Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/137

111 the production of 360.000 gross of buttons and the yearly aggregate earnings amount to ₤ 1500.

The almost constant companion of „selfish man“, the pipe, is made in all sizes, forms and materials, at Proseč, Záboř and several other villages. Within this limited area there are about 300 people employed in the various operations of pipe making. Over a hundred different kinds are made,—from the simple common clay—to beautiful porcelain, artistically fashioned wood and art-work in carved meerschaum. Amongst the woods used, first in order, stands alderwood which is in greatest demand, ebony from India or Ceylon, briarroot and birchwood from Poland and Sweden. The higher grades of pipes are lined with meerschaum or porcelain.

A fair workman earns on an average 1 s 8 d per day, and his products are sold at 11 d, 5 s, to 12 s or even as much as ₤ 1·5. per doz. Of course, the most expensive are the beautifully carved specimes executed by men who in their way are first-class artists.

The pipe-maker employes other artisans who make the lids, fittings of nickel, brass and other metals. In Proseč and its vicinity, more than 50.000 doz. are made.

For some time past there has been an endeavour made to improve the condition of the pipe-makers by the introduction of labor-saving machines so as to free the men from the drudgery of the work, and by means of special instruction to the carvers to raise the standard of quality higher than in the past. These experiments, so far as they have gone, have been successful and so the quality of the work and the labour-conditions of the men go on improving.

The requirements of the nursery and play-room are many and most varied in form and colour. Many of the toys not only entertain the young folks but assist in their instruction. In this field of labour the march of improvement goes as steadily on as in any concerned with the