按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
progress had been made in the useful arts。 The potter's wheel had been
introduced。 Agriculture had begun； and wild animals had given place to
tame ones。 The abundance of bronze also shows that commerce must have
existed to a certain extent； for tin； which enters into its
composition； is a comparatively rare metal； and must necessarily have
been imported from other European countries。
The Swiss antiquarians are of opinion that the men of bronze suddenly
invaded and extirpated the men of flint； and that at some still later
period； another stronger and more skilful race； supposed to have been
Celts from Gaul； came armed with iron weapons； to whom the men of
bronze succumbed； or with whom； more probably； they gradually
intermingled。 When iron； or rather steel； came into use； its
superiority in affording a cutting edge was so decisive that it seems
to have supplanted bronze almost at once；*
＇footnote。。。
Mr。 Mushet； however； observes that 〃the general use of hardened
copper by the ancients for edge…tools and warlike instruments； does
not preclude the supposition that iron was then comparatively
plentiful； though it is probable that it was confined to the ruder
arts of life。 A knowledge of the mixture of copper； tin； and zinc；
seems to have been among the first discoveries of the metallurgist。
Instruments fabricated from these alloys； recommended by the use of
ages； the perfection of the art； the splendour and polish of their
surfaces； not easily injured by time and weather； would not soon be
superseded by the invention of simple iron； inferior in edge and
polish； at all times easily injured by rust； and in the early stages
of its manufacture converted with difficulty into forms that required
proportion or elegance。〃（Papers on Iron and Steel； 365…6。） By some
secret method that has been lost； perhaps because no longer needed
since the invention of steel； the ancients manufactured bronze tools
capable of taking a fine edge。 in our own time； Chantrey the
sculptor； in his reverence for classic metallurgy； had a bronze razor
made with which he martyred himself in shaving； but none were found
so hardy and devoted as to follow his example。
。。。＇
the latter metal continuing to be employed only for the purpose of
making scabbards or sword…handles。 Shortly after the commencement of
the iron age； the lake…habitations were abandoned； the only
settlement of this later epoch yet discovered being that at Tene； on
Lake Neufchatel： and it is a remarkable circumstance； showing the
great antiquity of the lake…dwellings； that they are not mentioned by
any of the Roman historians。
That iron should have been one of the last of the metals to come into
general use； is partly accounted for by the circumstance that iron；
though one of the most generally diffused of minerals； never presents
itself in a natural state； except in meteorites； and that to
recognise its ores； and then to separate the metal from its matrix；
demands the exercise of no small amount of observation and invention。
Persons unacquainted with minerals would be unable to discover the
slightest affinity between the rough ironstone as brought up from the
mine； and the iron or steel of commerce。 To unpractised eyes they
would seem to possess no properties in common； and it is only after
subjecting the stone to severe processes of manufacture that usable
metal can be obtained from it。 The effectual reduction of the ore
requires an intense heat； maintained by artificial methods； such as
furnaces and blowing apparatus。*
＇footnote。。。
It may be mentioned in passing； that while Zinc is fusible at
3 degrees of Wedgwood's pyrometer； Silver at 22 degrees； Copper at
27 degrees； and Gold at 32 degrees； Cast Iron is only fusible at
130 degrees。 Tin （one of the constituents of the ancient bronze） and
Lead are fusible at much lower degrees than zinc。
。。。＇
But it is principally in combination with other elements that iron is
so valuable when compared with other metals。 Thus； when combined with
carbon； in varying proportions； substances are produced； so
different； but each so valuable； that they might almost be regarded
in the light of distinct metals；such； for example； as cast…iron；
and cast and bar steel； the various qualities of iron enabling it to
be used for purposes so opposite as a steel pen and a railroad； the
needle of a mariner's compass and an Armstrong gun； a surgeon's
lancet and a steam engine； the mainspring of a watch and an iron
ship； a pair of scissors and a Nasmyth hammer； a lady's earrings and
a tubular bridge。
The variety of purposes to which iron is thus capable of being
applied； renders it of more use to mankind than all the other metals
combined。 Unlike iron； gold is found pure； and in an almost workable
state； and at an erly period in history； it seems to have been much
more plentiful than iron or steel。 But gold was unsuited for the
purposes of tools； and would serve for neither a saw； a chisel； an
axe； nor a sword； whilst tempered steel could answer all these
purposes。 Hence we find the early warlike nations making the backs of
their swords of gold or copper； and economizing their steel to form
the cutting edge。 This is illustrated by many ancient Scandinavian
weapons in the museum at Copenhagen； which indicate the greatest
parsimony in the use of steel at a period when both gold and copper
appear to have been comparatively abundant。
The knowledge of smelting and working in iron； like most other arts；
came from the East。 Iron was especially valued for purposes of war；
of which indeed it was regarded as the symbol； being called 〃Mars〃 by
the Romans。*
＇footnote。。。
The Romans named the other metals after the gods。 Thus Quicksilver
was called Mercury； Lead Saturn； Tin Jupiter； Copper Venus； Silver
Luna； and so on； and our own language has received a colouring from
the Roman nomenclature； which it continues to retain。
。。。＇
We find frequent mention of it in the Bible。 One of the earliest
notices of the metal is in connexion with the conquest of Judea by
the Philistines。 To complete the subjection of the Israelites； their
conquerors made captive all the smiths of the land； and carried them
away。 The Philistines felt that their hold of the country was
insecure so long as the inhabitants possessed the means of forging
weapons。 Hence 〃there was no smith found throughout all the land of
Israel； for the Philistines said； Lest the Hebrews make them swords
or spears。 But the Israelites went down to the Philistines； to
sharpen every man his share； and his coulter； and his axe； and his
mattock。〃*
＇footnote。。。
I。 Samuel xiii。 19； 20。
。。。＇
At a later period； when Jerusalem was taken by the Babylonians； one
of their first acts was to carry the smiths and other craftsmen
captives to Babylon。*
＇footnote。。。
II。 Kings xxiv。 16。
。。。＇
Deprived of their armourers； the Jews were rendered comparatively
powerless。