Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-03

Once upon q time rich man built school
for boys, in which they might study survey
Ing, engineering, mechanics and the sciences
one needs to know to be railroad man. This
man began life as train. boy. and steadily
pushed has way up % be fireman, engineer
ster,mechanic and fnally president OF
railroad. He often said his own chance In life
would have been better II he could have gone
to school when boy and learned from books
about steam and engines, levels. incHneS and
curves before he undertook to fire boiler or
take a locomotive over the road. So it hap
pened he built the school close to the repair
shops Of the road Of which he was president.
scnool, and then opened 1t, free. to the sons OF
the brakemen, conductors, engineers and other
men employed on the ltne In the school the
boys were to study the science OF the railroad
and locomotive, and then, If they afterward
went TO work on the road, they would not have
such hard time as the train-boy who became
president
Twice every year the president offered Wal
than watch as prize to the boy in the school
who should write the best composition On any
subject connected with the things they had
been studying, or anything in relation to en-
gines Or railroads. Tom Stay boltt, whose father
was conductor on the night express, hal oeen
times for the prize, and lost it every time: Tom
was regarded by all the scholars as the bright
est boy in the school. He suffered In his
81 eech, and his Handwriting was as stiff "a
switch-rod, yet he was always at the head of his
class. You could never trip him on any knot.y
questions as to whether the cylinders were on
knew the name and use OF every BIT Oh metal In
an engine, and 1t was believed by all the noys
that ne was good engineer, and could take his
fathers train right through to the Junction
without running past red light or wasting
steam on the down grades.
The semi-annuai prize had been annoua need,
ana nearly every BOY In the school was busy
"I-i-its no use, ID boys. shall not try for
the DIP prize. / can't write, and / never can
t-t-tell-ten what know. If they would give
d0fnp I fnJy I
SO get-get It
Tom was a great favorIte In the school, and
no. not one OF the boys laughed at this speech.
Iney were taught manners, as well as mechaD-
lcs 10 that school, and the boys wen knew that
what Tom said was true. They might write
compositions and get prizes bat when it came
70 To- gong tne Things, why, Tom Stayboltt would
The day Of the prize giving drew near, and
every poy save Tom was hard at work over his
time the teachers had said his composition wa 8
very bad indeed. with the wrong words aWk-
ware sentences, and punctuation that was
, h1Cyyo awful 4W Now It happened that the day
tive arrived on the railroad, and stood, without
wood or water. on the track of the repair shop
yafo. IL had been hauled up on the freight
Train, and had never been used on the road.
AFTER school number OF the boys went over to
the yard to see the new engine, and among
them was Tom Stay b0ltt.
1t vas first class passenger engine built for
nigh speed, and looking very handsome In its
new paint and shining brass work. There were
several men looking at The engine as the boys
might be said.
IAN empty engine" remarked one of the
men, always seems to me very helpless thing
1t is so big and heavy, IL Is Impossible 70 move
1t without steampower, and yet it viii not oniy
move ltseI, put 1t Will drag many times its
weight at 40 miles an hour over the line
ono d5 Is not the engine that moves said
water-the fuel and steam. II it were not for
me fire and water inside, 1t could never move
II can make her 60 without w-w-w-wood-
wood or WATER
This remark caused a laugh from the boys.
and even the men smiled at the absurd state
ment One man came over to where rom stood
and said. "Hew would you do that, my boY?"
" ..M rather F., n-n-not-not tell"
Because nm never tt-trie-tried it,
"On, you mean you think you could, but you
nave never proved your theory by experiment.
1-y.yes-yes, SIR"
ested 10 this conversation. for 1t was clear that
Tom Stay BOLT knew what he was talking
do you belong to the railroad SCHOOL,"
"Y-y-yes-yes SIR"
you mean to try for the prize, 1 suppose?"
NO, sir. My handwriting is as crooked as a
r-r-TamS h-h horn-ram'S hOrn.''
49, AFTER mat nothing more Of Importance was
said, and the BOYS, having looked over the en-
CINE to their hearts content, went home.
was marched into the lecture room OF the
school building to see the prize watch given ry
the president TO the boy VINO had written the
together with the fathers and mothers of the
boys, visitors. and people connected with the
railroad. The prize giving was regarded as a
from eDgine-w1pers to directors, wanted to be
oA hand TO see whose son carried or the prize.
AT 1915, railroad time, the president and the
honorable directors, with their wives and
marched IA
platform, while all the boys stood up as mat.
ter OF respect to the founder OF the school, Il
was VAS, altogetner quite grand and ceremontous
casion. When the directors and ladies were
seated, the boys sat down. Then there was
speech from The head-master. followed by one
Wife. Then 1t came the presidents turn to give
out the prizes. All the compositions, neatly
when he stood up he brushed them ali one side.
as II ne did not care much for compositions.
HIS speecs was short and very PECULIAR
sond Lao1es anu gentlemen, and boys OF the
ions, and, while think they are all excellent.
nave decided that this time the chance to win
WTe sna re open to those who did not
!, rms was great surprise, and the boys won.
dered how this was TO be done. They knew the
plesi9ent was just and honorable man, and
be said In silence, though those who had written
the compositions were, Of course, somewhat
disappointed.
Yesterday continued the president. az
heard one Of the boys say he could run a loco
motive engine without wood or water. n he
present?" UAo wy
There was solemn hush In the room. Every
one looked about, and wondered il the autia
clous and foolish boy was there OF Course II
could not De done, and the president had taken
tnlS means TO punish him for his vain and IDLE
Doast1Dg. AS for Tom StaybO he felt ready
to s1nk through the floor. Something must be
dOLe ABOUT IL, and1n moment he $1,000 up
and said, IN clear, manly voice.
Il said so. sir; and II you will give me the
engine, and Jerry Smiths Mogul, iii do It -
The sudden appearance Of little Tom Stay
DlOtt, pale and yet calm, and the clear voice
W1thOuI defect, caused great sensation and
every one turned in wonder to look at MIN,
Some OF the ladies wanted to know what the
coy meant by Jerry Smiths Mogul," and the
gentlemen With them explained that it was
heavy Height engine OF the '.Mog ul' pattern
run by j. Smith.
The president called Tom up to the platform,
and for moment or TWO there was whis.
pered conversation between Tom, the head
master OF the school and the president. Every
one looked on with the greatest interest, and
wondered what would happen next. Tom
scented TO have convinced the two gentlemen
that he knew exactly what he was talking
about. for the president smiled and shook Tom
by the hand, and then stood up and said to an
the people: ~ -'
when heard Master Stay bolt say yesterday
afternoon he could run the engine. resolved
10 give MIN chance. l therefore ordered a