New-York tribune., 1907-09-22
BoY6ood Of James Sg,aff.

One hundred and fifty years ago. in Scotland,
At Greenoclk on the Clyde, there lived a delicate
little boy who could not 60 to school regularly.
nor join in the sports Of other children. and for
whom his schoolnaates are said to have had
very little respect. other people often thought
him idle and his aunt once said that she never
saw such an idle boy. This was because he had
sat in absolute silence for an hour taking off
the lid Of the tea kettle and putting it again,
holding now a cup and now silver spoon over
the steam and catching the drops Of hot water
into which il condensed.
When the little boy grew up. however. the
world came to have so much respect for him
that il has never been able 10 forget him. and
if it had not been for him there might have
been Fulton celebration at jamestown, this
week. For the boy was James Watt. and it
he who made the engines for Fulton s
Clermont. Of which the little folk read in The
Tribune rot long ago. Il is not exactly true
TO say that this little boy was the inventor Of
the steam engine The steam engine had been
known as z toy as far back as 200 B c, and
had been used TO pump water out Of mines for
q considerable time before Watts birth. But
extremely clumsy and wasteful con-
trivance when first put to practical use, and it
remained ter the little boy VINO was born al
Greenock on January 49, 1886, to make ii the
most marvellous OF ali machines. No other
man. It has been said, ever bestowed such a
gift upon his kind.
The father of James Watt or jamie" as
he used TO be called, a well-to-do and
prominent citizen Of Greenock, combining the
occupations Of shipbuilder and merchant OF
his mother. Agnes Muirtead. are told that
she was fine looking woman. with pleasing,
graceful manners. cultivated mind, an *
cellenJ understanding and an equal cheerful
temper" The grandfather Of the inventor had
been a teacher OF mathematics. His uncle
was an engineer, and early age little
Jamie" began 70 exhibit the family taste for
mathematics and construction One OF his
favorite arnuserents to take his toys TO
pieces, put then. together again. and invent new
piaythings- When he was only six years old
q visitor found him drawing lines and circles
with colored chalk on marble hearth and
thought il q pity that he should be trifiing
away his time in this fashion instead of going
TO school But when he found that the lines
and circles were mathematical ones and that
IAe Mite boy was marking In letters and
1guTes, the result Of some calculation he
changed his mind and assured Mr. Watt that
his son was no common child
This was something Mr.. Watt and his wife
already knew Unlike the parents Of many
great men, they appreciated the talents Of their
gifted son. and encouraged him to follow his
own inclira tons il his studies, which were
largely carried at home They were also
very kind and indulgent parents, and must
nave been muc2 attached to the two little boys,
James and John, who were all that we're left 10
them Of family Of five SO. in spite Of The i'll
health which excluded him from the good times
that most Of the Little Men and Little Women
who read The Tribune enjoy, James Watt was
really a most fortunate IiftIe how ana doee not
appear 70 have been at all unhappy.
By the tine the inventor was eighteen Mr.
Watt had met such serious reverses in his bust
ness that il became necessary for his two sons
70 look TO their OWN exertions for support. James
decided 10 follow the trade OF a mathematical
instrument maker. and went to Glasgow, and
later 20 London, 10 learn it 1t is interesting 10
be told that the man who helped TO make il
possible for 20 travel around the world in a
few weeks made his first journey from Glasgow
70 London horseback, and that il occupied
him twelve days.
In London the young inventor worked so hard
and lived so frugally in his anxiety 10 save his
fathers means that he injured his health seri-
ously and had TO return TO Greenock for a few
months rest before going again TO Glasgow,
where he had planned TO establish himself as a
maker OF mathematical instruments But Glas