Ellsworth American., 1874-07-02
miscellaneous. g
Small Vessels and Great Builders.

Small Vessels and Great Builders.
Preserved with commendable pride
by the people Of England, are severa
beautiful little models of ships thai
were constructed by King William " i.
long before he ascended the throne
He is often called England's "sailol
king" because be spent the best years
OF his life in active service in the navy
fhis country, entering as q midship.
man at thirteen years of age, and pass.
ing through its regular gradatlons to
the exalted position of Lord High Ad.
miral, which he did not reach till he
was past fifty; not very long before he
succeeded to the throne of England.
He was boy of earnest, practical
character and though the son of a
king, surrounded by the pomp of roy
atty, he was noted for his simple, un.
ostentatious habits.
While midshipman, on board his
frigate, he studied diligently, and pr.
formed with alacrity the duties as.
signed him and for recreation in his
leisure hours, he built model of the
ship in which he was sailing, and after
ward made several others.
The first one was something less
than four feet long; the second and
third, each about thirty.four inches !;
and all were beautifully executed,
showing that the boy-builder knew.
what he was about. and meant to ac-
complish his work to the best of his
ability. Every mast and ward was
whitfield out with as much care as if 1t
had belonged to real vessel each bit
Of canvas was cut and sewcd accord
ing to rule; and rigging, ratings, and
shrouds were as skillfuily disposed as
If the tiny craft had been expected
soon to "hoist anchor" and bear away
a living freight of men and women.
These models, built by England's
''sailor king" in his young boyhood,
are carefully preserved in the ROYAL
Polytechnic Institution of London,
where have often seen them, in COM
panv with quite variety of miniature
crafts Of different nations.
Another miniature model that have
often admired, is one built by the late
King Of Siam, who died about five
years ago.
When first met Prince Chau Fa
MOI. he was about thirty-five years of
age, the ''heir apparent" to the grand.
est Of oriental monarchies, and sur
rounded by pomp and luxury of every
kind. He lived in fine palace, had
aru bi tue Cen mlilions OF people who
live in that country, all who met him,
with the single exception of the king,
had TO do him reverence as their liege
lord. But though so rich and power
ful, he studied to improve his mind;
and to elevate the condition of his peo-
pie, he worked with his own hands
harder than did many Of his servants,
till his mind and character quite out
shone his wealth and rank. He stud
led astronomy, drawing, mathematics
and navigation, besides several Euro
pean languages. Nor did he spend all
his time with books; for his main de-
sign was not to gain the reputation of
scholar, but TO help the nation, over
whom he afterwards reigned, to be-
come wiser and better. SO he learned
how 10 make watches and clocks, by
taking several to pieces and putting
them together again, and then after
wards he taught some Of his servants
TO do the same. They succeeded 50
well, that now people in Siam do
not have to send TO Europe or Ameri-
ca for watches and clocks, as formerly,
but good timepieces, made BY natives,
can be bought there nearly as cheap
as in our own country. This good
prince also taught his people the use
of many Articles of furniture Of which
they knew nothing and provided the
doctors with foreign medicines and
surgical instruments, that are far bet
ter than those formerly used in the
country. But especially was his kind
heart touched with pity for the great
number of poor sailors who lost their
lives by making voyages in Chinese
junks,-which are very unwieldy ships,
-and he determined to introduce bet
ter vessels. But first he must make q
model, and learn shipbuilding himself,
in order to be able to teach others.
So he went bravely to work, and, with
his own hands, built beautiful little
barque, about four feet long. l have
often seen and handled this miniature
vessel, and both inside and out every
part was complete and beautifully ex-
ecuted. In the cabin we're state-rooms,
with their tiny berths all ready for pas
sengers in the saloon were sofas. ia
bles, and chairs even lamps and mir
rors and the stewards pantry had its
full complement Of ywell-stored clock
ers" and "cuddies." Ga deck, rigging,
sails, and anchors were all in "ship-
shape" and dainty little cspstan had
the bars in, and the cable about it,
ready to "haul up anchor" when the
command should be given.
This he afterwards took to pieces,
and explained all the parts to some of
his picked men, instructing them care
fully how everything was to be made,
first in miniature, and afterwards Of full
size, then how they were to be put TO-
gether, and real, working ships made.
The only remaining model shall
describe to you here, is one carefully
disposed in the large hall of our own
Patent Office, at Washington.
1t was the work of Abraham Lincoln.
our late President, and bears the date
of lS49, when the buil1er was known
mainly - q successful lawyer in his
Illinois home, and long before either
he or his countrymen had thought Of
his being called to guide the ship of
state. The little model is steamer,
about twenty inches in length. and it