The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

422 LIFE OF GEOEGE STEPHENSON. [chaf. xxxiv
companions of his early life, and take pleasure in talking over
old times with thera. He never assumed any of the bearings
of a great man on these occasions, but treated such visitors with
the same friendliness and respect as if they had been his equals,
sending them away pleased with themselves and delighted with
him. At other times, needy men who had known him in youth,
would knock at his door, and they were never refused access.
But if he had heard of any misconduct on their part, he would
rate thera soundly. One who knew him intimately in private
life has seen him exhorting such backsliders, and denouncing
their misconduct and imprudence, with the tears streaming down
his cheeks. And he would generally conclude by opening his
purse, and giving them the help which they needed " to make a
fresh start in the world."
Young men would call upon him for advice or assistance in
commencing a professional career. When he noted their in-
dustry, prudence, and good sense, he was always ready. But,
hating foppery and frippery above all things, he would reprove
any tendency to this weakness which he observed in the appli-
cants. One day, a youth, desirous of becoming an engineer,
called upon him, flourishing a gold-headed cane : Mr. Stephen-
son said, " Put by that ^tick, my man, and then I will speak to
you." To another extensively-decorated young man, he one day
said, " You will, I hope, Mr. , excuse me ; I am a plain-spoken
person, and am sorry to see a nice-looking and rather clever
young man like you disfigured with that fine-patterned waistcoat,
and all these chains and fang-dangs. If I, sir, had bothered my
head with such things when at your age, I would not have been,
where I am now.''
Mr. Stephenson's life at Tapton during his later years was
occasionally diversified with a visit to London. His engineering
business having become limited, he generally went there for the
purpose of visiting friends, or " to see what there was new going
on." He found a n^vv race of engineers springing up on all
hands—men who knew him not ; and his London journeys
gradually ceased to yield him real pleasure. A friend used to
take him to the opera, but by the end of the first act, he was
generally observed in a prQfqund slun:^be^. Yet on one occasion