Year: 1871




AS we contemplate the few homely
articles which form the outfit of an edi-
tors table, it occurs to us to enumerate
how many Of these exist In their pre-
sent convenient form solely on account
of the stimulus of good patent sys>
tenn.


To begin with there is the inkstand
patented. So is the ink it contains.
SO are the penrack, the penholders and
pens So are the ruler, the eraser. the
blotter and the paper fasteners. Yes,
and so are the paper files and the port
folio, and even the gas burner, by the
aid of which, these shortening days, we
are able to protract our labors some
what into the dusk of the evening.


All these things are good after their
kind, and were purchased as being
most likely to be convenient for our
use, out Of many other patented
articles.


If we, in the limited furniture of an
editorial sonctum, can find ourselves so
much indebted for comfort and conye-
nience to patented articles, surely it
were not a hard task for the farmer,
the artizan and the housewife to count
up host of things, which not only
minister to their comfort, but without
which they could scarcely now proceed
with their business, and all of which
have been patented. Very few OF
these things would have been produced
without the hope of gain held out by
the patent system.


Those who will take the trouble to
see how many patented devices are IN
constant use by them, will certainly be
better prepared to appreciate the value
of patents in themselves, and will not
be SO ready to throw odium upon the
system on account of the practices OF
an occasional fraudulent vender chat
infcsts rural districts.


1t has been complained that there
are many of these who pass through
the country, under the pretence of sell
ing rights to make or use and sell
patented articles of various kinds, bu'
whose sole object is to defraud the
simple, and to make money by dishonest
practices,


Thus we have heard of case where
the exclusive right to make and sell a
machine for certain town was sold to
three individuals in the same town
We have heard of other cases where
parties, in signing supposed agree
ment to pay stipulated price for a
machine at the expiration OF a given
time, under proviso that certain re-
suits should accrue or the article should
be returned, have signed negotiable
notes which were sold at discount,
and which they were compelled to pay
when the scoundrels, who took advan-
tage of their simplicity, were far be,
yond their reach.


On account of these and other frau
dulent practices, many have been vic
timized and become disgusted with
patented articles, and will not examine
useful and important inventions, which
Il would be for their interest to pur
chase and use. This is as silly as i
would be to denounce watches because
some rascals sell pinchbeek for rea
gold.


The utter absence of common ant
necessary precautions, in the transac
ton of all business displayed by tn
dupes of fraudulent vendors, enable
pretendera and cheats to bleed thel
purses. Let our rural friends neve
sign their name without being SUR
what they are signing, consult thel
lawyers as to the validity and intent o
the contracts they propose to make
take the affidavit of parties proposing
to sell patent rights that they are en-
titled to sell, and that the territory
bargaincd for has not already been sold