202 Eoolutlon of the Mechanic Arts. 



out which civilization, progress, society and even life itself 

 would be, for most of us, unlivable if not unthinkable. 

 We can only glance at this subject, but it ought to have the 

 adequate treatment of an entire essay, so important, so in- 

 teresting and so fascinating is it. To us, as to the ancients, 

 fire seems almost as elemental in character as air, Avater or 

 sunlight ; but to primitive man, what a revelation it must 

 have been ! With its aid, doubtless, he first cooked his 

 food, warmed his body, cut down small trees, divided them 

 and their branches into clubs, pointed his weapons of war 

 and the chase, as well as his rudimental implements, and 

 made his primitive boat. While, doubtless, as now, when 

 it became the master, fire was terrible to him, in his hands 

 it must at times have become terrible to his enemies, 

 human, part human, or wild beasts of the forests. Seem- 

 ingly, man must have lighted his first fire from the great 

 interior earth-forge, to which access was had through vol- 

 canic action, or from natural conflagrations of electrical 

 origin. Once having knowledge of its value and power, we 

 can see how by mechanical means or friction he might 

 seek it, and eventually succeed in producing it, under the 

 stress of isolated situation,' and struggle between cold and 

 death on the one side, or heat and life on the other. 



In a lecture of brief space it is impossible to take up in 

 detail special branches of the mechanic arts, and show the 

 principles of the evolution methods working therein. But 

 while, as has been stated, little or nothing has been written 

 on this subject, it cannot be said that nothing has been done 

 to illustrate tliat evolution. In the National INIuseum at 

 Wasliington you may find evolutionary principles aj)plied 

 to the collection and arrangement of articles illustrating 

 separate branches of tliis art, so that within a half-hour 

 you may see and examine original specimens of all that has 

 been made and done by man in particular arts, from the 

 earliest known periods down to tlie present year. In aj)- 

 pliances concerned with transportation on land, you will 

 find the band of the original traiis})Orter, Avhich, being 

 placed across her forehead with the two ends extending 

 over across her back, was first used to secure the burdens 

 to be transported tlicreon, by tlie primitive or savage mother, 

 woman and bui-dcn-bearer (she was tlie original trans- 

 porter); and from that article you may follow every step 

 of advance up to the most perfect locomotive-engine and 



