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that at one time I could have repeated the whole of the book from
memory。 Now I found the value of arithmetic； and set to work in
earnest on proportion； vulgar and decimal fractions； and； in
fact； everything in school work that I could turn to account in
the science of chemistry。 The result of this sudden application
was that I was seized with an illness。 For some months I had
incessant headache； my hair became dried up； then turned grey；
and finally came off。 Weighing myself shortly after my recovery；
at the age of fifteen； I found that I just balanced fifty…six
pounds。 I took up mensuration； then astronomy； working at them
slowly； but giving the bulk of my spare time to chemistry。
〃In the year 1869； when I was sixteen years old； I came across
Cuthbert Bede's book； entitled 'Photographic Pleasures。' It is an
amusing book； giving an account of the rise and progress of
photography； and at the same time having a good…natured laugh at
it。 I read the book carefully； and took up photography as an
amusement； using some apparatus which belonged to my father； who
had at one time dabbled in the art。 I was soon able to take fair
photographs。 I then decided to try photography as a business。 I
was apprenticed to a photographer； and spent four years with
himone year at Northallerton； and three at Darlington。 When my
employer removed to Darlington； I joined the School of Art there。
〃Having read an account of the experiments of M。 E。 Becquerel； a
French savant； on photographing in the colours of nature； my
curiosity was awakened。 I carefully repeated his experiments；
and convinced myself that he was correct。 I continued my
experiments in heliochromy for a period of about two years；
during which time I made many photographs in colours； and
discovered a method of developing the coloured image； which
enabled me to shorten the exposure to one…fortieth of the
previously…required time。 During these experiments； I came upon
some curious results； which； I think； might puzzle our scientific
men to account for。 For instance； I proved the existence of
black light； or rays of such a nature as to turn the
rose…coloured surface of the sensitive…plate blackthat is； rays
reflected from the black paint of drapery； produced black in the
picture； and not the effect of darkness。 I was； like Becquerel；
unable to fix the coloured image without destroying the colours；
though the plates would keep a long while in the dark； and could
be examined in a subdued； though not in a strong light。 The
coloured image was faint； but the colours came out with great
truth and delicacy。
〃I began to attend the School of Art at Darlington on the 6th of
March； 1872。 I found； on attempting to draw； that I had
naturally a correct eye and hand； and I made such progress； that
when the students' drawings were examined； previously to sending
them up to South Kensington； all my work was approved。 I was
then set to draw from the cast in chalk； although I had only been
at the school for a month。 I tried for all the four subjects at
the May examination； and was fortunate enough to pass three of
them； and obtained as a prize Packett's 'Sciography。' I worked
hard during the next year； and sent up seventeen works； for one
of these； the 'Venus de Milo；' I gained a studentship。
〃I then commenced the study of human anatomy； and began
water…colour painting； reading all the works upon art on which I
could lay my hand。 At the May examination of 1873； I completed
my second…grade certificate； and at the end of the year of my
studentship； I accepted the office of teacher in the School of
Art。 This art…training created in me a sort of disgust for
photography； as I saw that the science of photography had really
very little genuine art in it； and was more allied to a
mechanical pursuit than to an artistic one。 Now； when I look
back on my past ideas； I clearly see that a great deal of this
disgust was due to my ignorance and self…conceit。
〃In 1874； I commenced painting in tempora； and then in oil；
copying the pictures lent to the school from the South Kensington
Art Library。 I worked also from still life； and began sketching
from nature in oil and water…colours； sometimes selling my work
to help me to buy materials for art…work and scientific
experiments。 I was； however； able to do very little in the
following year； as I was at home suffering from sciatica。 For
nine months I could not stand erect； but had to hobble about with
a stick。 This illness caused me to give up my teachership。
〃Early in 1876 I returned to Darlington。 I went on with my art
studies and the science of chemistry； though I went no further in
heliochromy。 I pushed forward with anatomy。 I sent about
fifteen works to South Kensington； and gained as my third…grade
prize in list A the 'Dictionary of Terms used in Art' by Thomas
Fairholt； which I found a very useful work。 Towards the end of
the year； my father； whose health was declining； sent for me home
to assist him in the school。 I now commenced the study of
Algebra and Euclid in good earnest； but found it tough work。 My
father； though a fair mathematician； was unable to give me any
instruction； for he had been seized with paralysis； from which he
never recovered。 Before he died； he recommended me to try for a
schoolmaster's certificate； and I promised him that I would。 I
obtained a situation as master of a small village school； not
under Government inspection； and I studied during the year； and
obtained a second class certificate at the Durham Diocesan
College at Christmas； 1877。 Early in the following year； the
school was placed under Government inspection； and became a
little more remunerative。
〃I now went on with chemical analysis； making my own apparatus。
Requiring an intense heat on a small scale； I invented a furnace
that burnt petroleum oil。 It was blown by compressed air。 After
many failures； I eventually succeeded in bringing it to such
perfection that in 7 1/2 minutes it would bring four ounces of
steel into a perfectly liquefied state。 I next commenced the
study of electricity and magnetism； and then acoustics； light；
and heat。 I constructed all my apparatus myself； and acquired
the art of glass…blowing； in order to make my own chemical
apparatus； and thus save expense。
〃I then went on with Algebra and Euclid； and took up plane
trigonometry； but I devoted most of my time to electricity and
magnetism。 I constructed various scientific apparatusa syren；
telephones； microphones； an Edison's megaphone； as well as an
electrometer； and a machine for covering electric wire with
cotton or silk。 A friend having lent me a work on artificial
memory； I began to study it； but the work led me into nothing but
confusion； and I soon found that if I did not give it up； I
should be left with no memory at all。 I still went an sketching
from Nature； not so much as a study； but as a means of recruiting