COMMERCIAL VALUE OF THE ART. 



HEN a novelty in science, art, or 

 manufactures becomes the candidate 

 for public favor, the first consideration 

 with the many is, — Will it pay ? 

 With American minds especially, this is the con- 

 trolling idea. An art is esteemed valuable in pro- 

 portion to its power of enriching the discoverer. The 

 benefit or pleasure it may confer on the community 

 is a secondary matter, as men usually make new 

 discoveries for their own exclusive gain. Whatever 

 share the public may receive is incidental, but even 

 then they are required to pay for it. The invention 

 of a new machine is valuable to the originator, not 



(87) 



