ed of
better spinning devices, went to it to see what they could do. John
Wyatt, who, like Paul, was a Birmingham native, tried spinning by means
of rollers; and for ever so long it was a question whether it was he or
Paul who should be credited with the invention of the roller and flyer
machine. After twenty years I believe Paul was granted the patent. In
point of fact, though, Arkwright thirty years before had tried to get a
patent on spinning by rollers, and no doubt both Lewis Paul and John
Wyatt got the suggestion from him. Anyhow, the idea spread like
wildfire and immediately no end of people went to work fussing with
rollers, flyers, and spindles. As a result, many small things were
added to improve the spinning contrivances in use at the time. Then in
1764, or thereabouts, along came James Hargreaves, a Lancashire
Englishman, with a machine that would spin eleven threads at once."

His listeners gave a little gasp.

"That was some stride ahead, wasn't it?" commented Carl, as proudly as
if he himself had done the deed. "Yes, siree! Hargreaves's spinning
jenny was a big step forward. And as usual it raised a row. When he got
it all perfected five years later and went to take out a patent on it,
his right to it was questioned and his life made miserable. But,
anyhow, people couldn't say he built on Arkwright or Paul, for whether
they liked it or not they had to admit his idea was quite new. His
jenny only spun cloth rovings, however. The rovings had to be prepared
first; that is, the cotton had to be carded and given its first twist.
After that Hargreaves was ready for it and could lengthen, twist, and
spin into yarn eleven threads of it."

"I hope the ungrateful workmen did not get after him as they did after
John Kay," Mary murmured.

"They did! At least, although they did not drive him out of England
they drove him out of Lancashire. So he went to Nottingham; and after
arming himself with his patent he and a Mr. James built a spinning mill
there, one of the first to be built in England."

"That must have made his fortune and repaid him for all his hard
labor," remarked Mrs. McGregor, as she held up a violet cloud of
spangled tulle and examined it critically.

"The book said he didn't make much money," Carl announced. "He wasn't
as poor as John Kay and did not die in want; but he certainly never
became rich."

"I suppose now that they had spinning factories England was satisfied,"
said Mary.

"Satisfie