Six hundred workers were employed, and there was not a school nor a church in the village. The workers worked when they wanted, and when they did not, they quit. Every pay-day they tramped off to neighboring towns, and did not come back until they had spent their last penny. In an endeavour to discipline them, the former manager had gotten their ill-will and they had mobbed the mill and broken every window. Cobden’s task was not commercial, it was a problem in diplomacy and education. To tell of how he introduced schools, stopped child labor, planted flower beds and vegetable gardens, built houses and model tenements, and disciplined the workers without their knowing it, would require a book. Let the simple fact stand that he made the mill pay by manufacturing a better grade of goods than had been made, and he also raised the social status of the people. In three years his income had increased to ten thousand pounds a year.*
“At thirty,” says John Morley, “Cobden passed at a single step from the natural egotism of youth to the broad and generous public spirit of a great citizen.”
American spelling retained
From ‘Little Journeys to the Homes of Great Reformers’ (1917) by Elbert Green Hubbard (1856-1915).
* This history shows that, contrary to the impression often given, Cobden was an astute businessman, and that his enlightened methods did actually work. Nonetheless, Cobden’s remarkable political career distracted him so much from his business that shortly after his campaign to the repeal the Corn Laws (a protectionist policy that had brought thousands to near-starvation) had been crowned with success in 1846, he and his mill had to be rescued from bankruptcy by public subscription — crowdfunding, as we would call it today. The sum raised was almost £80,000. He accepted it gratefully, and used the money to buy his former childhood home in Midhurst, West Sussex.
Précis
Cobden’s task was daunting. The workers were idle and feckless, they had no education and no community life, and thanks to previous mismanagement they bore a grudge towards all employers. Cobden bore their animosity patiently, and transformed their environment at work and at home; and before long, he and his workers were rewarded by handsome profits. (56 / 60 words)
Cobden’s task was daunting. The workers were idle and feckless, they had no education and no community life, and thanks to previous mismanagement they bore a grudge towards all employers. Cobden bore their animosity patiently, and transformed their environment at work and at home; and before long, he and his workers were rewarded by handsome profits.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: if, just, must, or, otherwise, unless, until, whether.
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Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Discussion. Spirit. Vegetable.
2 Tell. Than. Which.
3 Generous. Public. Window.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Increase. 2 Spend. 3 Part. 4 Pay. 5 Man. 6 Time. 7 Task. 8 Grade. 9 Step.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
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