The Cavalcade of America. The Cavalcade of America. Here is a fine comment received by DuPont, sponsor of The Cavalcade of America from a high school teacher in Michigan. The Cavalcade of America has caught the true local color of realistic, dynamic American history. The accuracy and vigorous spirit of the broadcast is to be commended. The hour chosen is most appropriate for the students in our schools, and my youngsters await the coming broadcast with intense expectation and enthusiasm. And I wish to express my sincere appreciation to your company. There is nothing so inspiring as voluntary praise of this sort, and it encourages every single person connected with the production of this program. Since The Cavalcade of America is also a tribute to the work of chemists, our listeners may learn something of interest and value from the brief stories of chemical research presented at the close of each broadcast, thus gaining a broader understanding of the DuPont chemist's pledge, to do better things for better living through chemistry. The DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra opens the program with a special arrangement of a Venetian love song by the American composer, Ethelbert Nevin. The DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra opens the program with a special arrangement of a Venetian love song by the American composer, Ethelbert Nevin. The DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra opens the program with a special arrangement of a Venetian love song by the American composer, Ethelbert Nevin. The DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra opens the program with a special arrangement of a Venetian love song by the American composer, Ethelbert Nevin. The DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra opens the program with a special arrangement of a Venetian love song by the American composer, Ethelbert Nevin. The DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra opens the program with a special arrangement of a Venetian love song by the American composer, Ethelbert Nevin. The DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra opens the program with a special arrangement of a Venetian love song by the American composer, Ethelbert Nevin. The DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra opens the program with a special arrangement of a Venetian love song by the American composer, Ethelbert Nevin. The DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra opens the program with a special arrangement of a Venetian love song by the American composer, Ethelbert Nevin. How greatly have simple human qualities helped make the America we know today, and particularly the quality of perseverance. Countless stories might be told of the part this quality has played in our country's growth, and for one of them, let us turn back to New England in the year 1841. We are in the kitchen in the home of a young millhand, Elias Howe. Across the table from him, in the light of the whale oil lamp, his wife is sewing. Lance, thanks Elias. You make me nervous staring at me sew. What's got into you? Ah? Oh, don't mind me. I was just trying to find out how you sewed. Do you know yet? Well, I swear I couldn't make my fingers fly as yours do, but I think I've got the hang of it. Like to try? There's enough sewing to be done, goodness knows, with all the children's things. Yeah. And every stitch has to be sewn by hand, doesn't it? Well, if you know of any faster way, dear, I wish you'd tell me. That's just the point. There isn't any faster way. Ari Davis was right by Jiminy. The man who could invent a machine that would sew would make a fortune and relieve this world of untold drudgery. Elias, what are you talking about? A machine to sew? Where'd you ever come by such a foolish notion? No, no, it's not a foolish notion. Can't you see what it would mean? I can see what it would mean, but I can't see how it could be done. That's what I have to find out, my dear. Elias, you're not serious. I most certainly am serious. And why not? I'm one of the best machinists in this town. I have a head, haven't I? Well, I'm going to use it. Yes, and make heaps and heaps of money for you. But Elias, you... No buts, my angel. I'm serious. There should be a fortune in it and a new life for women. And I'm going to stick at it until I succeed. Now, show me how you sew. For a year, Elias Howe worked steadily to build a machine that would draw needles back and forth. We find him in the kitchen with his wife and his father. I admire your perseverance, son, but I am beginning to have doubts about your intelligence. Now, don't say that, Papa Howe. Elias has been working dreadfully hard on his inventions. You don't understand, father. I understand what everyone's been saying about you, son. That you're a fine hand with tools if you'd only... If I'd only give up my one chance to amount to something? Make a name for myself to provide a future for my wife and children? I know what they're saying. But if it's a fair question, son, what have you accomplished in the past year? Well, that's what I've been trying to explain to you, father. I got off on the wrong track. I've wasted a year trying to build a machine that would duplicate the movements of the human hand. But now I have the right idea. Your hand? Dear, give me your sewing. Here. Now, watch, father. I put the needle through and bring it up again. You see that loop of thread? Yes. Well, suppose another thread went through the loop and locked the stitch so it couldn't come out. Why? Why, you'd have it, son. Yes, and that's the principle I'm going to work on. On top of the cloth, a needle going up and down. Below, a