Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-02-01
VOL. 6.---NO. %.
RESULTS or PRACTICAL SCHOOLING.

OF all schools the most prolific has been tho
school of difficulty. Smiles, in his admirable
work on ssSeif Help" says :-"Some If the
best workmen have had the most indifferent
tools to work with. But it is not tools that
make the workmen, but the trained skill and
perseverance OF the man himself. Indeed il
is proverba that a bad workman never yet
had good tools. Some asked Opie by
what wonderful process he mixed his colors.
Il mix them with my brains, SIR was his re-
ply. 1t is the same with every workman
who would excel. Ferguson made marvellous
things-such as his wooden clock that accu-
rately measured the hourS-by means of a COM
mon penknife, a tool in every body's hand; ; but
then everybody is not a Ferguson. An emf
nent foreign SGrant once called upon DIR. W OIL
laston, and requested to be shown over his
laborat ories, in which science had been en-
riched by so many important discoveries, when
the doctor took him into a little study, and
pointing TO an old tea-tray on the table, con-
tanning a few watch-g glasses, tesf-paperS, a
small balance, and bow-ppe said, That is
all the laboratory that l have! Stothard
learned the art of combining colors by closely
studying butterflies wings; he would often
say that no one knew what he owed to these
tiny insects. burnt stick and barn door
often served Wilkie in lieu Of pencil and can
vas. Bewick first practiced drawing on tho
cottage walls Of his native village, which he
covered With his sketches in chalk and Ben.
u
catis TAIL Ferguson laid himself down in the
field at night in blanket, and made a map OF
the heavenly bodies by means OF thread with
sma! beads on it stretched between his eyes
and the stars. Franklin first robbed the thun.
der-clond of its lightning by means of kito
made with two cross. sticks and a silk handker-
chief Watt made his first model Of the con-
densing steam engine ont OF an old anatomlst's
syringe, used TO inject the arteries previous to
dissection. Clifford, when cobbler's appren-
! tice, work ed his first problem in mathematics
upon small scraps of leather, which he beat
smooth for the purpose whilst Riitenhouse,
the astronomer, first calculated eciipses on his
piow- handle. In like mannor Professor Fara.
day (Sr Humphrey Davy's scientific success
sor) made his first experiments in electricity
| by means of an old bottle, while he was still
| working book binder. And it is a curious tact
that Faraday was first attracted TO the study OF
| chemistry by hearing ohe of Sir Humphrey
Davv's lectures on that subject at the Royal
| Institution. A Agenteman, who was member,
! calling one day ut the shop where Faraday was
employed in binding books, found him poring
| over the article ELECTRICITY in an encyclopse-
dia placed in his hands to bind. The gentle
man having made inquiries, found he Gu
rious about such subjects, and gave him an or
| der of admission to the Royal Institution.
| where he attended course of four lectures
delivered by Sir Humphrey. He took notes
| Of the lectures, which lie showed to the lectu-
rer, who acknowledged their scientific accura-
/ cy, and was surprised when informed OF the
| humble position of the reporter. Faraday
| then expressed his desire to devote himself to
| the prosecution of chemical Stndies, from
| which Sir Humphrey at first endeavored to
| dissuade him but the young man persisting,
| he was at length taken into the Royal 1nstitu-
| tion as All assistant; and eventually the man.
| tie OF the brilliant apothecary's boy fell upon
the worthy shoulders Of the equally brilliant
| cylinders apprentice.''