Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-02-09
AnInrentor,. Pluck.

whose later wears were destined tC
be of as great service to humanity
as Stephenson or Fulton. His pa
rents were people in poor and hum
BILE circumstances, and as their son
arrived at suitable age, they ap-
prenticed him to a barber.
From all that is known of him at
the present day, Dick Arkwright
showed no remarkable talents in his
youth. In due time he possessed a
shop of his own, and married.
By degrees Richard Arkwright
began to be interested in machinery
and mechanical Improvements. This
increased until it amounted to al
most mania.
Living as he did among so many
cotton mills, his talent now natural
ly turned in this direction. What
struck him particularly was the slow
and tedious manner of spinning the
fbres.
He began to experiment with the
determination of producing an IN
vention which would render the Ia
Dor of producing easier.
Only those who have ever puzzled
their brains with mechanical move
ments, can conceive of the trials
which awaited him.
The income from his business had
supplied him with a comfortable
living; but all this was soon changed.
His frequent absence. from his
shop annoyed his customers, who be-
gan gradually to leave him. More
than this, his expenses for necessary
models, ETC., proved a constant drain
upon his purse.
He at length moved to Warning
ton at the age of thirty-six, and with
the balance of his funds busted him
self constantly with his project.
Here he found sympathetic
friend and counselor in John Kay, a
matchmaker in the place.
Several times success seemed al
most within his grasp, when some
unforeseen mistake caused him to
begin anew.
aBy degrees he became involved
hopelessly in debt. His creditors
began to grow clamorous for their
money, and his wife begged and en-
treated him to give up what she con
sidered was foolish idea, and which
she knew was running them.
Throughout all his trials the in
ventor steadily persevered. The
machine which was to revolutionize
the world was set up in his own
house.
One by one every obstacle was
overcome and surmounted, and at
last he began to see the fruition of
all his hopes. Still he said never a
word to his wife.
She had sneered and derided his
efforts so often that he intended to
overwhelm her with his success.
The last screw had been adjusted,
the last bolt frightened, and the ma
chine, the fruit of many years toll,
stood complete before him.
1t was with trembling hands that
he locked himself up with his secret |
and set it in motion. A moment
only of suspense, and then, like a
creature of life, the intricate machin-
cry began its revolutions.
A cry of JOY escaped him as he
saw that his aim had been accom-
plished. All that now remained was
to secure patent upon it, and his
fame and fortune were secured.
His face was pale with excitement
as he dashed out of the room, passed |
his amazed wife, and rushed bare
headed into the street.
eLord have merey-he's going
mad!" exclaimed his wife, in terror,
as she watched him disappear around
the corner.
''It's all along of that machine of
his, said compassionate neighbor.
eff he was my husband, know what
I'd do"
"What?" asked the woman, eager
ly, for she had left no means untried,
as she supposed.
"Well, I'd smash that concern to
smithereens. If he once gets that |
plaguey idea out OF his head, he may
come to his senses"
Mrs. Arkwught returned to her
rooms with a thoughtful face. There |
stood the machine that had cost her
husband so many days of constant |
toll. She had seen it fail of its pur-
pose many times, until it's insatiate |
wants had eaten up their substance
and left them penniless.
Should it continue to remain there,
grim and defiant, until it robbed her
husband of his senses?
The thought reused her to. fury.
A heavy sledge-hammer lay upon
the floor. Seized with an irresistible
impulse, she snatched it up.
Blow after blow she rained down
upon the inanimate machinery, until
it lay before her a shapeless mass of
wood and iron.
At that instant footsteps were
heard ascending the stairs.
Meanwhile, her husband, who had
rushed into the open air to cool his
fevered blood and quiet his excited
nerves, had met with an adventure.
He had not proceeded half square
before he was met by one of his
creditors and a sheriff.
"Morning, Mr.. Arkwright," said
the creditor, who was a wealthy
man. ''Pve come to have that little
bill settled"
Arkwright groaned.
''The little BILL" as he termed it,
1r,oe Arluri orht,O booviac dabt and ]