t
himself to think that it was not only possible but actually capable of
accomplishment and from thinking it could, he resolved it should be
done.

He was, however, wholly ignorant of even the first principles of
chemistry, and natural philosophy, and all the knowledge he was enabled
to obtain from his teachers was of very little service to him. To add
to this, whenever he mentioned his hopes to his parents, they laughed
at him, and bade him attend to his studies and let such moonshine
thoughts alone--still he persevered, though secretly, and he met with
the success his perseverance deserved.

For the truth of his statement, Mr. Wattles refers to some of our most
respectable citizens residing at the west, and I am in hopes that I
shall be enabled to receive in time for this publication, a
confirmation from one or more of these gentlemen. Be that as it may, I
feel confident in the integrity of Mr. Wattles, and can give his
statement to the world without a doubt of its truth.

The following sketch of his experiments and their results will,
undoubtedly, be interesting to every American reader and although some
of the profound philosophers of Europe may smile at his method of
proceeding, it will in some measure show the innate genius of American
minds, and prove that we are not far behind our trans-atlantic brethren
in the arts and sciences.

Mr. Wattles says: "In my first efforts to effect the desired object,
they were feeble indeed, and owing to my limited knowledge of
chemistry--wholly acquired by questioning my teachers--I met with
repeated failures but following them up with a determined spirit, I at
last produced, what I thought very fair samples--but to proceed to my
experiments."

"I first dipped a quarter sheet of thin white writing paper in a weak
solution of caustic (as I then called it) and dried it in an empty box,
to keep it in the dark; when dry, I placed it in the camera and watched
it with great patience for nearly half an hour, without producing any
visible result; evidently from the solution being to weak. I then
soaked the same piece of paper in a solution of common potash, and then
again in caustic water a little stronger than the first, and when dry
placed it in the camera. In about forty-five minutes I plainly
percieved the effect, in the gradual darkening of various parts of the
view, which was the old stone fort in the rear of the school garden,
with the trees, fence, &c. I then became