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AN INCIDENT. 109 



machinery, situated on Staten Island, was engaged by the 

 individual who had undertaken to aid in the manufacture. 

 This factory had been built by a corporation in New York, and 

 occupied for the manufacture of India rubber for about a year, 

 but was now abandoned. A large warehouse in Broadway was 

 also engaged by him, in anticipation of the sale of the goods. 



But a new misfortune awaited the inventor. The individual 

 above alluded to, who had engaged to furnish the means to con- 

 duct the manufacture, was overwhelmed in the disasters which 

 befel the mercantile community in 1836 ; he was left without 

 ability to proceed; and this inability was erroneously attributed 

 to the unfortunate business of India rubber, and want of merit in 

 the improvement, instead of the true cause. 



The inventor was again left without resources or means of 

 subsistence.. The extreme difficulty of obtaining such means of 

 subsistence for a family in a large city, where one's fortunes are 

 known to be bad, may easily be imagined. The following inci- 

 dent may illustrate the manner in which they are sometimes 

 unexpectedly relieved by a kind Providence. He had put in 

 his pocket a small article much valued, and sallied forth in the 

 morning for the purpose of obtaining with it food for the day. 

 Before reaching the pawnbroker's shop he met a creditor, 

 from whom he expected to receive sharp, if not bitter re- 

 proaches. His astonishment was so great that he could hardly 

 trust his hearing, when he accosted him with the inquiry, what 

 he could do for him. On being satisfied that no insult was 

 intended, he replied, without telling him that he was in search 

 of food, that the sum of fifteen dollars would greatly oblige him. 

 It was instantly handed to him, and the article which had been 

 designed for the pawnbroker, remained in the hands of the 

 owner, to relieve a greater necessity on a future occasion. He 

 was now, for some time, at the mercy of the pawnbroker, every 

 article that could be made available was pledged, until he was 

 relieved, for the time, by the loan of one hundred dollars from a 

 friend.* 



• James Deforest, Esq. 



