Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-07-12
MISCELLANY.
Find out the Talent of Boys.

How greatly do parents and preceptors
err in mistaking for mischiefor wanton idle
ness, all the little maneuvres of young per-
sons, which are frequently practical ,inqui-
ries to confirm or refute doubts passing in
their minds. When the aunt of James
Watt reproved the boy for his idleness, and
desired him to take book, or employ him
self to some purpose usefully, and not to be
taking off the lid of the kettle and putting
1t on again, and holding now a cup and now
silver spoon over the steam, how little
was she aware that he was investigating a
problem which was to lead to the greatest
of human inventions. 1t has been SAID that
we are indebted for the important inven
ton in the steam engine termed hand-gear,
by which its valves or cocks are worked
by the machine itself to an idle boy of the
name of Humphrey Potter, who being en-
ployed to stop and open valve, saw that
he could save himself the trouble of atten-
ding and watching 1t by fixing a plug upon
part of the machine which came to the
place at the proper times, IN consequence
of the general movement. If this anec-
dote be true, what does it prove? That
Humphrey Potter might be very idle, but
that he was. at the same time very ingPn-
ous. 1t was a contrivance, not the result
of mere accident, but Of some observation
and successful experiment.
The father Of Eli Whitney, on his return
from a journey which necessarily compelled
hun to absent himself from home for sevei-
al days, inquired, as was his usual custom,
into the occupations of his sons during his
absence. He received good account of
all of them except Eli, who the housekeep-
er reluctantly confessed, had been engaged
in making fiddle. "Alas p said the faith
er, with sigh and ominous shake of the
head, II fear that Eli will have some day
to take his portion out in iddles." To
have anything 10 do about fiddle, beto
kened, the father thought, to engage in
mere trihes. How little aware was the
father that this simple occupation, far from
being altogether mere fddle-faddle, was
the drawing forth of an inventive genius to
be ranked among the most effective and
useful in respect to arts and manufactures.
1t is related Of Chantry, the celebrated
sculptor, that when boy he was observed
by gentleman at Sheffield, very atten-
lively engaged in cutting stick with a
penknife. He asked the lad what he was
doing. Il am cutting old Fox's head. .
Fox was the sChoomaster of the village.
On this the gentleman asked to see what
he had done, pronounced it excellent and
presented the youth with sixpence.-
How many would have at once character
lied the occupation Of the boy as mis-
chievous or idle one, losing sight, for the
time, of that which every parent should
know how to put into use, "Neyer depise
small beginnings"
Of Edward Malbone, the painter, 1t is
said the ''interyals of his school hours
were filed by indetatigable industry in ma
king experiments, and endeavoring to make
discoveries" One Of his greatest delights
was found in blowing bubbles, for the pleas
ure of admiring the fne colors they dis
played. Thus, it appears, that even the
soap bubbles amusement, idle as some think
it to be, may have not little to do towards
leading the young artistic mind to discrimi-
nate nicely between delicate shades of col
ors.
The first panels on which William Etty,
an English painter, drew, were the boards
Of his fathers shop floor; and his first cray
Oh farthings worth Of white chalk-a
substance considered nowadays almost in
variably omnous of mischief doing in the
hands OF boy. especially on the opening
day of the month Of April, Now, what
does the motherof "litlle Willie" do, on
discovering the nicely swept floor disfg-
ured with chalk lines OF course she
scolds, and calls him a mschievous little
fellow No; this is not the course the sem
sible mother pursues. In an autobiography
ical letter addressed TO a relative, ETY.,
speaking OF this circumstance in his youth
ful life, says: MY pleasure amounted to
ecstacy, when my mother promised, next
morning, if were good boy, should
use some colors, mixed with gum-water -
| was so pleased | could scarcely sleep"
The family tradition says Of Edward
Bird, that be would at three or four years
of age, stand on a stool, chalk outlines on
the furniture, and say, with childish glee,
"Wel done, little Neddy Bird " Even at
the dawn he would be up 10 draw figures
on the walls, which he called French and
English soldiers. No doubt the question
often engaged the attention of his parents,
as to how little Neddy should be broken OF
the habikof skctching SO much on almost