text:  Through their inventions steam has become as it were the breath the life of a noble animal of man's creation untiring in its ceaseless labours irresistible in its tremendous strength; and when its maker chooses to endow it with powers of motion fleeter also than the wind but of imposing might and majesty as it pursues its headlong course; and yet withal checked by a single touch yielding a perfect obedience to the hand of its ruler and submissive to the slightest intimation of his will