THE STORY-BOOK OF SCIENCE 



by steam, are ceaselessly working for man; think 

 how the engine that makes a warship move, some- 

 times represents in itself the united strength of 

 4J.OOO horses; think of all these things, and see 

 what inconceivable development of power man's 

 genius lias given to him with a few shovelfuls of 

 coal burning under a pot of water!" 



"Who first thought of the use of steam?" asked 

 Jules. "I should like to remember his name." 



"The use of steam as a mechanical power was 

 proposed nearly two hundred years ago by one of 

 the glories of France, the unfortunate Denis Papin, 

 who, after giving the first suggestion of the steani- 

 eimine, source of incalculable riches, languished in 

 a foreign land, poverty-stricken and forlorn. To 

 realize his fruitful idea, which was to increase man's 

 motive power a hundredfold, he could hardly find a 

 paltry half-crown." 



