CHAPTER 30

THE SUCCESSFUL INVENTOR

One has indeed to be more than ordinarily gifted, and most carefully trained in many directions, spiritual, mental and physical, to be a successful inventor. To improve by one's own ability and efforts the results of any phase of human activities; to conceive, execute and adopt and introduce a new and improved method for the carrying out of certain human exertions without infringing upon, or appropriating the efforts of others; to secure a fair and just share of its benefits, to be translated to higher planes of life, without becoming over-conscious of it; to be called to the management of affairs involving the interests, and welfare of others; to be able to do so, not only profitably, but in a manner to gain, hold and preserve the esteem of our fellow-beings, is indeed a creditable achievement. Well worth the ambition of every high-minded person extraordinarily gifted. It requires the proverbial wisdom of an owl, the cunning of a fox, and the courage and strength of a lion.

If the true history of all the pre-eminent inventors should be written, it would be a record of "Making" the most of oneself, painstaking labor, and of constant devotion to duty, of as brave and as true men as ever wore brass buttons and gold lace; who, without martial glamour and loud acclaim, quietly solve and overcome great difficulties, against discouraging odds, and attain good results.