El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-05-30

"T EARY and discouraged by re-
w Deatsd - failure. a handsome and
W wonderfully versatile man who
was considered a genius by some per-
sons and a visionary by others, sat
down in the city Of London one DAY IN
January. 1896, and poured out his woes
in a letter TO his friend joel Barlow.
The handsome and versatile man
was Robert Fulton. The man he wrote
TO had been minister to France, but
had returned TO America
Fulton was near the END or ms n
uancial resources. He had dreamed
great dreams. Starting out to be an
artist, ne had left his birthplace,
Little Britain, Lancaster county, Pa
and earned a living painting land
scapes and portraits, which he sold
70 the rich Quakers Of Philadelphia.
Then he had gone to England, had won
the favor Of BENJAMIN West the duke
OF BridgeWater, the earl OF Sranhopei
and other great men, and, much TO the
regret Of West but to the Joy OF the
duke and the earl, had abandoned art
10 take up mechanics he had plans
for canals that fired the imagination
OF the duke He had ideas, too, for
submarine boat, and ne had no.
ton, after seeing the steam engine
that Watt designed, that steam might
be used TO propel vessel
Through the good offices Of the
duke he had been able to lay his
plans before the British government,
too busy with measures TO check Ma
pcleOn and had been pestered too much
by all sorts OF inventors TO give much
attention TO him.
Then he had gone TO Paris, where
he met Barlow. Fulton, who was one
of the most loyal Of men, won the
hearts Of Mr.. and Mrs. Barlow, and
became almost a son to them. To the
fullest extent Of his resources Barlow
helped Fulton in his experiments
Robert Livingston, known 10 Iarne as
the Chancellor, succeeded barlow as
American minister. Fulton, with the
ardor that had come TO him from his
long line Of Irish forbearS, pictured 70
Livingston the mighty things ne hoped
TO do. Livingston, with all his legai
dryness, was not devoid OF magma
tion. He not only believed that Fulton
was a genius. but he proposed that
they form q partnership, he agreeing
TO finance Fulton in his protects
For some years thereafter Fulton
had been raised regularly TO the
highest hopes and then plunged 20 the
depths OF despair He had built a SUD
marine and made various dlVes IN II
once remaining under water several
hours. but somehow, the French ad-
miralty office was not Impressed He
had sent his plans 10 Napoleon and
had explained that If they were carried
into execution, Napoleon could nave
the most powerful navy in the world
He had launched a Steamboa on the
Seine and made trial trip with II
~
pened to the vessel early in the trial
and IL sunk. The Academy Of Science,
70 which Napoleon had referred Full
TONS communication. reported that the
American had found a motive power
IN steam, but II was of so feeble a
power that a child's toy could hardly
be put in motion by It.
When livingston somewhat crippled
financially. had returned TO America,
Fulton had gone TO England lie
hoped 10 sell to Great Britain what
France had spurned-
FuIfon's First Romance Of the Heart.
There he had his first romance OF
the heart He was extremely grace
ful, danced beautifully, was a lingulst
o. rare accomplishments and was so
distinguished looking that he was n
marked man wherever he went Many
eyes There was one in London who
held him in such favorable regard and
TO whom he paid so much attention
that the Eossips soon began to hint
that II would be a match The woman
was not young, but she was bright
and clever There was no doubt about
her love for Fulton
He admired and respected her, but
was not sure that he loved her He
was tortured by doubt as to what he
should do. She had a great fortune.
II he married her. this money would
be at his disposal, and he could carry
out his schemes for a steamboat and
for a submarine and for canals and
for a multitude Of other things with
which his active mind was crowded.
Love. he tried TO make himself believe,
would come after marriage Some