nevolent and religious principle, and his inventive genius too, have been illustrated in this, as conspicuously, perhaps, as during his persevering struggles for his great invention. He says of himself, that "independent of all pecuniary considerations, he has taken great satisfaction in trying to invent and improve articles of necessity and convenience for the use of man.' "Whatever (he adds) of misfortune may hereafter befall the inventor, he will have the satisfaction of knowing that his efforts have been successful, and of witnessing on every side, and in every civilized country, the growing importance of the numerous branches of manufacture already established, and which may in his lifetime be established, under these inventions and improvements.'

Mr. Goodyear went to Europe in 1852, and returned in 1858. His object was the establishment of his patents, and the introduction and improvement of the articles manufactured under them. He had already received for his inventions the highest honors at the Exhibition of the World's Industry in London, in 1851. He received the highest honors, also, for his inventions, at a similar Exhibition in Paris, in 1855. From a desire to have his inventions suitably appreciated, and especially from a patriotic desire to have the American department honorably represented in these Exhibitions of the World's Industry, he expended very large sums (almost a fortune) upon them.* He had a return of honor for himself, and honor for his country. But this was all that he received. He could not obtain, what he richly deserved, his patents; but others reaped unjustly the reward of his inventions. And not only this, he was imprisoned for debt, both in France and in England, suffering in mind most keenly; and he returned to his own country poorer than when he left it; indeed, absolutely poor, had it not been for the renewal of his patent for seven years, very justly obtained soon after.

III. The ruling spirit of Mr. Goodyear is illustrated, in the third place, by his special devotion to the humane instead of the lucrative bearings of his inventions. His question was not

On the Exhibition at Paris alone he expended $50,000.

what applications of my inventions will make most money? but what will most promote human welfare, especially what will best preserve health and secure life? The United States Commissioner justly says: "A large portion of these fabrics is intimately connected with human comfort and the preservation of human life. Not to enumerate more of the articles produced by this process, it would be hazarding nothing to say that the shoes and wearing apparel, perfected by it, and now cheaply and abundantly made, and almost universally in use, have saved thousands from a premature death, and may save millions in the ages which are to come." I may add, that Mr. Goodyear, especially of late years, has paid great attention to the invention of articles for the relief and comfort of invalids and the sick, and of cellular garments for security of life on the water; and all in utter disregard of his own profits.

IV. And, once more, we find a fourth illustration of Mr. Goodyear's ruling, benevolent and religious spirit in his work, in the fact that he persevered in his work under constant suffering from miserable health. Most men, with such health as Mr. Goodyear has had for the last twenty or thirty years, would have considered themselves excused from all labor, certainly from all except that absolutely necessary for subsistence. Yet he has constantly performed, in making his chief inventions, in his numerous ingenious applications of them, in his attention to obtaining and defending his patents, and in supervising the varied and general interests of the whole work, an almost incredible amount of labor; and this not for himself-certainly not chiefly for himself-but as the servant of God and the friend of man.

There was one fault in Mr. Goodyear, which ought to be mentioned, both for the purpose of impartiality, and also for the purpose of giving such excuse for it, as is presented in his nature, circumstances and peculiar history. He was, especially in his later years, improvident; so that, though in the receipt of large sums of money, he was yet often embarrassed with debt, to a degree which was a discomfort to his family and friends, and a disadvantage to his creditors. This undoubtedly was a fault. Yet we should judge him according to his nature

