n this clever device was galling indeed. Therefore, I regret to say,
they opposed his application for the extending of his patent on the
ground that the jewel idea was not new. A member of their own guild,
they insisted, had already constructed such a watch; and to prove the
assertion they produced a timepiece with an amethyst gleaming from its
works. Upon the presentation of this evidence the unlucky Facio's claim
was immediately refused. Later on, however, it proved that the watch
displayed by the zealous London gentlemen was not in the least similar
to Facio's conception. The jewel had only been stuck on (in accordance
with your own plan) and was not set into the works at all. Whether the
fraud resulted from ignorance or was a deliberate attempt to deceive no
one could say. Certainly in 1703 the London clockmakers had nothing with
which to block Facio's application; if, therefore, in 1705 they had a
jeweled watch, it looks much as if they must have deliberately prepared
it as an argument against the Genevan's request being granted. What the
facts were we shall probably never know; but at least poor Facio lost
the glory due him for his invention. Since that time practically all
watches have certain of their moving parts set in jewels to prevent wear
to the bearings and make them run smoother. The more expensive watches
contain many of these stones. It requires less power, you see, to drive
a well-jeweled watch because of its velvet-like action. But at the same
time all this studding of gems greatly increases the cost of making a
good watch."

"What a duffer I was to think the jewels were just to make the thing
look pretty!" burst out Christopher, when his father had finished.

"Don't come down on yourself too hard, son," Mr. Burton interposed
kindly. "We all have to learn. But you can now understand, can't you,
that the diamonds, rubies, and precious stones at which you jeered have
their practical uses? A pivot or bearing revolving in a hole drilled in
a garnet or other gem creates almost no friction and needs therefore
only very little oil."

"I can understand it now--yes, sir," returned Christopher meekly.

"Of course in our day the price of jewels has gone up a great deal.
There was a time when a full-jeweled watch did not begin to cost what it
does now. However, we are free of certain other expenses the old
watchmakers encountered," went on Mr. Burton. "For example, about the
year 1800, when England was anxious