Although the great bulk of D.'s works are composed of plays, and although these are, for the most part, devoid of character, feeble in sentiment, false to all external nature, and exaggerated in expression, he remains one of the prime glories of English literature. His Satires and his Fables are masterpieces. In these, he is almost always masculine and natural, and his versification flows on broad, deep, and majestic. Nor is it only as a poet that he excels; his prefaces and Essays on Dramatic Poesy prove him to be a master of "that other harmony of prose." His works in 18 vols. were edited by Scott.
The ordinary process of drying clothes and fabrics by expo sure in the open air, has been found too tedious for the bleacher, dyer, and for large laundry establishments; and hot-air chambers have been extensively used; but a great improvement has been lately made by using the principle of centrifugal force to throw off the greater part of the moisture. The drying-machine commonly used consists of two drums or cylinders open at the top, the inner one, into which the goods are packed, is perforated at its sides, and made to revolve with great velocity either by steam, water, or hand-power. The action of the drying-machine is precisely the same in principle as that witnessed when the housemaid is trundling a mop, or of the dog when he shakes himself on coming out of the water. The use of the outer cylinder is merely to catch
the drops of water thrown out, and prevent the inconvenience that would result from its distribution through the apartment. A pipe connected with this outer drum carries the water away. The drying is not, however, quite completed by such machines; a very slight degree of moisture, just perceptible to the touch if the goods are pressed against the cheek, still remains. This is expelled by open-air or hot-chamber drying. These drying-machines are commonly called " extractors" by dyers. A simpler and cheaper drying-machine has been lately introduced for domestic use. It consists of two rollers mounted parallel, and one above the other, with an adjustment to vary the dis tances between them. One end of the article to be dried is inserted between the rollers, which are then brought as close as possible together, and one roller is turned by a handle, the other, being free to revolve, turns also as the clothes pass between them— the moisture in this case being extracted by pressure, as in the common process of " wringing."