New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-16
THE MAGIC or CHEMISTRY.

BY the celebration last year Of the flftieth an
Iiversary OF the discovery of mauve the world
was reminded Of the opening of IN era Of vast
Importance 10 industry as we'll as to science.
The interest which Americans felt IN the work
of Perllin during that period of commemora-
ton, moreover was the livellcr because he came
in person to this country to acknowledge the
homage which was paid him here.
The compound of carbon, hydrogen aud nitro
gen called anine had been recognized by
Unvcrdorben years before Perkins birth, but
when it was first found lin the indigo plant
its possibilities were not suspected. Its pres
ence IN coal tar facilitated its separation for
any use to which ii might be put but It's value
was not revealed until Perkin showed that by
the addition Of other chemical agents a variety
of brilliant hues could be produced Then in
somewhat rapid succession came a series Of
new and cheap dyes, which were of immense
service to the manufacturers OF silk. cotton and
woolen textiles. From coal tar. too was sub
sequently derived 4 remarkable abundance OF
novel products as dissimlar In nature as pho
tographlc developers and DR.. Remsen's sac
charm, the sweetest substance known.
Remarkable as We're the consequences OF the
achievement OF 1856, It is conceded that II was
purely accidental Perkin was not looking for
dyes, but for something else. His teacher, Hof-
man, having ascertained the precise compost
the proper ingredients TO unite. but he found,
what many of his professional brethren have
since learned, that 1t IS far easier TO analyze
than 10 build up and that the more complex
a compound is the harder 1t IS for man TO iml-
tate nature. Pcrkin attacked the same problem
and was equally unsuccessful, but the practical
fruits Of his discovery are now seen to be in
comparably more valuable than an unlimited
supply OF the drug which has proved so potent
q remedy for malaria. The influence Of his ex
periInents moreover was not limited 10 their
material results At n critical stage In the
history Of his profession Perkin demonstrated
that synthetic" chemistry was not after all,
a delusion and snare What he found was
not what he sought but In getting II he demon
strated that IIofman's faith had a rational
basis For this. more than for anything else
his labors Will he remembered with gratitude.
History IS full of parallels TO the venture Of
Perkln and its outcome. That acetylene yields
II light Of remarkable brilllancy was known long
ago. but not until a cheap way Of producing u
| from calcium carbide had been discovered dd
! the gas attain commercial importance. What
| is more tie man who first made calcium car
| bide was trying to mar ufaCture something very
| different. R6ntgen did not foresee that he would
! find n hitherto unrecogniZed form Of radiance
| when he began his experiments with the vacuum
| tube. Whether the glory TO be awarded for such
| achievements should be measured by the benefits
| conferred or merely by the intentions of those
/ who engage In new and difficult undertakings,
| # Will be readily granted that when a man has
| a promising inspiration he can never tell what
| It is worth TIL be tries Even accidental dis
| coveries are made only by those who are hunt
| ing eagerly for something.