LEARN TO INVENT
FIRST STEPS FOR BEGINNERS
YOUNG AND OLD
Practical Instruction
Valuable Suggestions
TO
LEARN TO INVENT
We should apprentice ourselves as it were to the
Inventor
Study the original lines of his thoughts
As
The young artist studies the master work.
Copyright 1907 by S. E. Clark
Philadelphia Penna.
By mail 25 cents Estb. 1883
PREFACE.
The booklets "Mental Nuts" and "A Book of Maxims" havemet with so much favor I have decided to try again. I submitthis little effort to those young and old who desire informationand suggestions on the subject, in the form of a "first step" orintroduction, for those who would learn to invent.
Though it is entirely a subject for the deepest study, I favora personal talk, digressing at times in an effort to interest andinstruct, to enliven and cheer. I see little hope for the casualreader. "As ye sow so shall ye also reap." My faith rests in thecareful, persevering student. I sincerely hope that as a wholethe effort may prove helpful to many. As to the future, mayyou all realize.
"Full many a pupil has become more famous than his master."
Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 3, 1907.
INTRODUCTION.
Invention is the fountain source of material progress. Itwould indeed be a fruitless effort to try to express in adequatelanguage its wondrous possibilities and practical worth to mankind.Its field of action surpasses all others. It is most apparentin our daily walks of life. Every human effort owes it homage.The fame of many inventors has encircled the earth. They havebeen feted and honored in many ways, their names indelibly inscribedon the roll of the earth's greatest men. Fortune andfame have been showered on them with a lavish hand, and yetlittle or no effort is made to direct thought into this vast andunlimited field for study, that people may learn to invent. Thewhole subject is left quite in the dark. It is on the go-as-you-please,hit-and-miss plan. People become inventors by merechance, and are viewed as possessing a special gift of nature. Ihold that invention is just as tangible as any of the sciences andcan just as well be taught. The human mind is naturally inventive.The trend will improve and grow or it will wilt anddie, according to the attention it receives. To learn to invent weshould apprentice ourselves, as it were, to the inventor, take uphis invention and study the original lines of his thought, as theyoung artist studies the master work. First learn to imitate, andthe creative thought will follow and develop. I shall be content