Evening journal., 1912-08-13
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Famous Scientist Who
Put Aside Great Wealth
By Holland


The two men Of science who are
now universally credited with having
largely laid the foundation for the
present day industrial use Of electric
fly 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 thirty
/ two years of age. he sent a current OF
electricity through a mile of copper
wire and caused an audible signal to
be sounded at the end of the wire.
While Il is true that Faraday had
| preceded him in the discovery Of mag
netic induction, yet Henry was the
first to employ magnetic attraction
and repulsion to produce motion II
is now generally accepted that Henry
originated the principal upon which
the Morse telegraph instrument rs
operated, while Professor Morse
himself invented the apparatus by
means of which ineligible signals
| could be communicated for long dis
tances by electricity From 1916. until
his death in 1878. Professor Henry
was secretary Of the Smithsonian In
stitution.
One of the intimate friends Of Pro
fessor Henry during the latter part
Of his life was Hugh McCulloch, of
Indiana, who in 1868, became the
first Comptroller Of the Currency, and
two years later succeeded Fessenden
| a of
that he retained until 1863
Soon after 7 went To Washington
to organize the new department of
the Comptroller of the Currency
said Mr.. McCulloch, 1T was my good
fortune 10 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 Profes-
sor Henry that I seemed to be ont
Of place in club Of that kind, for. al
though I had always been interested
In science as a layman. yet my life's
work had been devoted TO banking,
except the few years during which I
had practiced law
"'Mr Comptroller" replied Profes-
/ y
take in presuming that science and
Anance are so far apart. when, in
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
say that he had always felt that II
he had not devoted his life to scienti-
fic research he undoubtedly would
have taken up a financial career.
That statement led me 10 say 10
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 ap-
paratus which made uee Of his scien-
tihc discoveries, especially in the
field of electricity ! spoke 10 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 10 his own great profit,
under the patent, as Morse after
wards did.
For a few moments after I had
finished speaking. Professor Henry
looked at me almost reproachfully
DO you think that would have been
right for a man of pure science to
do? he at last asked gently. I have
never felt that It would be right for
me to patent. or reserve to myself in
any way, any discovery resulting
from my scientific Investigations.
have always felt that he who discov-
ers principle which contains in II
the possibilities Of great benefits II
humanity and civilization, owes
duty 10 his fellow men which canno
he met unless he gives his discover,
unreservedly to the world. dare
say I could have been a man>of con
siderable--possible greatwealth b,
now had felt otherwise But ever,
man Is accountable 10 his own con
science, and my conscience will no
let me do as you have suggested.
Tn those few words, simply an,
quietly spoken" concluded Mr.. Nc
Culloch, there was revealed to M
the fact that Professor Henry's mora
character ranked with his great in
tellectual gifts"
Copyright. 1912. by 2. J. Edward.
All rights reserved)