The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-05-30
Invention as an Art.

| tlce, Is It's sole prerequisite. In some mys-
terious way Nature endows some men with
power to conceive and produce new things
and processes, which the world consciously
or unconsciously needs, but, in the absence
of the inventors genius, is unable to get.
Without born capacity to invent, inven-
ton is deemed impossible, and rightly
enough; but-herein arises the popular
error-it is assumed that the faculty of
original creation is a rare one, possessed by
few, and not to be attained by others, how
ever earnestly they may strive for it. On
the contrary, the faculty is one common to
the majority of men, more or less, and
always ready to be made more under favor
able conditions.
The singers in any community are rela-
lively few; yet the most experienced teach
ers of music, who have had much to do in
teaching music to large and unsolicited
classes unite in asserting that all men can
learn to sing if they want to, and most men
to sing fairly well.
1t is much the same with invention.
The innate capacity is common; its practi-
cal and profitable development is much less
common, for the reason that comparatively
few try to develop it, the multitude believ-
ing that the fundamental "gift" is not
theirs. Accordingly, it is only by accident,
or through the stress of special circum-
stances, that most inventors discover that
there is any chance for them in that field
of productive effort Once enlisted in the
work, successfully or unsuccessfully, they
are pretty sure to discover that invention
is an art which must, for the most part, be
mastered as other arts are, by diligent
study and patient effort. Unlike other
arts, however, its boundaries are not limited
to any one field of thought or knowledge
or action, but are in every direction limit
less, though practically bordered on the
hither side by what men have already dis
covered and done.
Practically bordered; for while the re-
production of an old device may, from the
inventors standpoint, be as perfect an act
of invention as the newest and most origi-
nal invention might be, the field for profit
able invention lies mainly in regions new
and unexplored. An invention must be
novel to be patentable; and, except for
practice, it is only patentable inventions
that are worth making. knowledge, there
fore, specific, positive, and comprehensive
knowledge, of what has been done in the
field in which the inventors work is to be
done, and clear apprehension of some
thing that remains to be done, are import
ant elements if the successful inventors
work is to be done, and clear apprehen-
sion of something that remains to be done,
are important elements in the successful
inventors outfit. The wider his range of
such knowledge, the more numerous his
opportunities to invent must be, provided
the manner in which his knowledge has
been gained has not untitled him for indie
pendent thought and action. A man may
load himself with so many tools that he
cannot work with any of them In like
manner overmuch learning may spoil
man for doing. The pack mule of an ex-
plorer's train is not likely to make many
novel observations or discoveries.
To succeed in the art of invention it is
commonly the rule that habit of inventing
must go hand in hand with observation
and study. Sometimes lucky hit may be
made by an inexperienced inventor, just as
men ignorant of minerals have stumbled on
valuable mines. Nevertheless, the man
who has trained himself to invent, and is
in the habit of regarding every new fact or
experience from the standpoint of its pos
sible utility as basis for invention, will
excel the unframed inventor as surely in
the long run as the practical prospector
will the unintelligent and inexperienced
''tenderfoot" And the case in favor of
the practiced inventor is even stronger, for
the ability to recognize the need of an in
vention, though of primary Importance, is
less important than the ability to see how
the need may be supplied, and demonstrate
the solution of the problem by doing it.
practice, practice, practice, " said De-
mosthenes, is the first requisite for success
in oratory. Equally is it necessary for sure
success in invention. 1t does not follow
that the would-be orator must get his prac-
tice wholly in the forum; no more need the
inventor get his practice in absolutely new
inventions. The numerous preliminary
failures which have led up to the great
success of many greatly successful inven-
tors, while they emphasize the need of
practice in this art, quite as clearly indi-
cate the wisdom of not confning practice
to what promises to be patentable. The
work of the novice in invention may be,
frequently is, valuable in itself; but if large
success in the art is aimed at it will not
pay to suspend practice for the lack of
novelties to work on. The resolution of
old problems affords excellent and useful
practice for the beginner, who may find
ready test for the value of his work by
comparing its results with those exhibited
in the perfected inventions of more prac-
ticed minds; and the habit thus gained of
independently rebuilding and critically ex-
amining existing inventions will furnish ad-
mirable training for original work in fields
entirely new.
The time may come when. a systematic
training in the art of invention, with prac-
tice in reinventing machines of greater or
less complexity, and the standard devices
and movements of practical mechanics, will
form part of every frst-rate machinist's
education; and similarly in other depart
ments of productive industry. But until
then those who wish to fit themselves for
the cultivation cf this most inviting and
profitable art, the art of invention, must be
their own guides.
Not the least advantage in purposely re-
inventing for the sake of practice comes
from the circumstance that such practice
work cannot lead to loss or disappointment,
while it cannot fail to lead the student to
a practical working knowledge of the ma
terials and methods employed by the most
successful inventors
Such self-training is sure to pay. Much
as our inventors have already accomplished,
the art of invention, as an art, is yet in Its
infancy; and it is safe to say that the prizes
offered for its successful cultivation in the
future are vastly greater and more numer-
Gus than those it has awarded to its vota-
ries in the past.
In nearly every railway station in Lon
don is a small box on legs, painted crimson
which may be called an automatic post-of-
fee. 1t is divided in two compartments.
On the top are apertures admitting penny,