The San Francisco call., 1909-03-13
THE AWKWARD BOY
WHOBECAME FAMOUS

- URNIoJG his head neither 10 right
nor left the roughly clad boy
made his way up the path leading
10 the house OF Wylam's schoolnhaster.
Wylam at this time was a little village
near Newcastle. in Northumberland,
EagIand And the home at which the
lad OF Is knocked was, very simple
one.
Well what do you want?" asked the
scho0lmaster. as he shaded his eyes
from the light carried in his hand He
did nor altogether like having his
studies Interrupted in such fashion.
II want TO learn to read and write,
sir the boy replied
For moment the schoolmaster
looked scornfully upon the homely face
and poor clothing Of the lad. Then he
said scornfully:
Very well, you may attend; but an
awkward. bare legged laddie like you
had better be doing something else than
learning his letters Thereupon he
slammed the door in the boys face.
But the lad was not discouraged. At
last he saw a chance for the fulfill
ment OF ambition. While the years
were passing his desire for learning
had been growing. Up until now his
AeA-lhi -atha Aff-l AyO BDDA ~ ctlla MIN
10 school Born In 1871 in a very hovel,
with 2 clay floor. mud walls and bare
rafters. al the age Of 5 he began TO
work for his living. herding cows in
the daytime and barring UP the gates
at night Later he picked stones from
coal. and afterward drove a horse
which drew coal from the pit He was
"A when he became assistant 10 his
father. the foreman OF a colliery in
Wylam- When the lad called on the
schOolmaster he was plugman OF a
pumping engine. every detail OF which
he had studied so carefully that he
could with case have taken il apart
and put IL together again.
With eagerness the boy plunged into
his studies. Acting as fireman and
brakeman at the cOlliery during the
day, he attended school in the even
ing. and even found time 10 earn
money by repairing clocks So dill
gently did he apply himself TO learn
ing that in two years he knew all the
schoolmaster could teach him.
Soon the world discovered in the lad
a great inventor. In 1915 he invented a
miners safety lamp. For some years
he had been experimenting with steam
locomotives. believing il was possible
10 put them TO practicable use. lie
finally induced the Kenilworth colliery
10 construct a locomotive under his
directions. Much ridicule did he meet
about his engines. one gentleman said
10 him.
suppose YOU invent an engine capa-
bic Of running nine or ten miles an
hour. And suppose while it is running
p COW should stray upon the track.
Would not that be a very awkward cir
cumstancel'
II should think il might be very
awlSward-for tie cow" was the reply.
At length he made an engine, the
Rocket" which attained a speed OF
"a miles an hour. People marveled
they laughed no longer And when. in
1929. he so improved the Rocket" that
on a trial run over the Liverpool and
Manchester railway il made 30 miles
an aour. thereby winning prize OF
$500. be found himself famous. He was
consulted upon all railroad projects,
and grew very wealthy
But he still was simple in his man
ncr, IN spite OF the honors heaped upon
him. His king wished 10 make him a
knight. but he insisted upon remaining
plain George Stephenson.