WARNING TO PROSPECTIVE INVENTORS
By a careful perusal of what has been said, it will be seen that the
undertaking of a successful invention is no easy task, and that it
cannot fall to one's lot by mere chance.
It is quite true that, like the diamond, the inventor, the general,
orator, or writer is born. But be it also remembered that even
a diamond has to be cut, ground, and polished before it attains
its lustre, and the inventor or general, writer and orator are no
exceptions to the rule.
The general could not conquer a valiant foe if he did not master the
science of war, or if he failed to familiarize himself with most of
the conspicuous experiences of others in the same profession.
The writer and orator would have no audience if they failed to
fertilize their brains with rich stores of knowledge to draw upon,
and with proper means of expressing themselves.
And the inventor is generally doomed to failure if he fails to
earnestly apply himself to the acquisition and mastery of that
knowledge which is potent to successful invention in the mechanical
line, and to get his just or fair share of its value.
[Illustration: NUMEROUS AND DEEP ARE THE PITFALLS THAT THE
WOULD-BE-SUCCESSFUL INVENTOR MUST AVOID.]
Numerous and deep are the pitfalls that the would-be-successful
inventor must avoid. Rich and powerful are the members of the
fraternity who thrive and fatten on him, through his short-comings
of "Omission or Commission." At every stage of his progress he has
to combat a new set and different kinds of vampires, each attacking
him with different weapons, and in different ways, who consider
the unlucky inventor their natural and legitimate prey. These men
respectively garb their duplicity with the respectable name of a
"profession," and justify the means of robbing him of his just and
hard earnings, with the all-condoning name of "Modern Business
Methods."
[Illustration: VICTIMS CONSTANTLY THROWN UP BY THE WAVES OF
PASSION AND FOLLY, ON THE STERILE SHORE OF HUMAN INDIFFERENCE.]
[Illustration: SHORT AND EASY CUT TO OPULENCE AND EASE.
ENCOURAGED TO PURSEVERE IN THEIR FALLACIES BY THE SLICK CUNNING
SHARKS.
WITH THEIR OWN ILL-CONCEIVED NOTIONS AND PRIDE.
THEY BECOME UNFITTED FOR THEIR USUAL OCCUPATIONS.
VERY OFTEN THE SUBSTANCE OF THOSE DEPENDING ON THEM.]
As numerous and as pitiful as are the various victims constantly
thrown up by the waves of passion and folly on the sterile shore of
"human indifference," none are more so than they who have nothing
better than the promptings of a more-than-ordinary share of vanity
and conceit to aspire to the honors and rewards of successful
inventors. Foolishly do they imagine it a short and easy cut to
opulence and ease. Enthused with their delusion, they become unfitted
for their usual occupations, and are encouraged to persevere in
their fallacies by the slick, cunning sharks whose inevitable prey
they become through it. These not only take their very last dollar,
but very often the substance of those depending upon them; until at
last, poor, ruined, deluded fools, they wake up to the realization
of the grand truth, "THAT ONE GETS NOTHING FOR NOTHING," not even
experience. But it is none the less unfortunately true, that those
very victims themselves are responsible for the existence of the
means and conditions for their undoing. If perchance in the outset
of their ruinous career, they encounter one who would give them
competent and honest advice, if it be at variance with their own
ill-conceived notions and pride, he will receive insults for his
pains, and be deprived of the opportunity of rendering any services
to the profession of which his ability and integrity makes him a
creditable and honorable member.