48 PROFESSOR HENRY AND THE 



" the benefits which might be derived from it to the 

 " exclusive use of any individual." 



Pure science was his beloved, and he could not 

 make merchandise of her. 



When that sentence was written, other eminent 

 scientists had thought differently of this question, 

 and had patented their discoveries ; and lest he 

 might seem to cast a reproach upon them, and to 

 say "lam holier than thou," his humble spirit 

 added these words: "In this, perhaps, I was too 

 fastidious." 



It must have occurred to him at times, when he 

 needed money for his experiments, and when he 

 saw the fruits of his labor enriching the world, 

 that he might have taken some share of the 

 wealth; but he would not taint with selfishness his 

 generous gift. How valuable in money it was he 

 knew full well. Even for that fragment of it, 

 then for six years by him given to the public, 

 which was carried to Morse in 1837 to enable 

 him to construct his special plan of a recording 

 telegraph in that year, now practically obsolete, 

 Dr. Gale, who carried it, received a share in 

 the patent which was founded upon it, and 

 without which it could not have existed. For 

 that share fifteen thousand dollars in cash were 

 subsequently paid to him. And its use for the 

 telegraph was but a small part of its infinite va- 



