New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-17
THE PARENT or REVOLUTIONS.

born in Massachusetts IN 100. Al very carry aRo Nv
exhibited evidences Of the high mechanical genius
which subsequently made his name immortal. At
twelve years old be constructed violin which, by all
who examined it, was pronounced remarkable piece
of workmanship, no. only from the mechanical skill It
displayed, but from the excellence OF the music pro-
ducsd. Boy as he was, it brought him many )oosa az
making aud repairing similar Instruments DIS success
exciting the astonishnent Of his customers. On one
OCCASION feignng sickness he remained at home from
church. and occupied the morning by taking his fathers
watch to pieces for which feat he had long been seek
ing an opportunity. Alarmed at his tomerty. and
at the consequences Of his rasness if the deed should
he discovered he Immediately PIT the works together
no neatly that his father never discovered what he had
done until told Of it by the years afterward.
At thirteen he manufactured superior abeknifes for
his mother, identical with the imported article, tho
stamp on the blades alone excepted. AT sixteen no
suggested to his father the enterprise OF manu.
featuring cut nails by machinery They were then
made by hand, the Revolutionary War raging, ana
nails commanded high price. His father consented.
and the Young inventor went resoluely to work, suf'
ferno nothing TO divert him from bis task until lie had
made the tools by which the new manufacture was to
be carried on These completed he worked industri-
ously at nail-makng for two Winters, his Summers be-
ing occupied in labor on his fathers farm The enter.
prise was highly profitable until the war closed He
then manufactured the long pins which were at THAI
time extensively used by ladies for fastening on their
bonnets; and though he devoted 70 this employmens
only the time which he could spare from the labors Of
the farm yet his skill and quckness in producing them
was 80 great that be monopOlzed nearly the entire
business This remarkable aptitude for every mechar
ical employment which Whitney thus exhibited w1
undoubtedly assisted and developed by the use Of many
tools in the Workshop attached TO bis fathers house, 70
which, from early boyhood, he had free access Tins
chop contained lathe, and tools for making chsrs'
Here the boy spent all his spare time, preferrns
out.ofdoor employment or recreation.
At nineteen, another phase Of the genuine Yankee
DEVELOPED itself he conceived strong desire TO oo-
tain liberal education. But hs step-moher strongly
opposed his Wishes and il not until he wastweny'
three years age that his father consented AT length.
having saved the svss Of his labor, and his earnings
| as village scboolmaster he overcame all obstacles
and entered Yale. He paid the whole expenses Of hia
education and left with the usual honors. But, while
at college, his great mechanical ingenuity and skill
were occasionally exhibited bis repairing and improve
ing the philosophical apparatus belonging to the nst'
uton which otherwise must be sent abroad TO be re-
paired. Leaving college, he accepted an engagements
a. private teacher in the family OF gentleman residing
in Georgia. This was in the autumn Of 1872, when he
had reached bis twenty-seventh year. On his wayto
Georgia be was fortunate enough to meet with Mrs.
Greene the widow of General Nathaniel Greene who
was returning to Savannah with her family. Whit.
news acquaintance with this lady of the moss
happy circumstances of bis life. She generous
hosptable and wealthy. She belonged to the highest
class of society and the distinguished character Of her
heroic husband made her house the resort lot only OF
his surviving companions in arms but Of the great civil
dignitaries of the time. On reaching Georgia the IN
expected disappointment met Whitney OF finding that
Lis place was filed; his employer had engaged another
teacher and he left among strangers wihouteithe
resources or friends In this painful strait the noble
ness Of Mrs. Greenes character became conspicuous
She invited Whitney to make her house his home there
to pursue his contemplated study Of the law until hs
could be admitted to the bar, and he gladly accepted
| the invitation.
This delightful membership in Mrs. Greene's family
NAV be pronounced the turning point in Whitneys
life. Here be met the beet society Of the time, and
found cougeuial spirit in Mr.. Phineas Miller, also
graduate of Yale teacher in the family and subse
queny the husband OF Mrs. Greene. Whitney gen.
tie. aiabe, and polished manners, combined with
strong sense and fine education, made him afavorne
with all whom he met Mr.. Greene was carefal 10
introduce him TO her guests, and all proper occa-
sious 10 bring him prominently to their notice. Being
nj one time engaged at piece Of embroidery, her tam
bour frame was found to be badly constructed asta
destroy the delicate fabric she YVES working Com.
planning of il to Whitney, he examined it, and the oo
mechanical faculty Of his fertile mind Immediately 'ae'
gested the necessary Improvement. lie lad asoe Wv
old Frame and constructed entirely new one, wooss
completeness so charmed bis hostess tina, che exhos'
aud commended il to all her female friends Inns i''
incident triang as it may now appear, was inc ,0'
runner of the great invention which was soon :" S'
In fact It led directly to it's production ,.-
Shortly after its occurrence, large par! $50
men from various parts Of Georgia, cohsH'ins p.
pally Of officers who had served under Gen' o'0s
paid visit to his widow In the course OF .n' w.
OH one occasion the conversation turned 70 'no w..
ton of the country, and especially OF its as'i0
TIE whole interior Of the South was langu'snne'
inhabitants were emgrating for want Of some oc|eo'~
engage their attention and employ their inau'"!.
Slavery instead of being profitable or desiraoe' w."
n burden ON the owners. Multitudes OF PAn's''
ysr, overwhelmed with debt, while thoussncs "e''
depressed with poverty or sunk in idleness Inv We
had added greatly TO this prevailing restitution
were no exportable products but rice ana 'nasS'
and rice lands were not everywhere TO DO pa''.'
I'm, cotton could bo raised successfully while ,ne'
was No ui, 70 the surface on which il might oe P'Su'
ed. Though none Of the States, only % rev yeA"
fore had exported more than one bag shnuai', -
foreign market existed for al that couiu "
drcoJ II, was thus concluded that the ooo'"
$500 tho climate. the labor, the iand s"u
skiIl wberewith to supply Europe, but thai a.. s.
.a..J unavoidable for want Of ready means !" Nv