"richer in experience than in worldly goods,'' and reluctant to discuss 

 his adventures. 



From his youth, when he used a lathe to make toys for his friends, 

 George had always been interested in the "mechanical arts." Once the 

 firm was established this interest was pursued to the exclusion of almost 

 all else. The Clarks never had a line of goods, but made most of their 

 instruments to order. While some customers knew just what kind of in- 

 struments they wanted, others had only rough ideas of the research they 

 wished to follow. George, therefore, was frequently called upon to de- 

 sign as well as to construct a variety of scientific apparatus. He worked 

 indefatigably on each instrument, both in the shop and after delivery, 

 until he was satisfied that it performed as well as possible. He apparently 



Figure 8. — Charles Henry Cummings, painted by 

 Alvan Clark. Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, 

 Boston, Massachusetts. 



13 



