The Press., 1892-12-01
LONDON,


 Shorts Cutoff was so simple that it puzzled everybody.
 consulted half dozen eminent en- gineers.
 "Very pretty, indeedr' they said, and at once turned the conversation to the explosions on western rivers. "Had ever been blown up2 How did it feel?' But as to Shorts Cutoff, they only thought it neat contrivance, but evi- dently by person who did not compre- bend intricate machinery.
 took it to man of another order England is the worlds machine shop; he was England's chief engineer. A great man he was, dead, alas! now. A free man, who recognized the world as his country and genius everywhere as his brother.
 He understood Shorts Cutoff at a glance. ..
 How wish old Short could have been there, to see this great mans eye glow with enthusiasm, as he said: "Admi. rablel This is What we have all been waiting for. Padiham must see this We must have it in every engine in Eng land. Command my services to aid in making it known"
 'tCan you recommend me-" said |, presently, 'a thorough mechanic. want some more models made of these valves and machinery, to illustrate their action."
 "You must go to Padiham, the best artisan know in all England" H--. L | whom you name best among these mil. lions of craftsmen"
 "Padiham is the man."
 "He ought to have name and fame" He might if he chose"
 "Worth knowing. again, for this rare abnegation."
 He is an oddity. Some unlucky mode of life stunted him, mind and body, until he was mature man. He is dwarfed in person, and fancies his mind suffers too. It makes him q little gruf to feel that he is a man of tools and not of principles-a mechanic, not q philosopher. There is nothing of nor bidness or disappointment in him. Only he undertakes himself and fancies his powers blunted by his deformity. He keeps out of the way and works alone in 8 little shop. He will only do special jobs for me and one or two others. He says he would be our equal if he were full grown. We deem him our peer and treat him as such; but he will not come out and take the place he could have at once before the world. thought of him and wished him to see this Cutoff as soon as you showed it to me. You must tell him sent you, or he may be surly at first, and so drive you away. or per haps refuse to do your work"
 ''I think can make my way with such a person, but if not, will use your name. Where is he to be foundY" "This is his address. An out of che way place, you see, if you know London. A by-street on the Surrey side of the Thames. He is well to. do. but lives there for 8 special economy. He has a method of charity which is like himself thoroughly original More: good he does in his odd way than any man know. He owns the whole house over the shop and uses it as q private hospital or hospice for poor but worthy sick and broken down people,"
 His own dwarishness makes him sympathetic" **
 had some little difficulty in finding Padiham's retiring place. had already dissected it out on the map, identified it by its neighborhood to a certain artery and its closer neighborhood to certain ganglion. It was Lamely court, quiet retreat In a busy region. 1t looked. ip- deed. as if 1t had never taken 2 very active part tp ths world, or as if, when it offered itself to hustle and traffic, more enterprising localities had hustled it aside and bade it decline into a lethay- gy. The withered brick houses had the air and visage of people who have seen