and circumstances. He was always ready and glad to pay debts. And no one ever asked payment in vain, when he had any money. But he had become accustomed to being in debt during the many years of his necessity, when he could not avoid it. He had the enthusiasm of genius, and counted money nothing in comparison with success in a humane invention, and for that purpose used it profusely, and so became habituated to profuse expenditure. Then he felt justified in this free use of it for his inventions, though he was indebted, because he felt confident that his object was benevolent, and that the final result would be the discharge of all pecuniary obligations. When we consider these things, and add to them the fact, that among his first acts, after his first full success, was the searching out and paying debts, to the amount of thirty-five thousand dollars, from which he had been legally discharged, we shall be assured that with regard to indebtedness he was, in heart and intention, honorable and upright. Still his improvidence was a fault to be regretted. His character would have been more complete if this had been otherwise. There was in Mr. Goodyear an admirable combination of gratitude and generosity, and also a beautiful regard for his kindred and relatives. When the days of his prosperity at length came, he remembered those who had aided him in his adversity and extremity. And he was not satisfied with a full payment of their dues. But when any of them were in pecuniary misfortune he aided them with a princely generosity. Indeed, some of them with their families were really supported by him for years. He, also, as soon as he was able, afforded modes of remunerative employment and ways of advancement for many of those who were allied to him or his by kindred. In his manifold experiments, and through his influence in connection with the extensive manufacturing under his patents, a large number of them have been employed, and have found avenues to lucrative and independent business for themselves. And for all objects of benevolence he had an open heart and hand, giving to them cheerfully and unsparingly, whenever he had money at his disposal.

Mr. Goodyear's remarkable charity and forbearance toward

those who had wronged him, should be noticed. He had been greatly injured, and that by those whom he had greatly benefited. On this point the United States Commissioner thus speaks:

"The public stipulated with him that he should peacefully enjoy for fourteen years the monopoly created by his patent, and, had he been permitted to do so, he would no doubt long since have realized an ample remuneration; but, so far from this having been the case, no inventor probably has ever been so harrassed, so trampled upon, so plundered by that sordid and licentious class of infringers known in the parlance of the world, with no exaggeration of phrase, as 'pirates.' The spoliations of their incessant guerilla warfare upon his defenseless rights have unquestionably amounted to millions. In the very front rank of this predatory band stands one who sustains in this case the double and most convenient character of contestant and witness; and it is but a subdued expression of my estimate of the deposition he has lodged, to say, that this Parthian shaft-the last that he could hurl at an invention. which he has so long and so remorsely pursued-is a fitting finale to that career which the public justice of the country has so signally rebuked."

Yet through the whole narrative which Mr. Goodyear has written, there is not one severe or unkind word, even towards the man who so greatly defrauded him, and who compelled him to the trouble, anxiety and enormous expense of constant litigation.

His humility, reverence and loyalty towards God were most exemplary. One who knew him thoroughly, says that "the most marked features of his religious character were deep consciousness of the evil of sin, and of his nothingness before God. Self-reliant as he appeared as a business man, his soul was more humble before God, and he seemed more deeply conscious of his dependence upon him and need of forgiveness, as well as of forbearance, than any other person with whose religious experience I have any intimate acquaintHe might, if any among us dependent and sinful creatures might, have felt pride in the beneficence of his

ance."

works. But he allowed himself nothing in that respect. And in his last days, when reference was made to his useful works, he said: "What am I? To God be all the glory."

The piety which sustained him through the peculiar struggles and trials of his life, sustained him in death. He died in faith.

"I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, from henceforth, yea, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."

And now only a few words more, to indicate some of the lessons of this remarkable life. Most of them lie on the surface, and need but a word to bring them to your thoughts.

But one of them, which is specially illustrated by an incident of Mr. Goodyear's life that has not yet been brought to your notice, should be more distinctly developed. That is, God's providence in the working and results of inventive genius.

Mr. Goodyear's chief discovery, the vulcanization of rubber, was immediately caused by what is termed an accident. The United States Commissioner, to whose able and eloquent decision I have so often referred, thus describes it: "In one of those animated conversations so habitual to him, in reference to his experiments, a piece of India rubber combined with sulphur, which he held in his hand as the text of all his discourses, was by a violent gesture thrown into a burning stove near which he was standing. When taken out, after having been subjected to a high degree of heat, he saw-what it may be safely affirmed would have escaped the notice of all others—that a complete transformation had taken place, and that an entirely new product, since so felicitously termed 'elastic metal,' was the consequence. When subjected to further tests, the thrilling conviction burst upon him that success had at length crowned his efforts, and that the mystery he had so long wooed now stood unveiled before him. His history in this respect is altogether parallel with that of the greatest inventors and discov erers who have preceded him."

Mr. Goodyear, in his account, though he justly claims that,