The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-02-10
PROFESSOR sARADAY.
BY JAMES PARTON.

One day, about the year 1872, a
c 1t lin Mr.. Dance, a gentleman who
employed much of his leisure in scie1-
t.fic pursuits, went to bookbinder's
shop in London to see about having
some looks bound. Ribaud was the
bookbinder's name, and Mr.. Dance
was one of his regular customers.
While they were conversing together,
he attention OF Mr. Dance was drawn
o an electrical machine, and other
hi.osophical apparatus, not usually
oUnd i'll the establishment of a book
nnder. Mr.. RiGaud remarked, by
yay of explanation, Ifrat this appara-
us had all leen made by apprentice
o. his, Michael Faraday, by name, the
IN of a blacksmith in very humble
circumstances
The curiosity of Mr.. Dance was
cused. He sought the acquaintance
# this youth, and discovered at once
hat, under a rustic exterior, he con-
,ealed an intelligent and gifted mind,
With decided bent towards science.
There was then, and is still, in Lon
Ion, an association of men Of science,
called the Royal Institution, which
Employed professors and maintained
course of scientific lectures. Mr.
Dance was a member OF this society,
md he invited young Faraday to go
With him and the last four lectures OF
course which Sir Humphrey Davy
vas just completing. The young man
gladly accepted the kind offer, After
being conducted past the door-keeper
~ Mr.. Dance, the apprentice took
modest seat in the gallery, where he
attended closely to the lectures, and
ook notes of them, which notes he
afterwards wrote out and expanded.
This, occurrence had its natural et-
feet of increasing his taste for the
sciences and especially for the branch
IS, Chemistry and electricity in the
investigation of which Davy had won
much distinction. The book bind
er's apprentice was probably aware
that Sir Humphrey Davy himself was
he son OF poor widow, who kept
nilliner's shop in Cornwall, and that
he had struggled up to his present
position through the difficulties which
usually beset the upward path of geni
is and poverty. Longing for similar
career with the yearning of disinterest-
ed love, and feeling that he mad it in
him to accomplish something in sci
ence, he took courage, in his twenty
second year, to write to Sir i'umphI ey,
known his desires to him
and with his letter he sent the notes
he had formerly taken of Davy's four
lectures. Sir Humphrey answered
promptly. He complimented the in
telligence of his correspondent, but
adv sed him not to give up
the solid and certain advantages of his
trade for profession which yielded to
its most successful votaries little ex-
ccpt barren glory.
s'Science," wrote Davy, "is harsh
mistress, and, in pecuniary point of
view, but poorly rewards those who
devote themselves to her service"
Sir Humphrey informed him, how
ever, in conclusion, that, if upon fur
ther reflection, he still desired to de-
vote his his life to science, he would
bear his wishes in mind, and endeavor
in some way to promote their gratide
alton. The young mans purpose re-
mained mistaken, and the philosopher
kept his word. Before many weeks
had elapsed he was engaged by SIR
Humphrey as Kind of secretary.
chemical assistant, and faetotum, at
stipend which tradition reports TO have
been forty pounds year and his board.
He soon had the great pleasure of ac-
companying Sir Humphrey Davy to
the continent upon that scientific tour
which was made famous, at the time,
by Napoleon having given these Eng.
lfshmen passports, in the interests of
science, while waging war against
Eng and. They remained abroad for
two years, spending much Of their
time in Italy analyzipg the colors and
in 8 Of Pompeian scrolls.
u .on the return of Sir Humphrey
to England he pro cured for Faraday