Self-Help

In three months Jacquard had invented a loom to substitute mechanical action for the irksome and toilsome labour of the workman. The loom was…

Jacquard’s achievement having come to the knowledge of the Prefect of the Department, he was summoned before that functionary, and, on his…

Vaucanson was a man of the highest order of constructive genius. The inventive faculty was so strong in him that it may almost be said to have…

From that time the subject of mechanical invention took complete possession of him. With some rude tools which he contrived, he made a wooden clock…

Vaucanson, however, did not confine himself merely to the making of automata. By reason of his ingenuity, Cardinal de Fleury appointed him…

There he experienced the frequent fate of inventors. He was regarded by his townsmen as an enemy, and treated by them as Kay, Hargreaves, and…

The great value of the Jacquard loom, however, could not be denied, and its success was only a question of time. Jacquard was urged by some English…

It would be easy to extend the martyrology of inventors, and to cite the names of other equally distinguished men who have, without any corresponding…

Heilmann was born in 1796 at Mulhouse, the principal seat of the Alsace cotton manufacture. His father was engaged in that business; and Joshua…

He had in the mean time been occupying much of his leisure with inventions, more particularly in connection with the weaving of cotton and the…

Upon this idea he proceeded, introduced the apparently simple but really most intricate process of machine-combing, and after great labour he…

The chief commercial value of the invention consisted in its rendering the commoner sorts of cotton available for fine spinning. The manufacturers…

The beauty and utility of Heilmann’s invention were at once appreciated by the English cotton-spinners. Six Lancashire firms united and purchased the…

Though the art of making common vessels of clay was known to most of the ancient nations, that of manufacturing enamelled earthenware was much less…

But Luca, notwithstanding all his application and industry, did not succeed in earning enough money by sculpture to enable him to live by the art,…

The fame of Luca’s work extended throughout Europe, and specimens of his art became widely diffused. Many of them were sent into France and Spain,…

Bernard Palissy is supposed to have been born in the south of France, in the diocese of Agen, about the year 1510. His father was probably a worker…

When about eighteen years old, the glass trade becoming decayed, Palissy left his father’s house, with his wallet on his back, and went out into…

Thus Palissy occupied about ten more years of his life, after which he married, and ceased from his wanderings, settling down to practise…

It was the sight of an elegant cup of Italian manufacture—most probably one of Luca della Robbia’s make—which first set Palissy a-thinking about…

At first he could merely guess the materials of which the enamel was composed; and he proceeded to try all manner of experiments to ascertain what…

His business as a land-measurer called him away for a brief season from the pursuit of his experiments. In conformity with an edict of the State,…

For two more years he went on experimenting without any satisfactory result, until the proceeds of his survey of the salt-marshes having become…

It then occurred to him that there might be some defect in the materials for the enamel—perhaps something wanting in the flux; so he set to work to…

For an entire month his shirt had not been off his back, and he was utterly worn out—wasted with toil, anxiety, watching, and want of food. He was in…

Palissy next hired a potter to make some earthen vessels after designs which he furnished; while he himself proceeded to model some medallions in…

The life of John Frederick Böttgher, the inventor of hard porcelain, presents a remarkable contrast to that of Palissy; though it also contains…

The news spread abroad that the apothecary’s apprentice had discovered the grand secret, and crowds collected about the shop to get a sight of the…

A reward of a thousand thalers was offered for Böttgher’s apprehension, but in vain. He arrived at Wittenberg, and appealed for protection to the…

Frederick Augustus now resolved on forcing Böttgher to disclose the golden secret, as the only means of relief from his urgent pecuniary difficulties…

The alchemist acted on the hint, and began his experiments, working night and day. He prosecuted his investigations for a long time with great…

Böttgher was, however, well aware that the white colour was an essential property of true porcelain; and he therefore prosecuted his experiments in…

Böttgher, however, was still under strict surveillance, for fear lest he should communicate his secret to others or escape the Elector’s control. The…

To these appeals, the King turned a deaf ear. He was ready to spend money and grant favours; but liberty he would not give. He regarded Böttgher as…

Böttgher at last fell seriously ill, and in May, 1713, his dissolution was hourly expected. The King, alarmed at losing so valuable a slave, now gave…

The porcelain manufacture immediately opened up an important source of public revenue, and it became so productive to the Elector of Saxony, that his…

Wedgwood was cordially helped by many persons of rank and influence; for, working in the truest spirit, he readily commanded the help and…

Men such as these are fairly entitled to take rank as the Industrial Heroes of the civilized world. Their patient self-reliance amidst trials and…

THE greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means, and the exercise of ordinary qualities. The common life of every day, with its…

It is indeed marvellous what continuous application will effect in the commonest of things. It may seem a simple affair to play upon a violin; yet…

Labourers for the public good especially, have to work long and patiently, often uncheered by the prospect of immediate recompense or result. The…

It was a maxim of Dr. Young, the philosopher, that “Any man can do what any other man has done;” and it is unquestionable that he himself never…

The lives of eminent inventors are eminently illustrative of the same quality of perseverance. George Stephenson, when addressing young men, was…

Literary life affords abundant illustrations of the same power of perseverance; and perhaps no career is more instructive, viewed in this light, than…

The career of Samuel Drew is not less remarkable than any of those which we have cited. His father was a hard-working labourer of the parish of St.…

“Neither the naked hand, nor the understanding, left to itself, can do much; the work is accomplished by instruments and helps, of which the need…

“Opportunity has hair in front, behind she is bald; if you seize her by the forelock you may hold her, but, if suffered to escape, not Jupiter…

ACCIDENT does very little towards the production of any great result in life. Though sometimes what is called “a happy hit” may be made by a bold…

It is the intelligent eye of the careful observer which gives these apparently trivial phenomena their value. So trifling a matter as the sight of…

It is the close observation of little things which is the secret of success in business, in art, in science, and in every pursuit in life. Human…

When Franklin made his discovery of the identity of lightning and electricity, it was sneered at, and people asked, “Of what use is it?” To which his…

The gigantic machinery employed in pumping our mines, working our mills and manufactures, and driving our steam-ships and locomotives, in like manner…

It is said that the Marquis of Worcester’s attention was first accidentally directed to the subject of steam power, by the tight cover of a vessel…

Stothard learnt the art of combining colours by closely studying butterflies’ wings: he would often say that no one knew what he owed to these tiny…

The most ordinary occasions will furnish a man with opportunities or suggestions for improvement, if he be but prompt to take advantage of them.…

Sir Walter Scott found opportunities for self-improvement in every pursuit, and turned even accidents to account. Thus it was in the discharge of his…

The attention of Dr. Priestley, the discoverer of so many gases, was accidentally drawn to the subject of chemistry through his living in the…

Sir Humphry Davy, when an apothecary’s apprentice, performed his first experiments with instruments of the rudest description. He extemporised the…

Daguesseau, one of the great Chancellors of France, by carefully working up his odd bits of time, wrote a bulky and able volume in the successive…

What a solemn and striking admonition to youth is that inscribed on the dial at All Souls, Oxford—“Pereunt et imputantur”—the hours perish, and are…