"SCISSORS TO GRIND!"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2275, 8 October 1914, Page 7

"SCISSORS TO GRIND!"

how germany destroyed 'an occupation.;; ;\ "Scissors to grind! Any.scissors to grind!" This was a well-known cry in tlio etreets of any English' or colonial.' town a quarter of a century ago. ,It is. very seldom heard now, if'at all, in the cities, and being a matter of little moment—the scissors-grinder 'does not figure seriously as an economic factor — nc one has oven troubled; to wonder why. Yet there is a reason, for .everything in life, and tljo outbreak of war with Germany has disclosed the.'cause' of the last cry of tho scissors-grinder. It- seems that for some years "past' the 1 scissors trade—particularly the cheap scissors trade —has been, practically given over to Germany. Sheffield still turns' out good scissors that are really worth the attention of t'he grinder','.but the ninepenny and shilling scissors stamped "Made in Germany," are made of a steel so poor , in quality that no ' self-respecting grindstone will look at them. It is the cheapness of the.German scissors that has banished the professional grinder—when on© pair is done they are thrown away and another is purchased: A quarter of a century ago ,or more, one had to pay 2s. Gd. or 3s. for a decent pair of Sheffield-made scissors, and the quality had some affinity .with a good stono; such an article would outlast half a dozen Gorman-made scissors.

Curiously enough the subject was on Iheanind-.ofvtho writer yesterday when a , call was made upon the ladies who are working so strenuously for tho troops at tao Town Hall. Scissors aio necessary to the work. A pair was picked, up, and sure enough there was stamped upon the blades the übiquitous brand; "Made in Germany!" The matter of providing the Dominion with good -scissors at a reasonable price is not being noglected. The representative here of one of the big cutlery houses of Sheffield has been buying up eamplos and sending them Home with the German manufacturers' price during the past' incnth, and he hopes that as the result ws will once more be induced to go for va'ue—good Sheffield value—not only in tho case of scissors, but in all lines of cutlery. " ' *j