98 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 



were among the principal causes of his failure ; not so much in 

 consequence of the amount of money lost by them, as on ac- 

 count of the effect the speculation had on his credit as a mer- 

 chant ; also, because they are rendered much more complete by 

 the improvements in gum-elastic, and because he is as confident 

 now as ever, that the inventions have in themselves intrinsic 

 merit, and will probably, at some future day, be thought by 

 others worthy of attention, as matters of improvement. 



The two inventions above alluded to, the Stella-rota and 

 Self-winding Clock, are described among the applications of 

 gum-elastic, in Vol. II. 



All who have had experience with inventions, know full well 

 that it requires a vast deal besides merit in an invention to make 

 it successful ; it must not be too far in advance of the age ; 

 besides, it requires much time and persevering effort to introduce 

 a new thing into use, be it ever so good ; and, sometimes, the 

 better it is, the longer it takes. Sometimes the great contrast 

 in things that are improved, with those for which they are to be 

 substituted, seems only to excite the incredulity of mankind. 



This was particularly the case with the cast-iron plough, and 

 the improvement in forks. The inventors and introducers, in 

 many cases, thought themselves highly favored when an influ- 

 ential farmer consented to give them a trial, when they were 

 presented to him. 



The writer has in mind instances in which they were abso- 

 lutely refused, when presented, on the score of unbelief, from the 

 articles being so light and well-finished. 



Oftentimes things of little or no value catch the public favor, 

 and, by being prosecuted by shrewd and discerning individuals, 

 large fortunes are made by them. The wonders of the day ex- 

 plode, and are never heard of afterwards. At this period it 

 became with the writer a serious question what he might do 

 next, with any prospect of success. Foreseeing that he should 

 not be likely to shake off the epithets of inventor, mechanical 

 genius, or visionary, which terms are generally considered as 

 synonymous, and diametrically opposed to money-getting — all 





