As manufacturers of ironmongery, they carry the palm from the
whole district; as founders of brass and workers of steel,
they fear none; while as nailers and locksmiths, their fame
has spread even to the European markets, whither their most
skilful workmen have frequently been invited.
Invited in vain! No wages can tempt the Wodgate man from his
native home, that squatters' seat which soon assumed the form
of a large village, and then in turn soon expanded into a
town, and at the present moment numbers its population by
swarming thousands, lodged in the most miserable tenements in
the most hideous burgh in the ugliest country in the world.
But it has its enduring spell. Notwithstanding the spread of
its civic prosperity, it has lost none of the characteristics
of its original society; on the contrary it has zealously
preserved them. There are no landlords, head-lessees, main-
masters, or butties in Wodgate. No church there has yet
raised its spire; and as if the jealous spirit of Woden still
haunted his ancient temple, even the conventicle scarcely
dares show its humble front in some obscure corner. There is
no municipality, no magistrate, no local acts, no vestries, no
schools of any kind.
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