Middletown transcript., 1874-06-27

than those formerly used in the country
But especially was his kind heart touched
with pity for the great number of poor sail
ors who lost their lives by making voyages
in Chinese junks,-which are very un-
wieldy ships, he determined to intro
duce better vessels. But first he must
make 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. I have Of
ten seen and handled this miniature ves-
sci, and both inside and out every part
was complete and beautifully executed -
In the cabin were state-rooms, with their
tiny berths all ready for passengers in
the saloon were sofas, tables, and chairs
even lamps and mirrors and the steward s
pantry had its full complement of we'll
stored =" lockers" and "cuddies" On
deck, rigging, sails, and anchors were all
in " ship-shape," and dainty little cap
stan had the bars in. and the sscable 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 carefully
how everything was to be made, first in
miniature, and afterwards in full size,
then how they were to be put together,
aud real, working ships made
The only remaining model shall de-
scribe to you here, is one carefully dis
posed 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
1919, when the builder was known mainly
as a successful lawyer in his Illinois home,
and long before either he or his country
men thought of his being called to guide
the ship of state. The little model is a
steamer, about twenty inches in length,
and it looks as if whitfield with common
jack knife, out of few shingles, or such
boards ms are used for cigar boxes. I'm
like the numerous well-6nished models
that surround it, this unpretentious little
craft contains no superhuous ornament
but by the very simplicity of its construc-
ton arrests the attention of every visitor,
seeming thus to imply utility of design
rather than the display of skillful work or
costly material.
A portion Of the life of Abraham Lin
coin had been spent as fatboatman on
the Mississippi river, where he became
familiar with the dangers and difficulties
attendant on the navigation of Western
rivers, so beset with sDags and shoals. -
So, with the prudent thong char
acteristic of his later career, the young
lawyer set himself, in bis intervals Of lei
sure, to study out some easy method of
transporting vessels over the dangerous
distractions.
This quaint little model is the embodi-
ment of his invention. 1t contains a sort
of bellows, placed ON each side of the hull,
just below the water line, and designed to
be so worked by valves and pullcys that,
as the bellows became inflated with air,
the ship would be buoyed up and foatsd
lightly over the shoals lying in its path
way The builder of this curious looking
little craft having thus clearly embodied
his design, added nothing in the way of
embellishment, but forwarded his work,
uncomplicated by single unnecessary
rope or pulley, to the proper authorities at
Washington. He obtained patent, and
his rough model of steamboat was as
signed place among the countless treas
ures and manifold wonders of the great
national museum, the Patent Office
Fanny Roper Feudge, in 81. Nicholas for
July.