INTRODUCTORY. 



If you have not read the preface on the preceding 



page ; read it. You will see that we 



1 there that \\c will use no scientific terms, but \ 



.'lay tai ,el hy us that there will be 



more young men, wishing to become good engineers, read 



this work than old engineers. We will, therefore, be all 



the more plain and say as little as possible that will tend 



to confuse the reader !o say will be said in 



the same language that we would use if we were in the 



how to handle your engine, So if 



the more experienced engineer thinks we might have gone 



further in some i i>oints, he will please remember 



that hy so doing we might confuse the less experienced, 



and tluTd.y cover up the very point we tried to make 



And not to be supposed that we will en- 



k-e an engineer out of a man who never saw 



an engine. It is, therefore, not necessary to tell the 



an engine is made or what it looks like. We 



teach \ to build an em 



rather how to handle one after it is built : how to know 

 pcr shape and how to let it alone when 



