Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-04-03
THE DIFFICULTIES OF eEx1Us

The penalty which genius pays, while in
pursuit of scientific knowledge, is great. A
few years ago it was thought Mr.. Keely would
occupy a prominent niche in the pantheon OF
fame. His discoverpof a new motor power,
it was said, would revolutionizs the world.
His success was regarded as certain, and the
stock in his company sold at fabulous prices.
The delay in perfecting his invention has
made him the subject of rldicule, and his
name IS now received with derision. A year
ago the name OF Edison suddenly bazed up,
and made more noise than light in the world
He was regarded as one of the greatest sci
entists the world ever produced, and he ami
his friends announced that in a giffy he was
to produce an electric light SO dazzling
that night would be converted into day. Gas
companies and oil dealers were all agog.
They were impressed with the belief that
their occupation was gone, and gas stocks
and the prices of Illuminating oils were
suddenly greatly deprecated in the market.
The hardness In perfecting the electric Ii hit
places Prof. Ellison alongside of Keely in
the limbo Of exploded humbugs. The coun-
try is familiar with the ridicule which has
been heaped upon Captain Eads. HIS jetties,
in the face Of success, have been pronounced
q failure and Eads an impostor. Captain
John Cowdoh has for years made the Missis-
sippi river an object of study and investiga-
ton. He is a man of powerful intellect, and
after profound Thought he has matured a
plan for the reclamation of the lowlands on
the Mississippi river to the seashore. With
all the force of his great mind he shows that
the only outlet to the sea is by a canal from
Barataria bay. Captain Cowdon has many
friends in support of his plans, and his
speeches at Washington before the various
congressional committees made a profound
impression. His facts and figures, and the
immense fund of information which he de
veloped was highly interesting and attracted
much commentator. But Mr.. Cowdou has
not escaped the ridIcule which seems te
be the penalty incurred by men seeking
to benefit mankind. But ridicult
and defamation strikes no terror t
men of genius seeking to benefit the worlC
by new discoveries. Time Is required fol
the development of every new theory. We
have faith in Prot. Edison. His success Ii
only question of time. Keely is still at work
on his new steam motor power, and is san
guine of ultimate success. Eads has nearly
silenced his enemies. and his project may be
regarded as a success. 1t may be after al
that Cowdon's plan for retaining the low.
lands of the Miss ,sslppi river and for reach
ing the sea through a canal is the correct one
1t is the duty of all good men to hold up th,
l. L.
theories and inventions, which, if successful
will revolutionize tie world and make fo
themselves an imperisbable name. The AP
PEAL has never joined in ridiculing any 0
the above named persons, who are giving
their time and talent for the benefit of man
kind. We live in an age of progress. n
doubt the inventions of the present generation
seemed as impraoticable fifty years ago a
the contemplated electric light, as Keely
motor power, Eads's jetties, or Cowdon'
proposition to convert the swamps of tn
Mississippi river into fields of waving gran
and feecy cotton. We will never hav
another valuable invention or discovery
men of science are to be made the subject c
sneers and jeers while pertecting and eluci
udlluR
once opposed railroads and telegraphs, op
poses new innovations. and prCnounces every
thing new as an abstract absurdity. Light
and heat, and gravity are abstract and invlsi
bic, but they hold this globe of ours poise
among the stars forever. Laws of every kin
are only abstract ideas; hence the most praC
teal men are those who most contide in them
Every great inventor is a strict abstractionisi
an idealist until his invention is complete
and every fanatic is thought to be fool unit
he turns ont to be wiser than other men
James Watt, who made the steam-engin
available, and from whose works, founded l
England about a century ago, an
which still bear his name, com
the engines of the huge ships, which seem
thing of life. James Watt, as he sat, de
lcate boy muslng upon the vapor curtin