shuttle going back and forth. Now, doesn't that sound sensible? Of course it. It'd take time to work out, father. I have to be at the shop ten hours every day. There are materials to buy. How much does Airy Davis pay you, son? Nine dollars a week. Well, that's ridiculous. Well, what's ridiculous? Elias working ten hours a day, six days every week, for nine dollars when he has this thing in his head. This invention that the whole world is waiting for. Nonsense. That's what it is. It may be, father, but I don't know what can be done about it. No, you don't, eh? Well, I do. You can tell Davis you're through. Why, Papa, how? Yes, through. And you're going to pack up here and come and live with me. Or you can use your brains to some effect. Backed by his father, Elias Howe devoted all his time to build a machine according to his new idea. Three years passed. It is 1845. In a large Boston factory, we find the manager addressing an interested crowd. All right, silence, gentlemen, if you please. Silence. We're going to start the contest in a moment. Now, as you all know, Mr. Elias Howe, standing on my right, has challenged five of the best journeyman tailors in New England. On my left. Yeah! All right, quiet, quiet, please. Our friend Howe has challenged these boys to a race. He claims he can beat them sewing. All right, now the boys are going to sew by hand. And Mr. Howe is going to use this, this conception on the table here. A sewing machine, I think he calls it. And each one has exactly the same amount of cloth measured most exactly by your slewings. All right, boys, ready? All right, Mr. Howe. I'm ready, thanks. All right, on your marks then. Get set and go. Take your time, boys. Don't hurry. We don't want to skunk him completely. As the race continues, the crowd watches breathlessly. Standing close beside Elias Howe is his friend George Fisher, who has helped in financing the invention. The contest draws to a close. Come on, boys, get a wiggle on. Yeah, look out, he's gaining. Machine working all right, Eli? Yeah, perfectly, George. And the race is on. The race is on. The race is on. The race is on. The race is on. The race is on. The race is on. The race is on. The race is on. Perfectly, George. Don't rush it. You've got lots of time. All right, now don't drown, please. Give the contestants lots of room. Only another foot to go, Eli. That's the way, Eli. That's the way. This will convince them. There. There, it's finished, George. Good. Sorry, gentlemen. I'm afraid I've beaten you. What? That's not half any. Here, let's have a look. Oh, my partner's won, sir. There's no question about that. Take a look at the stitches. Yeah, see if it holds. Give it a pull. Give it a pull. Yep. Looks like he's won, boys, fair and square. Well, anything wrong, but I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't have seen it with my own eyes. But no manufacturer was found that was willing to buy a machine which was believed to be still in the experimental stage. Yet Howell refused to be discouraged. If America was not interested, there were other countries. So 18 months later, we find him in the office of an English textile factory. Now, looky here, Mr. Howell. It seems to me the firm's done all for you that can be reasonably expected. I can't agree, Mr. Thomas. I feel that I've been treated most shamefully. Aye? In what way, may I ask? When you brought me over from America, you agreed that... Ah, cum cum, lad. Let's stick to the facts. All we agreed to do, we've done. Pay you three pound a week for services. What about the money for royalties you owe me? Money for royalties? What's all this, lad? You know you agreed to pay me ten pounds for every machine you manufactured. Oh, we did. And have you a written agreement to that effect? You know there was no written agreement. Then you'd best say no more about it, Mr. Howell. Then your determined to swindle me out of my... Here's a lad. We'll have none of that language here. Very well. What do you intend to do? Intend to do? Why not a thing, except... Well, I'll make you an offer. You want to return to America. My wife is ill. Probably dying. Aye. Well, then forget about this patent business and those royalties, and we'll see you have a passage home and the fastest blackball packet. No. How is that? A passage home. For all my work? I'll see you hanged first. I'll work my way back to Steerage. By selling his last model and fawning his patent right, Howell raised enough money to return to America. Mrs. Howell never recovered, but true to his promise to her, Elias kept up the struggle. Soon after her death, his invention was recognized, but other sewing machines were being made which used the principles covered by Howell's patent. Three years later, we find him with his father and George Fisher in the lobby of a hotel in Washington. How do you feel, son? Kind of anxious? No, no, Father. I feel that the Supreme Court's going to decide the case in our favor. I really think we're going to win. If the Supreme Court knew what I know, Eli, you would win in the case and receive a laurel wreath to boot. How you stuck it out. What you've been through. The time your father's house burned down. The night I found you were driving a locomotive to get more money for materials. Yes, yes, but the English experience was the worst one, George. And then, coming home to find my wife dying. My patent's stolen over here as well. Mr. Howell! Mr. Elias, Howell! Oh, there's someone calling me. Over here, my friend. Mr. Howell, congratulations, sir. A thousand congratulations. What happened? The Supreme Court has just handed down their decision before recessing for the weekend. What was