64 LIFE AND WORK OF SIR JAGADIS C. BOSE 



An American friend, indignant with what seemed such 

 unpractical quixotism, forthwith patented the invention 

 in his name in America, but Bose would not use his rights, 

 and allowed the patent to lapse. As a consequence, his 

 improved coherer came into use till a fresh device was 

 adopted in its stead. 



It may be frankly admitted even in some cases main- 

 tained that under present industrial and economic 

 conditions it may be practically impossible to organise 

 and apply certain useful and desirable inventions without 

 conforming to the customary rules of the game. After 

 full recognition of the prevalent economic situation, it has 

 been necessary to explain Bose's position as that of no 

 mere quixotist. Simply stated, it is the position of the 

 old rishis of India, of whom he is increasingly recog- 

 nised by his countrymen as a renewed type, and 

 whose best teaching was ever open to all willing to accept 

 it. It also concurs with that of the modern pilgrim 

 of a later chapter and of the boy growing up in the 

 enthusiasm of the antique poetry and chivalry of the 

 past, whose acquaintance we made at the beginning. 



Towards the close of Bose's stay in England in 1897, 

 he was invited to explain his results in Paris by prominent 

 members of its Physical Society, and also by the leading 

 physicists of Berlin. At the Societe de Physique the chair 

 was taken by M. Cornu, who had been President of the 

 Academy of Sciences, a veteran investigator in optics 

 and electricity, whose generous appreciation remains one 

 of Bose's most valued reminiscences. Lippmann, already 

 famous through his inventions in colour-photography, 

 Cailletet, who had made one of the first successes in the 

 liquefaction of gases, and others of foremost rank were 

 present. Lippmann and others were so enthusiastic as to 

 insist upon a later demonstration in the Sorbonne ; and 

 soon afterwards Bose was made an honorary member of 

 the Societe de Physique. 



