Alexander Lyman Holley (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 Excerpt: ... May, 1881. How lightly does memory pass over the sad hours of the past Probably the witty orator would have been as much startled as his hearers, if any voice had recalled to him the period of despondency through which he had passed after leaving the Corliss shop, and before finding employment elsewhere. Messrs. Corliss and Nightingale wrote, under date of March 27th, 1855: "Mr. Holley has been employed for nearly eighteen months in the locomotive department of our business. He is an accomplished draftsman, and exhibits talent in the designing and application of machinery. During the time he has been with us, he has enjoyed every facility for becoming practically acquainted with the working of locomotives. We should be glad to avail ourselves of his services in our regular business of manufacturing stationary engines. But his mind is on locomotives; and therefore, into that branch of mechanism will he carry that spirit and aim that will insure success. As we do not propose to pursue the locomotive-business at present, Mr. Holley leaves us, and carries with him our best wishes for his success." Armed with this and other introductions, he visited the principal locomotive shops of the West in search of employment, with the result stated in the following letter, written about a month later, in St. Louis. "I am completely discouraged. I have applied at every place in the Western country where they build locomotives, except one (at Milwaukee), and I am informed that I shall find no opportunity at that place. At Detroit, my letters were of no avail. They wanted no draftsman, only made the locomotive-business a minor affair, and did not propose to try to establish a reputation of their own--as nearly as I could understand it. Mr.--, of Cleveland, h...