690 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



metliods as a permanent basis for results, and witli that largeness of 

 vision and special understanding born of her special opi^ortunities, 

 yet true to her woman's instinct, which nothing can eradicate, has 

 seen what might be bettered, and is bettering it in that place which 

 is most potent for all that is good or evil in life — the home. 



SKETCH OF CHAKLES GOODYEAK.* 



Bt CLARKE DOOLEY. 



IN^ the rush and whirl toward the end of a century so fertile in 

 discoveries and inventions; when, day by day, we are coming 

 to accept the most marvelous announcements of science and new 

 creations for comfort, for safety, or pleasure with lessening enthusi- 

 asm, as if they were only an anticipated right — at such time, when, 

 enjoying so much, the world is already looking forward in reveling 

 wonder to the " Century of Electricity," it were well to single out 

 and assign to their merited place those who have most contributed to 

 make this progress possible. Among them should be ranked Charles 

 Goodyear, the discoverer of vulcanization. 



Charles Goodyear was born in New Haven, Connecticut, 

 December 29, 1800. He was the son of Amasa and Cynthia (Bate- 

 man) Goodyear, and a descendant of Stephen Goodyear, who was 

 the associate of Governor Eaton, and after him head of the com- 

 jDany of London merchants who founded the colony of Kew Haven 

 in 1638. Amasa Goodyear was an inventor of important agricul- 

 tural implements. The boy observed the good accomplished by some 

 of his father's innovations, and this contributed to his inventive bias. 

 His early years were passed in ISTew Haven. He is described as a 

 studious boy; at ten, serious and manly, with no taste for boyish 

 plays, and, if missed, was generally discovered reading. He had no 

 fondness for machinery, but was always trying to improve articles 

 used in the service of the house and farm; when not at school, was 

 usually occupied with his father's business; was a dutiful son, and 

 at sixteen his father showed his confidence by consulting his judg- 

 ment. He was early under the influence of strong religious impres- 

 sions, which were to characterize his life, and desired to enter the 

 ministry, but his father's business constrained him to give up the 

 idea. So from seventeen to twenty-one we find him apprenticed at 

 hardware in Philadelphia. 



He then returned to Connecticut to become a partner in the 



* See also India Rubber and Gutta Percba, by the writer. Popular Science Monthly, 

 March, 1897. 



