Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1880-03-06
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49, WIZ ~ kSt crher htea OF
the object aimed at. learn Is require
ments as whole. anil also Is composed
of separate parts. II. for example,
that lohjeft be the, weaving of COACH
lace, ascertain the character q! The
several motions required, and the rcfa-
tons these must sustain to each ether
in order to effect the combined result:
secondly, l devise means to produce
those motions; and thirdly, I combine
those means and reduce them to state
Of harmonious cooperation. To carry
an invention through the 'krst and Sec
ond stages is comparatively easy the
first is simply an Investigation Of facts;
the second, SO far, as 1 can trace the
operations of my own mind. comes
through the exercise of the Imagination.
I am never at aloss for means In the
sense above explained Onshe contrary,
my chief difficulty is TO select from the
variety always at command those which
are most, appropriate. To make this
choice of elementary means and 70 COM
bine them in unity and harmony
conduct, that IL, an invention through
its last practical Representatives. the
chief Labor 'i.,efT ff7-,.f. sti..,..-.,s
80 In making this choice of elementary
known to what is not so-keeping In
mind, at the same time, the necessary
combinations, examining eaeh element,
not only in reference to it, peculiar
function, but to its fitness also fer be-
coming part of the whole. Each de-
vice must be thus examined ard re-ex-
anined until ihsrfFAy and unity are
fully established, find no difficulty in
effecting that concentration Of thought
which IS so necessary in pursuits like
mine. Indeed, it is not easy for me to
withdraw my mind from any subject in
which il has once become interested I'M
til its general bearings, ut least, are full
ly ascertained.3 l always mature in my
mind the general plan Of an invention
before attempting to execute it, resort
ing occasionally to sketches ION paper
for the more intricate parts. In build
ing a machine draughtsman prepares
the working drawing from sketches fur
nished by me, which indicate in figures
the proportion Of the parts, never
making any thing with my own hands.
l do MT like even drawing to q SCALE"
Inventors less favored by nature with
the power of close and long continued
mental concentration which Mr. Bige-
low was blessed with, or lacking the
vividness and accuracy of his concep-
tons and the strength Of memory which
enabled him to hold fast the mental i'm
age of complicated machine which his
Imagination had put together, may have
to resort sooner to the pencil sketch or
the material model. But these are apt
to become distractions rather than aids,
and the young inventor should study to
do without them as long as possible.
Tho moment the inventor materializes
an idea his power over 10 is so far
lessened. II the material form is not
Just what il should be to suit the ulti-
mate combination it is far harder TO re-
cast it, in the third stage Of invention
as described by Mr.. Bfgelow, than it
would be IL preserved as apureiy men
tai conception. is.ra . .essg ] s,fsit
Z OF course to the man who has ere
alive mental power, a hand skilled in
the arts of drawing and mechanical
construction may be, and if properly
exercised will be, desirable sdjunct in
the art, of invention; but it is not an
essential, factor, for many successful
inventors have been. like Mr.. Bigelow,
unable to give their new conceptions
material embodiment; and whers man
ual'skill furnishes a too ready incentive
to the Overhasty naturalization Of crude
ideas, it is an accomplishment which
the genuine inventor can vel AFFORD TO
dispense with.-Scientifc american.
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