8 W. J. MCGEE 



vator, and the flail to the horsepower thresher, the neigh- 

 borhood water mill to the steam driven roller mill grinding 

 for all the people of a whole state; and the farmer learned to 

 live by the strength of his beasts and the craft of his machines 

 merely guided by his own intelligence. The mechanic arts 

 were regenerated ; steam was harnessed more effectively than 

 before, and our railway making and locomotive building be- 

 came and remain a revelation to the world ; for only recently 

 European engineers have been compelled to swallow incredu- 

 lity as to the rapidity of American bridge building, while Brit- 

 ish promoters hastening to supply Egypt with locomotives 

 have saved half the time required for delivery, despite the 

 doubling of distance, by ordering from American builders. 

 The tide of foreign importation was soon stayed, and then 

 turned, and now American steel tools are sold in Sheffield 

 and fine American hardware in Norway, while the products 

 of American machines in the form of foodstuffs and fabrics 

 are carried into every quarter of the globe. The character- 

 istic of American inventiveness is its diffusion. Invention is 

 as free as the franchise, and open competition gives life to 

 genius no less than to trade. American devices (temporarily 

 protected by patents) are so diffused that every citizen is in 

 contact with the products of physical science and mechanical 

 skill; everybody may have a machine made watch better 

 than the average hand made product of Geneva, nearly equal 

 to the tested Swiss chronometer; every family may have its 

 sewing machine and telephone; and every man, woman, and 

 child wears machine made buttons, pins, hats, and textile 

 fabrics. 



j A typical American device is the bicycle. Invented in 

 France, it long remained a toy or a vain luxury. Redevised 

 in this country, it inspired inventors and captivated manu- 

 facturers, and native genius made it a practical machine for 

 the multitude. Tj^Dical, too, is the bicycle in its effect on 

 national character. It first aroused invention, next stimu- 

 lated commerce, and then developed individuality, judg- 

 ment, and prompt decision on the part of its users more 

 rapidly and completely than any other device; for although 

 association with machines of any kind (absolutely straightfor- 



