an autobiography-第24章
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in young engineers who are addicted to wearing gloves。 Gloves； especially kid gloves； are perfect non…conductors of technical knowledge。 This has really more to do with the efficiency of young aspirants for engineering success than most people are aware of！
CHAPTER 6。 Mechanical Beginnings。
I left the High School at the end of 1820。 I carried with me a small amount of Latin； and no Greek。 I do not think I was much the better for my small acquaintance with the dead languages。 I wanted something more living and quickening。 I continued my studies at private classes。 Arithmetic and geometry were my favourite branches。The three first books of Euclid were to me a new intellectual life。 They brought out my power of reasoning。 They trained me mentally。 They enabled me to arrive at correct conclusions； and to acquire a knowledge of absolute truths。 It is because of this that I have ever since held the beautifully perfect method of reasoning； as exhibited in the exact method of arriving at Q。E。D。； to be one of the most satisfactory efforts and exercises of the human intellect。
Besides visiting and taking part in the works at Patterson's foundry； and joining in the chemical experiments at Smith's laboratory； my father gave me every opportunity for practising the art of drawing。 He taught me to sketch with exactness every object； whether natural or artificial； so as to enable the hand to accurately reproduce what the eye had seen。 In order to acquire this almost invaluable art； which can serve so many valuable purposes in life； he was careful to educate my eye； so that I might perceive the relative proportions of the objects placed before me。 He would throw down at random a number of bricks； or pieces of wood representing them； and set me to copy their forms； their proportions； their lights and shadows respectively。
I have often heard him say that any one who could make a correct drawing in regard to outline； and also indicate by a few effective touches the variation of lights and shadows of such a group of model object's； might not despair of making a good and correct sketch of the exterior of York Minster！
My father was an enthusiast in praise of this graphic language； and I have followed his example。 In fact； it formed a principal part of my own education。 It gave me the power of recording observations with a few graphic strokes of the pencil； which far surpassed in expression any number of mere words。 This graphic eloquence is one of the highest gifts in conveying clear and correct ideas as to the forms of objectswhether they be those of a simple and familiar kind； or of some form of mechanical construction； or of the details of fine building； or the characteristic features of a wide…stretching landscape。 This accomplishment of accurate drawing； which I achieved for the most part in my father's work…room； served me many a good turn in future years with reference to the engineering work which became the business of my life。
I was constantly busy。 Mind； hands； and body were kept in a state of delightful and instructive activity。 When not drawing； I occupied myself in my father's workshop at the lathe； the furnace； or the bench。 I gradually became initiated into every variety of mechanical and chemical manipulation。 I made my own tools and constructed my chemical apparatus； as far as lay in my power。 With respect to the latter； I constructed a very handy and effective blowpipe apparatus； consisting of a small air force…pump； connected with a cylindrical vessel of tin plate。 By means of an occasional use of the handy pump； it yielded such a fine steady blowpipe blast； as enabled me to bend glass tubes and blow bulbs for thermometers； to analyse metals or mineral substances； or to do any other work for which intense heat was necessary。 My natural aptitude for manipulation； whether in mechanical or chemical operations； proved very serviceable to myself as well as to others； and （as will be shown hereafter） it gained for me the friendship of many distinguished scientific men。
But I did not devote myself altogether to experiments。 Exercise is as necessary for the body as the mind。 Without full health a man cannot enjoy comfort； nor can he possess endurance。 I therefore took plenty of exercise out of doors。 I accompanied my father in his walks round Edinburgh。 My intellect was kept alive during these delightful excursions。 For sometimes my father was accompanied by brother…artists； whose conversation is always so attractive； and sometimes by scientific men； such as Sir James Hall； Professor Leslie； Dr。 Brewster； and others。 Whatever may have been my opportunities for education so…called； nothing could have better served the purpose of real education （the evolution of the mental faculties） than the opportunities I enjoyed while accompanying and listening to the conversation of men distinguished for their originality of thought and their high intellectual capacity。 This was a mental culture of the best kind。
The volcanic origin of the beautiful scenery round Edinburgh was often the subject of their conversation。 Probably few visitors are aware that all those remarkable eminences； which give to the city and its surroundings so peculiar and romantic an aspect； are the results of the operation； during inconceivably remote ages； of volcanic force penetrating the earth's crust by disruptive power； and pouring forth streams of molten lava； now shrunk and cooled into volcanic rock。 The observant eye； opened by the light of Science； can see unmistakable evidences of a condition of things which were in action at periods so remote as； in comparison； to shrink up the oldest of human records into events of yesterday。
I had often the privilege of standing by and hearing the philosophic Leslie； Brewster； and Hall； discussing these volcanic remains in their actual presence； sometimes at Arthur's Seat or on the Calton Hill； or at the rock on which Edinburgh Castle stands； Their observations sank indelibly into my memory； and gave me the key to the origin of this grand class of terrestrial phenomena。 When standing at the 〃Giant's Ribs；〃 on the south side of Arthur's Seat； I felt as if one of the grandest pages of the earth's history lay open before me。 The evidences of similar volcanic action abound in many other places near Edinburgh； and they may be traced right across Scotland from the Bass Rock to Fingal's Cave； the Giant's Causeway in Antrim； and Slievh League on the south…west coast of Donegal in Ireland。
Volcanic action； in some inconceivably remote period of the earth's crust history； has been the Plough； and after denudation by water； has been the Harrow； by which the originally deep…seated mineral treasures of the globe have been brought within the reach of man's industrial efforts。 It has thus yielded him inexhaustible mineral harvests； and helped him to some of the most important material elements in his progress towards civilisation。 It is from this consideration that； while enjoying the results of these grand fundamental actions of the Creator's mighty agencies in their picturesque aspect； the knowledge of their useful results to man adds vastly to the grandeur of the contemplation of their aspect and nature。 This great subject caused me； even at this early period of my life； to behold with special interest the first peep at the structure of the moon's surface； as revealed to me by an excellent Ramsden 〃spy…glass；〃 which my father possessed； and thus planted the seed of that earnest desire to scrutinise more minutely the moon's wonderful surface； which in after years I pursued by means of the powerful reflecting telescopes constructed by myself。
To turn to another subject。 In 1822 the loyalty of Scotland was greatly excited when George the Fourth paid his well…known visit to Edinburgh。 It was then the second greatest city in the kingdom； and had not been visited by royalty for about 170 years。 The civic authorities； and the inhabitants generally； exerted themselves to the utmost to give the king a cordial welcome； in spite of a certain feeling of dissatisfaction as to his personal character。 The recent trial and death of Queen Caroline had not been forgotten； yet all such recollection
