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this white…lead； processes of stirring； separating； washing；
grinding； rolling； and pressing succeed。 Some of these are
unquestionably inimical to health； the danger arising from
inhalation of particles of lead； or from contact between the lead
and the touch； or both。 Against these dangers； I found good
respirators provided （simply made of flannel and muslin； so as to
be inexpensively renewed； and in some instances washed with scented
soap）； and gauntlet gloves； and loose gowns。 Everywhere； there was
as much fresh air as windows； well placed and opened； could
possibly admit。 And it was explained that the precaution of
frequently changing the women employed in the worst parts of the
work （a precaution originating in their own experience or
apprehension of its ill effects） was found salutary。 They had a
mysterious and singular appearance； with the mouth and nose
covered； and the loose gown on； and yet bore out the simile of the
old Turk and the seraglio all the better for the disguise。
At last this vexed white…lead； having been buried and resuscitated；
and heated and cooled and stirred； and separated and washed and
ground； and rolled and pressed； is subjected to the action of
intense fiery heat。 A row of women； dressed as above described；
stood； let us say； in a large stone bakehouse； passing on the
baking…dishes as they were given out by the cooks； from hand to
hand； into the ovens。 The oven； or stove； cold as yet； looked as
high as an ordinary house； and was full of men and women on
temporary footholds； briskly passing up and stowing away the
dishes。 The door of another oven； or stove； about to be cooled and
emptied； was opened from above； for the uncommercial countenance to
peer down into。 The uncommercial countenance withdrew itself； with
expedition and a sense of suffocation； from the dull…glowing heat
and the overpowering smell。 On the whole； perhaps the going into
these stoves to work； when they are freshly opened； may be the
worst part of the occupation。
But I made it out to be indubitable that the owners of these lead…
mills honestly and sedulously try to reduce the dangers of the
occupation to the lowest point。
A washing…place is provided for the women （I thought there might
have been more towels）； and a room in which they hang their
clothes； and take their meals； and where they have a good fire…
range and fire； and a female attendant to help them； and to watch
that they do not neglect the cleansing of their hands before
touching their food。 An experienced medical attendant is provided
for them； and any premonitory symptoms of lead…poisoning are
carefully treated。 Their teapots and such things were set out on
tables ready for their afternoon meal； when I saw their room； and
it had a homely look。 It is found that they bear the work much
better than men： some few of them have been at it for years； and
the great majority of those I observed were strong and active。 On
the other hand； it should be remembered that most of them are very
capricious and irregular in their attendance。
American inventiveness would seem to indicate that before very long
white…lead may be made entirely by machinery。 The sooner； the
better。 In the meantime； I parted from my two frank conductors
over the mills； by telling them that they had nothing there to be
concealed； and nothing to be blamed for。 As to the rest； the
philosophy of the matter of lead…poisoning and workpeople seems to
me to have been pretty fairly summed up by the Irishwoman whom I
quoted in my former paper： 'Some of them gets lead…pisoned soon；
and some of them gets lead…pisoned later； and some； but not many；
niver； and 'tis all according to the constitooshun； sur； and some
constitooshuns is strong and some is weak。' Retracing my footsteps
over my beat； I went off duty。
CHAPTER XXXVI … A FLY…LEAF IN A LIFE
Once upon a time （no matter when）； I was engaged in a pursuit （no
matter what）； which could be transacted by myself alone； in which I
could have no help； which imposed a constant strain on the
attention； memory； observation； and physical powers； and which
involved an almost fabulous amount of change of place and rapid
railway travelling。 I had followed this pursuit through an
exceptionally trying winter in an always trying climate； and had
resumed it in England after but a brief repose。 Thus it came to be
prolonged until； at length … and； as it seemed； all of a sudden …
it so wore me out that I could not rely； with my usual cheerful
confidence； upon myself to achieve the constantly recurring task；
and began to feel （for the first time in my life） giddy； jarred；
shaken； faint； uncertain of voice and sight and tread and touch；
and dull of spirit。 The medical advice I sought within a few
hours； was given in two words： 'instant rest。' Being accustomed
to observe myself as curiously as if I were another man； and
knowing the advice to meet my only need； I instantly halted in the
pursuit of which I speak； and rested。
My intention was； to interpose； as it were； a fly…leaf in the book
of my life； in which nothing should be written from without for a
brief season of a few weeks。 But some very singular experiences
recorded themselves on this same fly…leaf； and I am going to relate
them literally。 I repeat the word： literally。
My first odd experience was of the remarkable coincidence between
my case； in the general mind； and one Mr。 Merdle's as I find it
recorded in a work of fiction called LITTLE DORRIT。 To be sure；
Mr。 Merdle was a swindler； forger； and thief； and my calling had
been of a less harmful （and less remunerative） nature； but it was
all one for that。
Here is Mr。 Merdle's case：
'At first； he was dead of all the diseases that ever were known；
and of several bran…new maladies invented with the speed of Light
to meet the demand of the occasion。 He had concealed a dropsy from
infancy； he had inherited a large estate of water on the chest from
his grandfather； he had had an operation performed upon him every
morning of his life for eighteen years； he had been subject to the
explosion of important veins in his body after the manner of
fireworks； he had had something the matter with his lungs； he had
had something the matter with his heart； he had had something the
matter with his brain。 Five hundred people who sat down to
breakfast entirely uninformed on the whole subject； believed before
they had done breakfast； that they privately and personally knew
Physician to have said to Mr。 Merdle； 〃You must expect to go out；
some day； like the snuff of a candle；〃 and that they knew Mr。
Merdle to have said to Physician； 〃A man can die but once。〃 By
about eleven o'clock in the forenoon； something the matter with the
brain； became the favourite theory against the field； and by twelve
the something had been distinctly ascertained to be 〃Pressure。〃
'Pressure was so entirely satisfactory to the public mind； and
seemed to make every one so comfortable； that it might have lasted
all day but for Bar's having taken the real state of the case into
Court at half…past nine。 Pressure； however； so far from being
overthrown by the discovery； became a greater favourite than ever。
There was a general moralising upon Pressure； in every street。 All
the people who had tried to make money and had not been able to do
it； said； There you were！ You no sooner began to devote yourself
to the pursuit of wealth； than you got Pressure。 The idle people
improved the occasion in a similar manner。 See； said they； what
you brought yourself to by work； work； work！ You persisted in
working； you overdid it； Pressure came on； and you were done for！
This consideration was very potent in many quarters； but nowhere
more so than among the young clerks and partners who had never been
in the slightest danger of overdoing it。 These； one and all
declared； quite piously； that they hoped they would never forget
the warning as long as they lived； and that their conduct might be
so regulated as to keep off Pressure； and preserve them； a comfort
to their friends； for many years。'
Just my case … if I had only known it … when I was quietly basking
in the sunshine in my Kentish meadow！
But while I so rested； thankfully recovering every hour； I had
experiences more odd than this。 I had experiences of spiritual
conceit； for which； as giving me a new warning against that curse
of mankind； I shall always feel grateful to the supposition that I
was too far gone to protest against playing sick lion to any stray
donkey with an itching hoof。 All sorts of people seemed to become
vicariously religious at my expense。 I received the most
uncompromising warning that I was a Heathen： on the conclusive
authority of a field preacher； who； like the most of his ignorant
and vain and daring class； could not construct a tolerable sentence
in his native