiar de herramientas.
Las diferentes operaciones en que se subdivide la fabricación de un alfiler, o de un botón de metal, son todas ellas mucho más simples, y la destreza de la persona cuya única ocupación en la vida ha sido realizarlas es habitualmente mucho mayor.
La rapidez con la que se ejecutan algunas de las operaciones de esas manufacturas supera lo que quienes nunca las han visto podrían suponer que es capaz de adquirir la mano humana.
Secondly, the advantage which is gained by saving the time commonly lost in passing from one sort of work to another, is much greater than we should at first view be apt to imagine it. It is impossible to pass very quickly from one kind of work to another, that is carried on in a different place, and with quite different tools. A country weaver, who cultivates a small farm, must lose a good deal of time in passing from his loom to the field, and from the field to his loom. When the two trades can be carried on in the same workhouse, the loss of time is no doubt much less. It is even in this case, however, very considerable. A man commonly saunters a little in turning his hand from one sort of employment to another. When he first begins the new work he is seldom very keen and hearty; his mind, as they say, does not go to it, and for some time he rather trifles than applies to good purpose. The habit of sauntering and of indolent careless application, which is naturally, or rather necessarily acquired by every country workman who