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GEORGE STEPHENSON.

the working man—the gin-shop-received none of his hardearned money. He earned his money honestly, and he saved it as a prudent man. He even attempted the perpetual motion—the philosopher's stone-that has so often engaged the dreamer; but the birth of a son caused George to quit the wonderful for the useful, as the practical is always the most profitable. Continuez."

"Ainsi, outre son travail ordinaire-besides his regular work at the mine, to save money for the education of his son-a desideratum so dear to his heart; that he resolved that his son should not encounter the difficulties which lie in the path of unlettered men-he made and mended shoes, cut out the pitmen's clothes, made and mended clocks, and became one of the most famed clock-doctors in the neighbourhood. At this period, George looked upon himself as one of the happiest men living; but a calamity overtook him. To his lasting sorrow he lost the beloved partner in his struggles-his cherished wife breathed her last."

Soon after this melancholy circumstance, he went for a time to Scotland, to superintend an engine, and on his return he found his father, from an accident, had lost his sight, and consequently was reduced to poverty. Like a good and worthy son, he paid his father's debts, buoyed up the hearts of his parents, by telling them that he was now able and willing to support them, and cheerfully did he discharge this filial duty towards them until death.

"A circumstance occurred which brought into full play the knowledge that George Stephenson had acquired of the steamengine, and which was not only remunerative, but was la première pierre, the first stepping-stone to his after greatness."

"Yes, Rudolphe-confirming the statement that in learning that which is useful, a time will come when we shall be able to place that knowledge to a good account. Continuez."

"Mr. Crowther and all the engineers of the neighbourhood

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had been called in to cure a wheezing engine'; but they could do nothing with it. One of the workmen, meeting Geordie, asked him to look at the engine, and to see if he could do anything with it. Geordie examined the engine, and, conscious of his own power, stated that he would cure it in less than a week —a cure which he thoroughly effected in less than that time!"

"Yes, Rudolphe, the self-reliance of Geordie sprang from a well-grounded faith in his own powers; and such faith, the ancient poet says, 'is power itself. Continuez."

"For this job, George Stephenson received 107.- -a great sum to him; and what was more, he acquired the glory of beating all the local engineers; and from that day his services as an engineer came into request."

"Sortie de la classe des ouvriers, and on the road, sur la voie, to fortune-raised above manual labour, Stephenson was then able to put into practice the knowledge he had acquired— was enabled to use his skill by effecting various essential modifications in the several engines of his employers. His active mind was ever at work. He rose at sunrise in summer, and before it in winter, and broke,' as he called it, the back of the day's work before mid-day. From an early period he had well considered the practical working of the locomotive, and was certain of its power and efficiency. What was wanted to develop the strength of his nursling was money, and, waiting patiently, the time at length arrived when his longcherished desire was gratified."

"Skill, or Prudence, or Patience, Mr. Rudolphe, in availing ourselves of our natural or acquired advantages, will secure favour and patronage, even where they are withheld by prejudice or ignorance. Continuez."

"Lord Ravensworth, the principal proprietor of Killing

D

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worth Colliery, struck with the practical knowledge that Stephenson possessed, advanced a sum of money to have an engine constructed under Stephenson's directions, which engine, drawing thirty tons' weight at the rate of four miles an hour, turned out to be the most successful one that had yet been made. Another trial was given, and improvements adopted which had struck the mind of the unlettered engineer, and the result was that the speed more than doubled that of the previous engine."

m

"Yes, Monsieur Rudolphe, that was the time when it pleased the Almighty to place in the hands of a humble, ignorant man, the means of giving wings to Progress-of giving us a horse that brings into ridicule the dreamers of les Centaures, Pegasus, and the steeds of Neptune."

THE GEORDIE LAMP.

"It was about this time that George Stephenson distinguished himself by the invention of the 'Geordie Safety Lamp.' Collieries were liable to explosions, several of which had occurred of the most serious character."

