And now all this is "a matter of bygone days" and "traditions of the
olden times," albeit they are not so very ancient. But there is no
need to make haste to forget these traditions, in spite of the fabulous
style of the legend, and the epic character of its principal hero.
The actual name of that hero, like the names of many of the greatest
geniuses, is forever lost to posterity; but, considered as a myth
personified by popular fancy, it is interesting, and his deeds may
serve as a memorial of the epoch of which the general spirit has been
faithfully and accurately caught.
Of course, there are no longer any such master-workmen in Tula as this
fabulous, left-handed man; machines have evened up the inequalities of
talents and gifts, and genius is not eager to struggle against industry
and accuracy. Machines, while favorable to a rise in wages, are not
favorable to artistic enterprise, which formerly exceeded measure,
inspiring the popular fancy to the fabrication of legends similar to
the one in hand.
Workmen, naturally, understand how to prize the benefits which have
accrued to them from the practical adjustments of mechanical science,
but they allude to the days that are past with pride and affection.
This is their epos, and it has, moreover, a great deal of the "human
soul" about it.
_Three hundred copies were printed by D. B. Updike, at The Merrymount
Press, Boston, in October, 1916, of which this is Number 66._