The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-07

attnns There was a circular railway
and switch with tiny signal hshts anu
fags Nake-belieye TOY tralnmeh IL u'',
forms stood about ready 10 OBEY -, md
and assist imaginary pdSseh5ei' O
on the trains. 3, ..ho ,iap,
In the center OF all this hecl,''aI,1t,a
was a large picture on an eaSs ,l,,,a T.,
subject of the painting was q sCeiT. - -
an oId-time Scotch kitchen, The Cehttd
figure was a man sitting at tdDle ca.
ing a bowl OF pOrrtige. WOMAN 81
near drinking a cup OF tea. Inc tii,.u
figure at the table was young lai 30
ing with the lid Of tea-keItIe.
came interested in the picture, aud TOT
the moment the bagpipe music c0lnli5
from the band OF Highland min5tIIets ,,
the laughter and chatter of the chhuIslls
on the merry -go-round, the groups OF
peasants in kilt and tartan. ana even
the Interesting toy world before M tadtd
away / stood in the Old Watt Kitchen.
1t was the mother who spoke:
IL never saw sucn an lille boy as
YOU are. James. Take book or employ
Yourself more usefully: for the last
hour you have not spoken one Word or
done thing except taking Ell the ia 81
that tea-kettle and putting It on asaih
holding now a cup. now spoon over tte
steam, watching how it rises from the
spout catching and counting the uroP9
into which II talls.'
How little did the good lady think as
she spoke TO the little idle boy that her
a.
How little did she think that her scHly
child was destined from that moment
TO revOluiioHi2e the world. Yes ths ht-
tie sickiy boy born in what would 20"
be called GreenOck Stun street. was
to become the man who 50 improved lhe
steam engine that he is sometimes
known as its Inventor.
Later in the day / visited the spot
where little James was born. The old
house has long since been removed. For
a number Of years the James Watt Tdv-
eTH occupied It's site, but -, too, IdS
been demolished and the grounds are
now fenced in by old railway sireDers.
AS | said before, little James Watt
during his youth was a very siclJy child;
His health was 50 poor that n couid
not attend school. But he always show
ed fondness for learning ana taught
himself at home, and his weakness seem
cd 20 make him porsevere In his quiet
occupation. He chiefly took interest In
geometry.
one day a visitor called and finding
the boy, as he thought, ScraWhnG ran
dom lines over the hearthstOne with q
piece Of clay, sand il would be better for
him 10 be at school than TO be tding his
time thus. This time his father inter
fcred and spoke in his behalf:
But look what be IS about before
You condemn him" Toe friend then
found that the future engineer was btsJ
TRYING TO solve hard geomeirical pro-
b!=u.
But mathematics was not his only
study. His inqUiring mind was fond or
watching and trying TO understand n3tur-
al wonders, such az, Tor instance, lhe
newer Of steam. His toys. too, were
more than playthings 10 him. lie uEed
10 see how they were made, and many
were the reprpofs James got ior expert
meuting with them, as he frequently
broke them bV taking them auart NeF-
ertheIess ne generally managed 10 put
them together. and often IN way thdt
was an Improvement on the original
A set OF tools given him by his father
occupied him many an hour, ana numer-
Gus we're the toys he made. one being
an electrical machine. Nor vas the
box selfish. for many Were the gifts TO
his playmates Of wonderful toys; Thus
he learned TO work with his hands. ana
this no less than his other knowledge
helped him greatly IN his wonderful ~
Ventions. Little James was also very
pleasant playfeLoW, ana pos fsSrd mat
fine trait Of character indispensable to
all boys who would be really great men,
namely, truthfuneSs.
So truthful was he that whenever his
father wished 10 lind out the cause Of
the boys quarrels he would say; Let
James speak. He always tells me the
So Watts boyhood passed, and in his
youth is seen the foundations Of that
wide scientific knowledge, perseverance
and industry which brought him such
great success in after lie.
At last the time came Tor him TO earn
his own living. His natural love or me
chanics decided his career, and When, but
eighteen years OF age he went TO London
In search Of situation. For weeks ne
walked the streets but with no success.
No one seemed to think the raw scotch
boy would be of any use. At last hlS
money was all gone, and the boy found
himself without food or friends I'm the
great lonely city.
He was about TO rctrace his steps and
beg his way back 80 his old Scotch town
when he passed mathematical inSiTn-
ment makers shOD. Here was one more
chance. Should he try? No, il would be
useless. He would only have 10 suffer the
modification OF another refusal
As he stood hesitaIiGg a young man Of
his own axe stepped TO the door. Evil
IDENTIFY from his dress he WAS an appfen-
tice boy. Watt addressed him. and was
soon shown TO the proprietor, Who at
once employed him.
There ne stayed a year learning 70
make SUCH instruments as compaSseS,
parallel rulers, etc. NJ the end OF the
year his health gave way. and ne was
Obliged 10 return 10 Scotland.
When he resaI.ed his health he resol-
Ncd 10 start ii business in Glasgow
1T was some time before he succeeded
IN doing So but at last he was helped
by the authorities Of the university
who appoined bin mathematical instru-
ment maker to the university, ana gave
him the use of rooms in he building
Here he worked hard for six years
Although with all hts work. he could
scarcely make a living, still the time
So spent was IN some ways very hap
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