THE GLASSBLOWERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 72, 26 March 1870, Page 2

THE GLASSBLOWERS.

The Glassblowers last night offered a prize for the best poem, on the glass Steam engine, which was awarded to Mr. D. M. Luckie. The following is the prize poem, coupled with No. 2: — THE CRYSTAL WHEELS OF STEAM. O (AX IRREGULAR LAY.) Notes. — " Hero," whose name occurs in lhe following verses, was a famous mathematicion of Alexandria, who flourished 2 3 C0 3'ears ago. He was celebrated for numerous mechanical inventions, amongst others a simple form of the steam engine. "With reference to the malleability of glass, tradition has it that a nohL- Homan exiled by Nero, discovered this property in glass, and on the strength of h's discovery returned from exile. He shewed the tyrant a glass vessel, and dashed it on the ground before him. Instead of breaking, it was merely indented. Ilis discovery did not save him, for, as the story goes, Nero ordered bis immediate execution, and the malleability of glass was added to the list of " Lost Arts." What fairy vision meets the eager gaze ? — Revolving circles of still changing rays, In ruby, diamond, amethystine light, Wheel within wheel ; bright tier on tier displays Soft irridescent hues of rainbow clear and bright. Long centuries have rolled since Pagan Hero saw In steam a little toy that would beguile the hours ; — Watt, Stevenson — discovered Nature's law, And their good seed has borne rich fruits and flow- rs, Has oless'd humanity — has bridged the seas. Has peopled lands remote ; — and the soft breeze Of modern commerce — bless'd by steam— now blows In these once savage isles of ours, And changes tangled wilds to gardens of the rose. But steel and iron, bronze and brazen bands, Still form the fetters that the steam-god hold, Behold the fashioning of Woodrojfe's hands, Of ductile glass, displayed in many lands, — Emblem of art to rise in coming age of gold. When Science wrests from Nature one more story, Of glass that's malleable on anvil's rim, — A tale that was, ere yet the world was hoary, — When Nero piped to fires that ruddied Tiber's brim ; — Then Woodroffe's models, that delight the eye, Shall be realities in future days ; Make " brittle," " malleable" in varied dye, And vast utilities shall tell its praise : 'Twill drag the car, and drive the glass machine, And add art wonders moderns ne'er have seen.