Evening journal., 1911-01-14
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Famous Scientist Who
Put Aside Great Wealth
BY "ROIIand."


The two men of science who are
now universally credited with having
largely laid the foundation for the
present day industrial use OF electric
ity are Michael Faraday and Joseph
Henry. II has been said of Henry
that he did more than any other
American since the time of Franklin
for the development of the science OF
electricity. When he was only 80
years of age he sent current of cleo
tricity through a mile of copper wire
and caused an audible signal to DC
sounded at the end Of the wire While
It Is true that Faraday had preceded
him in the discovery Of magnetic in
duction, yet Henry was the first 20
employ magnetic attraction and re-
pulsion to produce motion. II is now
generally accepted that Henry origi-
mated the principle upon which the
Morse telegraph instrument is operat-
ed while Professor Morse himself In
vented the apparatus by means uf
which ineligible signals could be
communicated for long distances by
electricity. From 1916 until his death
In 1878. Professor Henry was socre-
tary of the Smithsonian Institution.
One of the intimate friends of Pro-
fessor Henry during the latter part of
his life was Hugh McCulloch of In
diana. who. in 1863. became the first
Comptroller of the Currency. and two
years later succeeded Fessenden as
Secretary of the Treasury. a post that
he retained until 1869
Soon after went to Washington
TO organize the new department of
the Comptroller of the Currency" said
MIR. McCulloch. 1T was my good for
tune TO meet Professor Henry. who
was then enjoying an enviable inter-
national reputation. at a little club
whose membership was chiefly con-
fined TO scientific men--a circum-
stance that led me TO say to Pro-
fessor Henry that | seemed to be out
of place I'm a, club of that kind, for,
although ! had always been interested
In science as a layman. yet my life's
work had been devoted TO banking. ex-
cept the few years during which had
| practiced law.
Mr.. Comptroller. replied Pro-
fessor Henry, You make great mis-
take in presuming that science and
] finance are SO far apart. when, I'm
fact. they are very closely related.
since the higher mathematics are In
intimate relation with the philosophy
of finance And then he went on TO saw
that he had always felt that If he had
not devoted his life to scientific re-
search he undoubtedly would have
taken up a financial career.
That statement. led me to say to
Professor Henry, who, ! could see,
was not ignorant of financial matters,
as most scientists are supposed to be,
that | had often wondered why he had
not taken out patents upon apparatus
which made use of his scientific dis
coveries. especially in the field Of
electricity. ] spoke to him especially
of the electric telegraph. saying that
as he had discovered the principle
upon which commercial telegraphy is
based felt sure that he undoubtedly
could have utilized that principle TO
his own great benefit, under the pai-
ent, as Morse afterwards did
For few moments after I had
finished speaking Professor Henry
looked at me almost reproachfully.
| Do you tnluh lndl WOulQ nave been
right for a man OF pure science 10
dog be as last asked gently have
never felt that il would be right for
me to patent or reserve TO myself In
any way. any discoverery resulting
from my scientific investigations.
have always felt that he who dis.
covers principle which contains IN
Il the possibilities Of great benefits 10
humanity and civilization, owes a
duty TO his fellow men which cannot
be met unless he gives his discoveries
unreserYedly TO the world. / dare
say | could have been a man of con-
siderable-possibly great wealth by
now had | felt otherwise. But every
man Is accountable to his own con.
science and my conscience will moi
let me do as you have suggested.
"In those few words. simply and
quietly spoken" conclued Mr.. Nc
Culloch. there was revealed to me The
fact that Professor Henry's moral
character ranked With his great in.