ly developed art of world-wide importance there is
sure to follow a number of unscrupulous adventurers, who hasten to take
advantage of general public ignorance of the true inwardness of affairs.
Basing their operations on this lack of knowledge, and upon the tendency
of human nature to give credence to widely advertised and high-sounding
descriptions and specious promises of vast profits, these men find
little difficulty in conjuring money out of the pockets of the
unsophisticated and gullible, who rush to become stockholders in
concerns that have "airy nothings" for a foundation, and that collapse
quickly when the bubble is pricked. [21]

[Footnote 21: A notable instance of the fleecing of
unsuspecting and credulous persons occurred in the early
eighties, during the furor occasioned by the introduction of
Mr. Edison's electric-light system. A corporation claiming
to have a self-generating dynamo (practically perpetual
motion) advertised its preposterous claims extensively, and
actually succeeded in selling a large amount of stock,
which, of course, proved to be absolutely worthless.]

To one who is unacquainted with the trying circumstances attending
the introduction and marketing of patented devices, it might seem
unnecessary that an inventor and his business associates should be
obliged to take into account the unlawful or ostensible competition of
pirates or schemers, who, in the absence of legal decision, may run a
free course for a long time. Nevertheless, as public patronage is the
element vitally requisite for commercial success, and as the public is
not usually in full possession of all the facts and therefore cannot
discriminate between the genuine and the false, the legitimate inventor
must avail himself of every possible means of proclaiming and asserting
his rights if he desires to derive any benefit from the results of his
skill and labor. Not only must he be prepared to fight in the Patent
Office and pursue a regular course of patent litigation against those
who may honestly deem themselves to be protected by other inventions
or patents of similar character, and also proceed against more palpable
infringers who are openly, defiantly, and illegitimately engaged in
competitive business operations, but he must, as well, endeavor to
protect himself against the assaults of impudent fraud by educating the
public mind to a point of intelligent apprehension of the true st