334 WALL STREET AND THE WILDS 



were a number with uranium and I am chagrined 

 to-day at the thought that radium must have pre- 

 sented itself to my blind side. 



In the machine shop I made physical appara- 

 tus and models of many kinds, utilizing the fall 

 of water from attic to basement for the construc- 

 tion of an air pump and an air blast, both con- 

 tinuous and responding to the opening of a water 

 valve. 



Sometimes I thought I invented things, but 

 after the models had been made I usually found 

 that they had either been invented already or 

 were not worth inventing. My neglect of social 

 duties was forgiven by my friends — after they 

 had looked at my hands — but there wasn't one, 

 even of the most Vere de Vere caste, who didn't 

 prefer shop or laboratory, to a conventional par- 

 lor. 



A relative was made a partner and then an- 

 other, and a branch office established in Newark 

 with telephonic connection, perhaps the first 

 long distance telephone, though of only ten miles, 

 for commercial use. Another branch was 