"Yes, Master Rudolphe, in 1812, in one pit alone, no fewer than ninety men and boys were suffocated or burnt to death. Continuez."

Stephenson refléchissait depuis long-temps sur tout cela— Stephenson reflected upon these sad calamities. One day, in 1814, a pitman hurried into Stephenson's cottage, informing him that the deepest mine in the colliery was on fire. A l'instant Stephenson rushed to the mouth of the pit, and, in the midst of a terror-stricken crowd, shouted out, 'If there are six among you who have the courage to follow me!-qu'ils viennent—let them do so, and we will soon extinguish the flames!' The firm voice of Geordie gave confidence to the men, who at once followed him, and, in the midst of great confusion, he caused a

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wall to be erected at the entrance of the mine, which excluded the atmospheric air, and the fire was thus extinguished and many lives were saved."

"Ne peut-on, donc, rien faire pour empêcher de pareils malheurs?' 'Can nothing be done to prevent such awful occurrences?' demanded one of the workmen, while searching for the bodies of those who had perished. I think so,' said Stephenson. 'Then, George,' said his helpmate, 'faites-le connaître au plus-tôt-the sooner you look to it the better; for the price of coal-mining now is pitmen's lives.""

"Stephenson at once set to work, and succeeded in constructing a lamp to guide the miner in his under-ground labours, without communicating flame to the inflammable gas which accumulates in certain parts of the pit."

Yes, Rudolphe, these fearful catastrophes had arrested the attention of Sir Humphry Davy; but before the results of his investigation were published, Stephenson had already practically solved the question of the safety lamp. He had obviated the difficulty, and, confiding in his lamp, took it into the pit with him, and thereby staked his life on the issue. Speak of heroism! That solitary walk through the hazardous mine evinced a nerve and bravery as great, if not greater, than that of the excited hero who rushes boldly to the cannon's mouth. The Geordie Lamp,' like the true heart of its inventor, sustained the test; and after improvements, his third lamp, as finally designed by him, was in the hands of the manufacturer long before he had heard of Sir Humphry Davy's experiments, or of the lamp which that gentleman proposed to construct, and no accident has taken place since its first introduction. Honneur et reconnaissance à Stephenson. L'amour de la science et celui de l'humanité ont rarement inspirée un aussi beau devouément. Continuez."

"Locomotives, though in daily use for many years on the

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Killingworth Railway, excited very little interest except in the neighbourhood; but there were, nevertheless, several practical and public-spirited men who had been closely watching the railways from a sense of their importance. Among the most prominent of those were William James and Edward Pease -who, if they did not invent the locomotive, did the next best thing-they discovered George Stephenson. Mr. James had fortune and position, was extensively employed as a land agent, and as early as 1803 had contemplated forming a rail. way between Liverpool and Manchester. People thought him mad, and his friends looked with suspicion upon his projected enterprise. James reckoned Stephenson 'the greatest PRACTICAL GENIUS of the age, and that if he developed the full power of his engine, his fame in the world would rank equal to that of Watt.' Thus did James perform the invaluable office of stoker to the secret fire in Stephenson's breast. James secured an interest in a patent, and early in 1822 procured a survey of a line between Liverpool and Manchester, and Stephenson was regularly appointed engineer at a salary of 3001. per annum. The survey, in spite of every obstacle, went forward satisfactorily, Stephenson starting early in the morning, in top boots and breeches, taking with him in his capacious pocket a piece of raw bacon and a lump of bread, with which, about midday, he would enter a cottage or farm-house on the line of his survey, and ask leave to have his bit of bacon fried. The farming people along the line soon came to know and welcome him, for his gay and lively conversation secured him a hearty welcome.

"As on many other occasions, Stephenson here showed that fundamental honesty that distinguishes great men. Though interested in the patent for cast-iron rails, he strongly advised Mr. Pease to lay down wrought-iron, strengthening his argument by stating that it would put 500l. into my pocket by adopting cast-iron, but I cannot do so after the experience I have had.""