Working With A Purpose 37 
     
    
   
   
    
     were not always content with doing the regular repair jobs, but were 
     
     sometimes noted for designing and improving the farm machinery of the 
     
     day. 
     
    
   
   
    
     A notice in a local paper dated June 2’, 1893 states: “The plough 
     
     manufactured by Mr. Thomas Condon of Wilnot that was exhibited at the 
     
     last exhibition has been pronounced by cormetent judges to far exceed 
     
     anything ever before shown in Prince County” 
     
    
   
   
    
     Shoeing horses was another important part of the blacksmith’s work. 
     
     In summer the farm horses working on the sot ground did not need shoes, 
     
     but one horse was usually kept well-shod for lriving. With the coming of 
     
     winter and icy roads, the shoes had to be renoved and the feet trimmed. 
     
     Then the shoes, newly sharpened and calked, were nailed back on. Most 
     
     horses accepted the whole procedure quite camly but the smithie’s work 
     
     became more difficult when he had to contend vith a nervous or bad horse. 
     
     At such times he called for extra helpers and :pecial slings and ropes were 
     
     used before the shoes could be fitted and nailedon. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The old-time blacksmith shops, complet: with horses, are no longer 
     
     common sights, but a visit to one such shop that has been restored as a 
     
     tourist attraction is an interesting experience. Not too often can one be 
     
     found “under a spreading chestnut tree", nor a blacksmith with the “large 
     
     and sinewy hands” of long ago. He is more oftcn a college student who has 
     
     been trained in iron work and can turn out neat little horseshoes and 
     
     fireplace irons to sell as souvenirs. He is pleasant and courteous but 
     
     something is lacking; no grimy smoke blackenel face with rivulets of sweat 
     
     leaving clean lines behind them; no heavy leither apron, dampened by 
     
     the sweat of steaming horses excited over the ordeal of having their feet 
     
     trimmed and fitted; and no gruffy warning to “stand back” as he prepares 
     
     to strike the red hot iron with his heavy hammer sending a shower of sparks 
     
     into the air. 
     
    
   
   
    
     There are no hefty farm horses tied to tie fence posts waiting their 
     
     turn at the forge. The mound of glowing coals n the fire-place, ready to be 
     
     revived by the hand-operated bellows, is missing as is also the large wooden 
     
     puncheon full of murky water waiting to send u) a spurt of steam when the 
     
     red hot iron is plunged into it. Why, even the hose smell has vanished along 
     
     with the pile of hoof trimmings and other eviderce of horse occupation. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The blacksmith of today finds most of his work at the race track, the 
     
     riding academy or at the stables of the racing fraternity. His portable equip- 
     
     ment includes: hammer, rasp, hoof cutters, pullcrs, clinchers, foot level and 
     
     dividers, while the partly fitted shoes are usuallypurchased from a supplier.