heroes of the telegraph-第19节
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too far…fetched in the idea； and probably some such action as that did take place； since meteors do come every day to the earth from other parts of the universe；still； that does not in the slightest degree diminish the wonder； the tremendous miracle； we have in the commencement of life in this world。'
CHAPTER V。
CHARLES WILLIAM SIEMENS。
Charles William Siemens was born on April 4； 1823； at the little village of Lenthe； about eight miles from Hanover； where his father； Mr。 Christian Ferdinand Siemens； was 'Domanen…pachter；' and farmed an estate belonging to the Crown。 His mother was Eleonore Deichmann； a lady of noble disposition； and William； or Carl Wilhelm； was the fourth son of a family of fourteen children； several of whom have distinguished themselves in scientific pursuits。 Of these； Ernst Werner Siemens； the fourth child； and now the famous electrician of Berlin； was associated with William in many of his inventions； Fritz； the ninth child； is the head of the well…known Dresden glass works； and Carl； the tenth child； is chief of the equally well…known electrical works at St。 Petersburg。 Several of the family died young； others remained in Germany； but the enterprising spirit； natural to them； led most of the sons abroad Walter； the twelfth child； dying at Tiflis as the German Consul there； and Otto； the fourteenth child； also dying at the same place。 It would be difficult to find a more remarkable family in any age or country。 Soon after the birth of William； Mr。 Siemens removed to a larger estate which he had leased at Menzendorf； near Lubeck。
As a child William was sensitive and affectionate； the baby of the family； liking to roam the woods and fields by himself； and curious to observe； but not otherwise giving any signs of the engineer。 He received his education at a commercial academy in Lubeck； the Industrial School at Magdeburg （city of the memorable burgomaster； Otto von Guericke）； and at the University of Gottingen； which he entered in 1841； while in his eighteenth year。 Were he attended the chemical lectures of Woehler； the discoverer of organic synthesis； and of Professor Himly； the well…known physicist； who was married to Siemens's eldest sister； Mathilde。 With a year at Gottingen； during which he laid the basis of his theoretical knowledge； the academical training of Siemens came to an end； and he entered practical life in the engineering works of Count Stolberg； at Magdeburg。 At the University he had been instructed in mechanical laws and designs； here he learned the nature and use of tools and the construction of machines。 But as his University career at Gottingen lasted only about a year； so did his apprenticeship at the Stolberg Works。 In this short time； however； he probably reaped as much advantage as a duller pupil during a far longer term。
Young Siemens appears to have been determined to push his way forward。 In 1841 his brother Werner obtained a patent in Prussia for electro…silvering and gilding； and in 1843 Charles William came to England to try and introduce the process here。 In his address on 'Science and Industry；' delivered before the Birmingham and Midland Institute in 1881； while the Paris Electrical Exhibition was running； Sir William gave a most interesting account of his experiences during that first visit to the country of his adoption。
'When；' said he； 'the electrotype process first became known； it excited a very general interest； and although I was only a young student at Gottingen； under twenty years of age； who had just entered upon his practical career with a mechanical engineer； I joined my brother； Werner Siemens； then a young lieutenant of artillery in the Prussian service； in his endeavours to accomplish electro…gilding； the first impulse in this direction having been given by Professor C。 Himly； then of Gottingen。 After attaining some promising results； a spirit of enterprise came over me； so strong that I tore myself away from the narrow circumstances surrounding me； and landed at the east end of London with only a few pounds in my pocket and without friends； but with an ardent confidence of ultimate success within my breast。
'I expected to find some office in which inventions were examined into； and rewarded if found meritorious； but no one could direct me to such a place。 In walking along Finsbury Pavement； I saw written up in large letters； 〃So…and…so〃 （I forget the name）； 〃Undertaker；〃 and the thought struck me that this must be the place I was in quest of； at any rate； I thought that a person advertising himself as an 〃undertaker〃 would not refuse to look into my invention with a view of obtaining for me the sought…for recognition or reward。 On entering the place I soon convinced myself； however； that I came decidedly too soon for the kind of enterprise here contemplated； and； finding myself confronted with the proprietor of the establishment； I covered my retreat by what he must have thought a very lame excuse。 By dint of perseverance I found my way to the patent office of Messrs。 Poole and Carpmael； who received me kindly； and provided me with a letter of introduction to Mr。 Elkington。 Armed with this letter； I proceeded to Birmingham； to plead my cause before your townsman。
'In looking back to that time； I wonder at the patience with which Mr。 Elkington listened to what I had to say； being very young； and scarcely able to find English words to convey my meaning。 After showing me what he was doing already in the way of electro…plating； Mr。 Elkington sent me back to London in order to read some patents of his own； asking me to return if； after perusal； I still thought I could teach him anything。 To my great disappointment； I found that the chemical solutions I had been using were actually mentioned in one of his patents； although in a manner that would hardly have sufficed to enable a third person to obtain practical results。
On my return to Birmingham I frankly stated what I had found； and with this frankness I evidently gained the favour of another townsman of yours； Mr。 Josiah Mason； who had just joined Mr。 Elkington in business； and whose name； as Sir Josiah Mason； will ever be remembered for his munificent endowment of education。 It was agreed that I should not be judged by the novelty of my invention； but by the results which I promised； namely； of being able to deposit with a smooth surface 30 dwt。 of silver upon a dish…cover； the crystalline structure of the deposit having theretofore been a source of difficulty。 In this I succeeded； and I was able to return to my native country and my mechanical engineering a comparative Croesus。
'But it was not for long； as in the following year （1844） I again landed in the Thames with another invention； worked out also with my brother； namely； the chronometric governor； which； though less successful； commercially speaking； than the first； obtained for me the advantage of bringing me into contact with the engineering world； and of fixing me permanently in this country。 This invention was in course of time applied by Sir George Airy； the then Astronomer…Royal； for regulating the motion of his great transit and touch…recording instrument at the Royal Observatory； where it still continues to be employed。
'Another early subject of mine； the anastatic printing process； found favour with Faraday； 〃the great and the good；〃 who made it the subject of a Friday evening lecture at the Royal Institution。 These two circumstances； combined； obtained for me an entry into scientific circles； and helped to sustain me in difficulty； until； by dint of a certain determination to win； I was able to advance step by step up to this place of honour； situated within a gunshot of the scene of my earliest success in life； but separated from it by the time of a generation。 But notwithstanding the lapse of time； my heart still beats quick each time I come back to the scene of this； the determining incident of my life。'
The 'anastatic' process； described by Faraday in 1845； and partly due to Werner Siemens； was a method of reproducing printed matter by transferring the print from paper to plates of zinc。 Caustic baryta was applied to the printed sheet to convert the resinous ingredients of the ink into an insoluble soap； the stearine being precipitated with sulphuric acid。 The letters were then transferred to the zinc by pressure； so as to be printed from。 The process； though ingenious and of much interest at the time； has long ago been superseded by photographic methods。
Even at this time Siemens had several irons in the fire。 Besides the printing process and the chronometric governor； which operated by the differential movement between the engine and a chronometer； he was occupied with some minor improvements at Hoyle's Calico Printing Works。 He also engaged in railway works from time to time； and in 1846 he brought out a double cylinder air…pump； in which the two cylinders are so combined； that the compressing side of the first and larger cylinder communicated with the suction side of the second and smaller cylinder； and the limit of exhaustion was thereby much extended。 The invention was well received at the time； but is now almost forgotten。
Siemens had been trained as a mechanical engine
