St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-06-12
ROBERT FULTON.
An Interesting Incident from the Life Of
the Inventor of Steamboats,.

tleman whose memory was wonderful
for his age. for he was born during tn,
first ten years of the present century
''lnventions! You can't hit them al
ways right. It's like a lottery A mar
twenty years ago came to me with
something and offered me quarter
share in it for twenty-five dollars.
didn't think it was worth shucks.
Well, to-day that quarter interest
would be worth quarter of million
dollars. You see the inventive faculty
is one thing and the business talent to
work out inventions successfully some
thing else. A good many people have
the first, but very few the other.
There was my father and Robert Full
ton. It's family story. I dare say
it has been in print often and often,
but you can't wear out good thing.
You see, my father and Fulton were
quite intimate. Fulton was in the
habit of coming to see my father, and
having steamboat on the brain, he
probably talked my father, John Nc
Kesson, to death. 1t was always end
less chains or something or other. NV
father was a patient listener. and that's
talent. Cultivate it, young man.
One day during Office hours Fulton
came to see my father.
:. john said he. Il have. got it
sure. l can make her CO.
81 am too busy to listen to you now,
Fulton. tell you what you do. come
around to my house tonight.
~ can't, said Fulton. What want
to see you about is this: | must have
one thousand dollars
".Well, l haven't got it to give you.
But anyhow come to the house all the
same. You can take tea with us. Then
YOU can talk with me to ten o'clock at
night: then if you are not through |
shall go to sleep. always 30 to bed
at ten.
Fulton seemed to hesitate for a
while and ut last said he would come
Fulton did come round and took tea
with father. Fulton told him about the
paddle-wheel. Father thought that
paddle-whecl would never do. You
see. in those times they were cocksure
that the gNer used to lift up the water
by the wheel would about neutraliZe
the propelling force. Ha, ha. those
old fellows were smart. We always are
in our generation
Well father said. Robert Fulton,
your wheel is no good. 1t would never
work. You talk about making the boat
90 four miles an hour! That's an un-
heard-of speed. No. sir With wheel
on your boat shed stand stock STILL
Then Robert Fulton argued it out
with my father, and ten O'Clock came,
and father was getting sleepy. Just
then may be Fulton got more excited
or father more attentive, and it was
eleven o'clock and they were talking
over it still.
".It's time for you to 90 home
Robert. said my father. unless YOU
would like to have bed here. and YOU
might as well do that
".If ] do, answered Fulton. i
,nly adjourn the talk until tomorrow.
Tor You must get me the one thousand
lollarS.' Nav be Fulton button-holed
;ather before breakfast: anyhow. Full
On's persuasive powers overcame
ather's doubts. and he agreed that he
would do his best to raise the one thou
'and dollars for Fulton. Right after
breakfast father went out. and the first
man he met was Robert Lenox. See
lere. Mr.. Lenox. said father, 4 want
'ome money from you to help one of
rulton's schemes. You may not be-
ieve it ever will be done. but the man
aneies that he can make boat go
our miles an hour. think he intends
lsing steam. and wheel, or some
hing. | am going to let him have
me hundred dollars. Would YOU mind
putting down your name for the same
Jump
''It seems quite preposterous,' said |
'Ir. Lenox to my father. .and have no |
'eason to believe that Mr.. FultOn's |
,oat will ever accomplish what he |
links it will. Still. if your name is
lown. you may let him have one hum
lred dollars from me-
"'Then.' said my father. 4 will write
lown, Robert Lenox. one hundred
lollars.''
mo, no, answered Mr.. Lenox, Just
nut down the one hundred dollars with
10 name to it. because shouldn't like
he people who come after me to learn
hat was such a Ounce as to think
hat Fulton or anybody else ever could
make boat go with steam or wheels
our miles an hour
That's the story my father told
ne. See here" said the pleasant old
.'you never can exactly tell
that does come from an invention. l
,onder what Fulton would have to say
ould he learn how those rocks at He'll
iate had to be blown up because they
othered that fleet of steamers which
as to pass there every day. Eth? eh?"
nd the old gentleman gave here 4
lerry laugh. "Anyhow. Robert Full
On got his one thousand dollars. ~.
:. Times.
Customer Tin coffee and cake sa-
,oD: Waiter, bring me beef and
cans on separate plates; have the
eef cut thin and with the grain; the
cans brown on one side, and not too
OF: and cup of coffee, and don't let
ne coffee spill into the saucer" Wait
r: ..All right, sorr. Anything else?"
ustomer: "A glass of water" Waiter:
Do We. want the wather washed,
,rr?' Pittsburgh Chronicle.
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