The herald., 1893-08-29

very high figures. Fine and large onel
may be held to be amongst the mos
priceless gems in existsnce. although
not ranging within any distance o
either the ruby or the emerald. Tht
idea that the diamond 10 the most price
less Of gems is q popular superstition
and is not held at all in dilletante cir
cles, although the dazzling attractive.
ness of this jewel Is conceded in oil
lands.
But even in the midst Of the marvele
of the nineteenth century we must mo-
mentarily pause at the announcement
that Edison or anybody else can make
rubies at the rate of So pound-andru
bies, mind you, that are one hundred times
handsomer than the genuine. There is
something in this statement that raises
very grave doubts of the sanity Of Mr..
Edison. No brain, however clear and
vigorous it may be, 10 proof against over
work and too tense a strain. 1t may
just be that the wonderful intellect Of
Edison has reached its period of dscad-
ence, and that he is romancing. In the
same conversations the great inventor
stated that he would never bother again
with any inventions that required to be
patented. He claims to have been sub
jected to gross wrong and outrage in the
process of patenting his great inventions.
This is probably true. The major por-
tion Of tho profits Of the sublime inven-
tions of great genius are generally
absorbed by wretched middlemen, who
are sordid beyond description. and who
spoliate both upon the inventor and the
people.
is actually incredible the rate at
which the people OF the United States
and OF the world are being preyed upon
by the hucksters of the products of
genius. Royalties OF incredible magni-
tude are today being enjoyed by persons
who have taken advantage of the finan.
cial inexperience of the God-inspired
men who have advanced mankind in
all mechanical and scientific lines.
Equity would suggest the protection Of
the inventor and also of the people. A
limit should be placed to the amount
any man should receive in the shape OF
royalties or profits on any invention. AS
it requires the express Intervention of
the government to secure to any man
the fruit of his invention, the govern
ment should protect the people, and set
a limit to the profit of patents whose in
in nine cases out of ten. get
next to nothing.
Think OF the enormous profits of the
Bell Telephone patent. for instance? If
they were announced the figures would
take away the breath of an ordinary
man. Why should such high handed
rioting in opulence be permitted at the
expense of the public? Take the snor-
nous cost of a printing press? A splsn-
did perfecting Hoe press will range from
$45. 600 to $4,000. The actual cost of
one of these machines. leaving big
profit to the manufacturer and the in
ventor, is probably from $4,000 to $2500.
Why should such prodigious profits be
allowed? Probably in examining into
the details of one of these presses it will
be found that fully dozen patents enter
into their makeup, every one with q
royalty attached to it. Thus "folders"-
to q perfecting press-ars
snada 70 oe~s eAnnn --a ---------1 .i- !
they could be made for $500.
Thus the good people are being con-
tinually robbed for the benefit OF middle
raon-of cormorant who respect neither
the man Of genius nor the public. Edi-
sons bitter remarks chow that he, at
least, the most brilliant Of all inventors,
has not benefited by the extortions
which have been practised in his name,
and through his matchless inventions.