uch of my success as an engineer; for it was from him that I
derived my taste for mathematical pursuits and the facility I possess of
applying this kind of knowledge to practical purposes and modifying it
according to circumstances."

[Picture: Bruce's School, Newcastle]

During the time Robert attended school at Newcastle, his father made the
boy's education instrumental to his own. Robert was accustomed to spend
some of his spare time at the rooms of the Literary and Philosophical
Institute; and when he went home in the evening, he would recount to his
father the results of his reading. Sometimes he was allowed to take with
him to Killingworth a volume of the 'Repertory of Arts and Sciences,'
which father and son studied together. But many of the most valuable
works belonging to the Newcastle Library were not lent out; these Robert
was instructed to read and study, and bring away with him descriptions
and sketches for his father's information. His father also practised him
in reading plans and drawings without reference to the written
descriptions. He used to observe that "A good plan should always explain
itself;" and, placing a drawing of an engine or machine before the youth,
would say, "There, now, describe that to me--the arrangement and the
action." Thus he taught him to read a drawing as easily as he would read
a page of a book. Both father and son profited by this excellent
practice, which enabled them to apprehend with the greatest facility the
details of even the most difficult and complicated mechanical drawing.

While Robert went on with his lessons in the evenings, his father was
usually occupied with his watch and clock cleaning; or in contriving
models of pumping-engines; or endeavouring to embody in a tangible shape
the mechanical inventions which he found described in the odd volumes on
Mechanics which fell in his way. This daily and unceasing example of
industry and application, in the person of a loving and beloved father,
imprinted itself deeply upon the boy's heart in characters never to be
effaced. A spirit of self-improvement was thus early and carefully
planted and fostered in Robert's mind, which continued to influence him
through life; and to the close of his career, he was proud to confess
that if his professional success had been great, it was mainly to the
example and training of his father that he owed it.

Robert was not, however, exclusively devoted to stud