e: Bournville Village: Laburnum Road.]

When the chocolate is sufficiently ground it is put into a stove to
attain the correct temperature, and is then passed on to a
moulding-table, where it is pressed into tin moulds, and shaken till
it settles. After passing through a refrigerating chamber, the
contents of these moulds are ready as cakes of hard chocolate for
putting up in the well-known blue "Mexican," or the dark-red "Milk,"
packets.

It would, of course, be interesting to proceed to an inspection of the
many processes involved in making all the dainties that are prepared
with chocolate, and of the numerous trades concerned in the production
of packages, boxes, and fancy cases, did space permit. Room after room
might be visited, bright in the daylight, or equally well lighted by
electricity at night, humming with busy machines; some peopled with
girls--among whom only men wearing a certain badge on their arms are
allowed--some with men and boys, but all vibrating with a genial air
of content as well as of busy occupation. Suffice it to say that half
the handicrafts of the town seem represented in this centre of
industry, in every department of which order and cheerfulness reign
supreme. Each would require a chapter to do it justice, for everything
employed in packing seems to be made on the premises, and that, too,
on a system of piece-work paid for, not at the lowest possible price,
but on the basis of securing a satisfactory living wage to the average
worker. No wonder the faces around are bright, no wonder that openings
at the Bournville factory are in demand, and that long service for the
firm is the boast of so many of the employees. Among these, a little
band of about thirty still upholds the traditions of the old firm that
laid the foundations of the present company in the city of Birmingham.

[Illustration--Black and White Plate: Packing Room, Bournville.]

The work hours are forty-eight each week, and the wages depend both
on age and length of service, no man of twenty-three years of age and
over twelve months' service receiving less than 24s. weekly. There are
no deductions for sick club or fines, the sick fund, as before stated,
being a free gift from the company. Offences and late time are entered
in a record book, and an opportunity is given to wipe off all past
records by two years' good service. The Athletic Club, with over 500
voluntary subscribers, runs three cricket, four football, and two
hoc