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to explain to any artist his own art。
The defects and advantages of such a training were obvious in
Fleeming throughout life。 His thoroughness was not that of the
patient scholar； but of an untrained woman with fits of passionate
study； he had learned too much from dogma； given indeed by
cherished lips； and precocious as he was in the use of the tools of
the mind； he was truly backward in knowledge of life and of
himself。 Such as it was at least； his home and school training was
now complete； and you are to conceive the lad as being formed in a
household of meagre revenue； among foreign surroundings； and under
the influence of an imperious drawing…room queen； from whom he
learned a great refinement of morals； a strong sense of duty； much
forwardness of bearing； all manner of studious and artistic
interests； and many ready…made opinions which he embraced with a
son's and a disciple's loyalty。
CHAPTER III。 1851…1858。
Return to England … Fleeming at Fairbairn's … Experience in a
Strike … Dr。 Bell and Greek Architecture … The Gaskells … Fleeming
at Greenwich … The Austins … Fleeming and the Austins … His
Engagement … Fleeming and Sir W。 Thomson。
IN 1851； the year of Aunt Anna's death； the family left Genoa and
came to Manchester； where Fleeming was entered in Fairbairn's works
as an apprentice。 From the palaces and Alps； the Mole； the blue
Mediterranean； the humming lanes and the bright theatres of Genoa；
he fell … and he was sharply conscious of the fall … to the dim
skies and the foul ways of Manchester。 England he found on his
return 'a horrid place；' and there is no doubt the family found it
a dear one。 The story of the Jenkin finances is not easy to
follow。 The family； I am told； did not practice frugality； only
lamented that it should be needful； and Mrs。 Jenkin； who was always
complaining of 'those dreadful bills；' was 'always a good deal
dressed。' But at this time of the return to England； things must
have gone further。 A holiday tour of a fortnight； Fleeming feared
would be beyond what he could afford； and he only projected it 'to
have a castle in the air。' And there were actual pinches。 Fresh
from a warmer sun； he was obliged to go without a greatcoat； and
learned on railway journeys to supply the place of one with
wrappings of old newspaper。
From half…past eight till six； he must 'file and chip vigorously in
a moleskin suit and infernally dirty。' The work was not new to
him； for he had already passed some time in a Genoese shop； and to
Fleeming no work was without interest。 Whatever a man can do or
know； he longed to know and do also。 'I never learned anything；'
he wrote； 'not even standing on my head； but I found a use for it。'
In the spare hours of his first telegraph voyage； to give an
instance of his greed of knowledge； he meant 'to learn the whole
art of navigation； every rope in the ship and how to handle her on
any occasion'； and once when he was shown a young lady's holiday
collection of seaweeds； he must cry out； 'It showed me my eyes had
been idle。' Nor was his the case of the mere literary smatterer；
content if he but learn the names of things。 In him； to do and to
do well； was even a dearer ambition than to know。 Anything done
well； any craft； despatch； or finish； delighted and inspired him。
I remember him with a twopenny Japanese box of three drawers； so
exactly fitted that； when one was driven home； the others started
from their places； the whole spirit of Japan； he told me； was
pictured in that box； that plain piece of carpentry was as much
inspired by the spirit of perfection as the happiest drawing or the
finest bronze； and he who could not enjoy it in the one was not
fully able to enjoy it in the others。 Thus； too； he found in
Leonardo's engineering and anatomical drawings a perpetual feast；
and of the former he spoke even with emotion。 Nothing indeed
annoyed Fleeming more than the attempt to separate the fine arts
from the arts of handicraft； any definition or theory that failed
to bring these two together； according to him； had missed the
point； and the essence of the pleasure received lay in seeing
things well done。 Other qualities must be added； he was the last
to deny that； but this； of perfect craft； was at the bottom of all。
And on the other hand； a nail ill…driven； a joint ill…fitted； a
tracing clumsily done； anything to which a man had set his hand and
not set it aptly； moved him to shame and anger。 With such a
character； he would feel but little drudgery at Fairbairn's。 There
would be something daily to be done； slovenliness to be avoided；
and a higher mark of skill to be attained； he would chip and file；
as he had practiced scales； impatient of his own imperfection； but
resolute to learn。
And there was another spring of delight。 For he was now moving
daily among those strange creations of man's brain； to some so
abhorrent； to him of an interest so inexhaustible： in which iron；
water； and fire are made to serve as slaves； now with a tread more
powerful than an elephant's； and now with a touch more precise and
dainty than a pianist's。 The taste for machinery was one that I
could never share with him； and he had a certain bitter pity for my
weakness。 Once when I had proved； for the hundredth time； the
depth of this defect； he looked at me askance。 'And the best of
the joke；' said he； 'is that he thinks himself quite a poet。' For
to him the struggle of the engineer against brute forces and with
inert allies； was nobly poetic。 Habit never dulled in him the
sense of the greatness of the aims and obstacles of his profession。
Habit only sharpened his inventor's gusto in contrivance； in
triumphant artifice； in the Odyssean subtleties； by which wires are
taught to speak； and iron hands to weave； and the slender ship to
brave and to outstrip the tempest。 To the ignorant the great
results alone are admirable； to the knowing； and to Fleeming in
particular； rather the infinite device and sleight of hand that
made them possible。
A notion was current at the time that； in such a shop as
Fairbairn's； a pupil would never be popular unless he drank with
the workmen and imitated them in speech and manner。 Fleeming； who
would do none of these things； they accepted as a friend and
companion； and this was the subject of remark in Manchester； where
some memory of it lingers till to…day。 He thought it one of the
advantages of his profession to be brought into a close relation
with the working classes； and for the skilled artisan he had a
great esteem； liking his company； his virtues； and his taste in
some of the arts。 But he knew the classes too well to regard them；
like a platform speaker； in a lump。 He drew； on the other hand；
broad distinctions； and it was his profound sense of the difference
between one working man and another that led him to devote so much
time； in later days； to the furtherance of technical education。 In
1852 he had occasion to see both men and masters at their worst； in
the excitement of a strike； and very foolishly （after their custom）
both would seem to have behaved。 Beginning with a fair show of
justice on either side； the masters stultified their cause by
obstinate impolicy； and the men disgraced their order by acts of
outrage。 'On Wednesday last；' writes Fleeming； 'about three
thousand banded round Fairbairn's door at 6 o'clock： men； women；
and children； factory boys and girls； the lowest of the low in a
very low place。 Orders came that no one was to leave the works；
but the men inside （Knobsticks； as they are called） were precious
hungry and thought they would venture。 Two of my companions and
myself went out with the very first； and had the full benefit of
every possible groan and bad language。' But the police cleared a
lane through the crowd； the pupils were suffered to escape unhurt；
and only the Knobsticks followed home and kicked with clogs； so
that Fleeming enjoyed； as we may say； for nothing； that fine thrill
of expectant valour with which he had sallied forth into the mob。
'I never before felt myself so decidedly somebody； instead of
nobody；' he wrote。
Outside as inside the works； he was 'pretty merry and well to do；'
zealous in study； welcome to many friends； unwearied in loving…
kindness to his mother。 For some time he spent three nights a week
with Dr。 Bell； 'working away at certain geometrical methods of
getting the Greek architectural proportions'： a business after
Fleeming's heart； for he was never so pleased as when he could
marry his two devotions； art and science。 This was besides； in all
likelihood； the beginning of that love and intimate appreciation of
things Greek； from the least to the greatest； from the AGAMEMMON
（perhaps his favourite tragedy