The Columbian fountain., 1846-02-21
THE COLUMBIAN FOUNTAIN.
SATURDAY MORNING, FEB. 81, 1916.
6s-The lecture on ..The Mansions Of Resi-,

or friendship, Love and Truth winch was
postponed last evening, owing 10 the lnclem
ency Of the weather, will be given tonight.
Saturday evenlng,) in the same place, al III
O'clock We urge brother Heslon's friends 10
come out in large numbers We will also
state that he will preach his farewell sermons
In the District on Sunday morning and even
ing, in the Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal
Church.
DE- We would remind advertisers and others
TO whom it may be convenient, that we have
a box al Stott's Drug Store, for the reception
of adve rtisements, SIC. for the Fountain.
Any communications left at Edmund f.
Browns Agency office and Commission store,
+ street, near Treasury Department, will be
Immediately forwarded 10 US,
lNvENToRs---These curious, ingenious and
most useful poverty stricken class are quite nu-
merous at present in this city, and their pro
ducts are an aslonishment to thousands who
visit the palent office. Their efforts TO get out
their patents are often as ingenious as their in
ventions There is one, real Yankee, a tho
rough temperance chap, whose acquaintance
we have recently made, who will yet make
noise in this city,
Full of inventions, and as full of improve
mems for human welfare, he gains a full share
of the epihets so freely and thoughlessly be-
slowed on this class ''He is poor inven-
tor" ga hair Drained inventor, - and thus often
is contemptuously cast aside, pearl of great
price.
One Of these recently called on Masssachu-
seit's chief glory in The Senate, who would
not even hear word of his invention or look
alta few words Of explanation that did not oc-
cupy halfquarter of a letter sheet.
When so much has been done by inven'io
IN these last twenty-five years of peace, how
wonderful ii is that great men and rich men
are SO slow to give their patronage to inventive
genius. What if every ten were failures and
the eleventh successful, even at cost of $1,000 |
each, the gain would be immense, and doubt
less most important Improvements would be
brought out, perhaps centuries sooner:
Our country lost the honor and advantage
of the steam boat for fifty years, because the
noted Fitch could not obtain $500 or $500 to
aid him to complete his stean apparatus.
We are acquainted with one Of these poor
inventors, who for several years has had an
invention to do away with steam on railroads,
but as yet is unable to get out his patent. Is
there not some one who would be willing to
aid him, a, risk of 30O2 With this sum he
believes he can test it TO a certainty.
-~--~~~-~~--~-~~-~--,
A Curious FAcT.-A distinguished clergy
man of New York, travelling in Europe three
years since, had introduced 10 him at Geneva,
young man, who, though youthful mocha
mic OF the shops of this watch making city, had
his soul filled with noble sentiments of philan
thropy. His spirit was fixed with the great
project of contrivng some effectual relief for
the wants of the immense poor population of
Europe. His attention was turned to America
torths purpose, and he has now been travel |
ling this country on foot, with his pack and
rife on his back, to see for himself and TO car |
ry out his plan of philanthropy. More than
a year since, he came to this clergyman and |
said he had new idea Well, what is il? |
"There is Oregon TO the west on the Pacific, |
China is right opposite A great railroad from
the United States TO the mouth Of the Colum-
bla would open up an immense trade by the
shortest roule, and best communication with
the East. Such road, if the United States !
Government would grant the right and large |
tract Of land on each side, could build, BY |
giving employment 10 the poor Of Europe, and
pay It's cost from the land" The clergyman
was startled, aud actually feared his young
friend was becoming cracked He talked with
and watched him, but in few months after.
came out the project OF Mr. Whitney TO build
the iron road to Oregon. Was this the first
birth of this great idea?
Mr.. EDITOR: Beautiful arethe ways Of tenn
perance: truly ''her ways are ways ofpleasant-
ness, and all her paths are peace" But, after