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

CHAP. VI.] MAKES IMPROVEMENT IN WINDING-MACHINE. 51
man ; and how do 'you think I managed? I betook myself to
mending my neighbours' clocks and watches at nights, after my
daily labour was done, and thus I procured the means of educat-
ing my son."*
Besides mending clocks and watches at this time, he also con-
tinued to make and mend shoes, and to manufacture shoe-lasts
for the shoemakers of the neighbourhood. He even cut out the
pitmen's clothes for their wives to make up ; and it is said that
to this day there are clothes worn at Killingworth which have
been made after " Geordy Steevie's cut."
Perhaps the secret of every man's best success in life is the
readiness with which he takes advantage of opportunities.
George Stephenson was an eminent illustration of this readiness
in turning aU his time to profit, and everything that he knew to
useful account. Every spare minute was laid under contribu-
tion, either for the purpose of adding to his earnings or to his
knowledge. The smallest fragments of his time were regarded
by him as precious ; and he was never so happy as when im-
proving them. He missed no opportunity of extending his
observations, more especially in his own immediate department
he was always acquiring new facts, and aiming at improvements
in his own calling. Sometimes he failed, but his very failures
only served to strengthen his hardy nature, and they eventually
conducted him to success.
The " small matters " entrusted to George Stephenson, in
which he succeeded, as referred to in his speech at Belper, were
these :—Soon after he became a brakesman at the West Moor,
he observed that the ropes with which the coal was drawn out
of the pit by the winding-engine were badly arranged, as he
thought, and he suggested an improvement. The ropes " glued,"
and wore each other to tatters by the perpetual friction. There
was thus great wear and tear, and a serious increase in the ex-
penses of the pit. George found that the ropes which, at other
pits in the neighbourhood, lasted about three months, at the
West Moor Pit became worn out in about a month. As there
* Speech at Newcastle, on the 18th June, ISii, on the occasion of celebrating
the opening of the Newcastle and Darlington Bailway.
;