404 THE FRENCH BLOOD IN AMERICA 



" Well done," says Mr. Waters. '' I shouldn't wonder 

 if you yet invented a machine lor turning gun-stocks." 



" W-w-ell, m t-try," was the laconic reply. 



A train of thought had been set in motion which in 

 time brought out the machine for turning irregular 

 forms. His success in the Millbury armory soon secured 

 a call for him to the government establishment in Spring- 

 field, where he set the lathes in order, all the time appar- 

 ently dwelling on the words of Colonel Waters. When 

 his work in Springfield was done and he was driving 

 back to his Worcester County home, he much sur- 

 prised certain people by exclaiming, as he drove along, 

 *' I've got it ! I've got it ! I've got it ! " They at once 

 pronounced him crazy, as no doubt those Syracusans did 

 who saw the naked philosopher coursing through their 

 streets, shouting "Eureka!" 



For two years the world saw little of the young me- 

 chanic, for he shut himself in his shop and there pur- 

 sued his experiments until he was able to tell Colonel 

 Waters that what the latter in pleasantry had hinted at, 

 had become an actuality. To be sui*e, it was only a 

 miniature machine, but it was so evidently practical that 

 other workmen were called in and a complete lathe was 

 erected, thus giving to his native county and to the town 

 of Millbury the credit of the first machine for the turning 

 of irregular forms. Meanwhile, Washington had heard 

 of his success, and he was requested to set his lathe up in 

 the Springfield Arsenal, a request with which he com- 

 plied, and it remained there long enough to have another 

 similar one made, when the original was returned to Mill- 

 bury, where it continued in constant use for more than 

 twenty years. 

 Fame"of'His' Euglaud heard of the invention, and sent over repre- 

 sentatives to examine and report. They were astonished 

 at what they saw, and reported accordingly, but John 

 Bull could not be convinced so easily, and a second mes- 

 senger was sent with tough pieces of oak, thinking them 



Invention 



