es of general growth.

Today all civilized governments settle upon a definite system of measures
and weights, all accurately connected with each other and with some
precise dimension in nature supposed to be invariable. Our common yard is
distinctly associated with a pendulum vibrating seconds; and in the great
decimal system, adopted by most countries in Europe, and likely to be
reached in all countries, the whole is connected with a measured meridian
upon the earth's surface. Care is then taken to have standard measures and
weights prepared in such a way as to be free from all effects of any
change of temperature, and legal enactments distinctly define each measure
and weight, actually punishing one for the crime of using false weights or
measures. Units of quantity thus enter into all our calculations and form
an essential basis of all exchange. Cheating in measure and weight grows
less and less possible with this clear understanding of exact units. The
New York Legislature has defined the size of fruit packages, and the
Massachusetts poultry raisers ask a law requiring eggs to be sold by
weight.

_Metrical system._--If the whole world should unite on a single decimal
system of measures and weights, like that now used in most of Europe, all
would be gainers from the reduction of misunderstandings and
miscalculations increasing the cost of exchange. The difficulty of
adopting a new system arises chiefly from the absolute importance of any
system and the unconscious use of that to which people are already
accustomed, together with its application in a thousand unthought of ways
to every tool and every rule. That the advantage of a uniform decimal
system would more than balance the difficulty of change, no student of the
subject now doubts. Some have estimated the saving at nearly one-half of
the present clerk hire. Our government has already taken steps for such a
change, though years may be required to accomplish it.

_Standards of quality._--The machinery of exchange also involves standard
units of quality, but these must vary with every different kind of
commodity. Custom has given rise to all sorts of devices for expressing
degrees of fineness, strength and hardness, as well as more delicate
qualities of flavor and odor. Boards of Trade often establish offices of
inspection with brands upon grains, flour, butter, pork, etc., and these
become definite parts of a contract which the government rightly enforces.
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