THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 139 



the tub in which he performed the test and he would find that he had 

 not yet obtained the desired result. Like many other experimenters 

 he was determined, but he had become, after several months of 

 fruitless endeavor, somewhat discouraged. One morning he came 

 eagerly to look at the batch of the preceeding day and the condition 

 of the contents of the tub produced a new encouragement. A quick 

 test assured him that his optimism was well founded. He had at 

 last made a batch that came up to the desired strength. This point 

 signaled the beginning of successful peroxide manufacture in 

 America. 



Reviewing the hardships and disasters of the first year of this man's 

 business, it is pleasant to recall that in after years he built up a 

 splendid business and reputation for his product, secured a consider- 

 able competence and retired to enjoy the fruits of his labors. It is 

 an interesting fact that this manufacturer continued for several years 

 to place his product on the market without a competitor. It was 

 principally through his efforts that the medical profession was educated 

 in the uses of peroxide, and the layman given a knowledge of its 

 value as a household article. 



A rather amusing story is told by a friend of this manufacturer who 

 was familiar with the early undertakings and work of this man 

 and who often dined with him and talked over his peroxide difficulties. 

 In the later years of peroxide manufacture many new brands were 

 coming into the market, which fact naturally did not please the first 

 producer. Immediately a new product came into existence, and 

 an original bottle was purchased by this manufacturer and placed with 

 his own and others on a convenient table by his desk. Upon the 

 occasion of a visit from the friend on a hot summer's day and 

 during the course of an earnest conversation, a cork popped from one 

 of the bottles on the table with as much noise as might accompany 

 the drawing of a cork from a champagne bottle. The mighty peroxide 

 manufacturer almost leaped from his chair and turning to his stenog- 

 rapher inquired, "What brand was that?" The stenographer replied, 

 "That was yours sir." Settling back in his chair, the manufacturer 

 said to the friend, "That shows the others are no good." 



[To be Continued.} 



