ll be
as well informed as I am of the secrets of our association."

"I am listening, M. Agricola."

"Let us still keep in view the speculator from mere interest. 'Here are
my workmen, says he, 'in the best possible condition to do a great
deal of work. Now what is to be done to obtain large profits? Produce
cheaply, and sell dear. But there will be no cheapness, without economy
in the use of the raw material, perfection of the manufacturing process,
and celerity of labor. Now, in spite of all my vigilance, how am I to
prevent my workmen from wasting the materials? How am I to induce them,
each in his own province, to seek for the most simple and least irksome
processes?"

"True, M. Agricola; how is that to be done?"

"'And that is not all,' says our man; 'to sell my produce at high
prices, it should be irreproachable, excellent. My workmen do pretty
well; but that is not enough. I want them to produce masterpieces.'"

"But, M. Agricola, when they have once performed the task set them what
interest have workmen to give themselves a great deal of trouble to
produce masterpieces?"

"There it is, Mdlle. Angela; what interest have they? Therefore, our
speculator soon says to himself: 'That my workmen may have an interest
to be economical in the use of the materials, an interest to employ
their time well, an interest to invent new and better manufacturing
processes, an interest to send out of their hands nothing but
masterpieces--I must give them an interest in the profits earned by
their economy, activity, zeal and skill. The better they manufacture,
the better I shall sell, and the larger will be their gain and mine
also.'"

"Oh! now I understand, M. Agricola."

"And our speculator would make a good speculation. Before he was
interested, the workman said: 'What does it matter to me, that I do more
or do better in the course of the day? What shall I gain by it? Nothing.
Well, then, little work for little wages. But now, on the contrary
(he says), I have an interest in displaying zeal and economy. All is
changed. I redouble my activity, and strive to excel the others. If a
comrade is lazy, and likely to do harm to the factory, I have the right
to say to him: 'Mate, we all suffer more or less from your laziness, and
from the injury you are doing the common weal.'"

"And then, M. Agricola, with what ardor, courage, and hope, you must set
to work!"

"That is what our speculator counts on; and he may say to himself,