ELISHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 29 



That which I have been referring- to is log-ical, carefully 

 planned work, with deiinite ends in view. 



I will close by reccamtino- for you. in part, the story 

 of Palissv, the potter. It may be a twice-told tale to 

 vou, but it well illustrates scientific drudg-ery pursued 

 either to death or to success. Europe was without por- 

 celain. The only pottery known to French art was 

 common earthenware. Palissv set for himself the task 

 of discovering how the beautiful enamel was made 

 which could be seen on priceless ancient pieces or on im- 

 ported Eastern ware. 



How was he to beg-in? He had no teacher, he had no 

 property. He himself says: 



"Without having- heard of what materials the said 

 vessels were composed, I pounded, in those days, all 

 the substances which I could suppose likely to make 

 anvthing%and having- pounded and g-round them I bought 

 a quantitv of earthen pots and broke them to pieces. 

 I put on them some of the materials that I had ground 

 and having- marked them, I set apart in writing what 

 things I had put upon each, and having made a furnace 

 to m}^ fancy, I set the fragments down to bake." 



He built his furnaces, exhausted his resources and 

 failed. He pulled down his furnaces, broke fresh pots, 

 undeterred by an empty purse, an empty cupboard and 

 a remonstrating wife, and failed again. Then he 

 prepared three or four hundred pieces and sent them 

 to a neighboring potters-kiln to be burned, after, as he 

 sa3^s, he "had fooled awa}^ several years, with sorrows 

 and sighs because he could not arrive at his intention." 

 The result was that he "received nothing but shame 

 and loss because the}^ turned out good for nothing. " 

 This he did several times with failure onh* for his re- 

 ward. Then hunger at home and the clamors of Mad- 