it, man? Hurry. Mr. Howell, you've won on every count. Counts to all those pirates to a fairly well. Good, good. What more, sir? The payment of royalties has been made retroactive. You're a rich man, Mr. Howell. Do you realize it? A rich man right this very minute. You've won, boy. It's been a long struggle, but you've won. Many people have ideas, good ones too. But they don't have the courage to hang on to success. Oh, I'm proud of you, boy. Proud of you. Perseverance, unswerving faith in an ideal, the dogged courage to go on in the face of repeated disappointment. These qualities brought Elias Howell success and one of the most useful of all inventions to this country and the world. The cavalcade of America presented by DuPont moves on. Courage and perseverance marching shoulder to shoulder with American ingenuity. For centuries men had talked of flying. Dreamers, inventors, daring souls had given their lives to the hopeless conquest of the air. And then in the year 1896 began the curious series of events that started a more persistent, tenacious struggle toward the unaccomplished goal. On an afternoon of this year we find Wilbur Wright entering the family home in Dayton, Ohio where he is greeted by his sister Catherine, whom he had nicknamed Sturgeon. Hello, Sturgeon. How's Orv? Much better. Doctor been here? Uh-huh. He says the typhoid's practically over. All we have to do now is keep him quiet. We'll see to that, Sturgeon. Can I go in? Of course you can. Oh, Orv, here's Wilbur back. Come in, Wil. Hello, Orv. Here you're better. Sure they tell me. Be down in the shop almost any day now. Sit down. You'll come to the shop when you're told, young fella. Not a minute sooner. Any excitement at the shop today? No. No, there's a nightmare in the afternoon paper that kind of interests me. Do you ever hear of a fella named Lilian Thaw? Otto Lineal Thaw? Well, what about him, Wil? He was that German who's been experimenting with glider flights. Oh, yes, I know. He was killed yesterday. Oh, hard luck. Yes. Fell out of control while making his last flight before installing power. Well, I'm sorry to learn that, Wil. Lilian Thaw made some very important experiments. I think he had the right idea. You think he? How much do you know about flying, Orv? Well, quite a little. I've been following all these experiments, reading everything I could get my hands on. Why? Oh, it's funny, Sovai. I've been hip on flying ever since Dad gave us that helicopter when we were kids. You remember it? Sure I do. You remember those kites we made? I thought you'd forgotten those days, Wil. Not by a jugful. Well, I'd give anything, anything, Orv, take up where this poor chap Lilian Thaw left off. You mean take up flying seriously? Yes. First, find out all there is in books about the subject. You know, Cheneut, Maxim, Langley, and then experiment. Build models, tackle the thing scientifically. Sure. And keep at it until we get somewhere. Until we fly, Orv. Wilbur, you've been in there long enough. Coming, Sergeant. Long enough to start something, eh, Orv? Three years later, on the banks above the Miami River in Ohio, the two Wright brothers flying a huge box kite. About them, a handful of eager youngsters and a few skeptical adults. Oh, let me fly it, Mr. Wright. I can haul a string. Aw, shame, Mr. Wilbur, you're a problem. I know, but later. This is serious business, son. You hear that? Serious business. Yeah, like your grandmother's foot. Why, they've been playing with them kites for two years now. Just like a pair of kids. Cawing feathers in the air, watching birds. I think they're loony. Yes, I wouldn't be a Mike surprise. Hello. Looks like they thought they had something. Hey, what is it, Mr. Wright? Why are you carrying on like that, Orv? You're right, Orv. Gee, Willikins, look at that kite sail. Wilbur, I think we've got something at last. Testing models, observing birds in flight, carefully studying air currents by means of floating feathers, the two men reach the point in 1900 where they think they can build a glider. And then at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina that year, the Wright brothers began the first of their 1100 glider flights. For three years they experimented, tested, changed their models, and finally one day in October 1902, Wilbur runs panting across the sands after a 60-second flight, the longest in a heavier-than-air machine on record. Orv, Orv, it works. It works. Sure does. What did it do, Will? Acted perfectly. The new wing's the answer, Orv. We've got it at last. Seemed to work pretty slick that time, Mr. Wright. As simple as could be. When the wing tilts down, you just push the rod and back she comes. No side slips? No. We've definitely got lateral balance, Orv. You can keep it level. Go on, try it. Marvelous. Sure I'll try it. But remember, when the wings get even, level, I mean, don't forget to stop pushing that rod. Don't worry. All right, climb aboard. Come on, you men. All hands on the rope now. Are you ready, Orv? Feet on the rods? All set, Will. All right, boys. Everybody pull together. Are you ready? All right. Give her a good one. Come on. Now. Don't forget the rod, Orv. Yeah. Hey. Long months of hard work follow. Another problem tackled with quiet, grim persistence. A problem that had never been solved before. The design and construction of a motor light enough and strong enough to lift their glider from the ground. Finally, on the morning of December 17, 1903, a handful of shivering men are gathered on the sands of Kitty Hawk. The Wright brothers and their helpers, five inhabitants of the nearby village, one lone newspaper man. It is shortly after 10 o'clock. How are you betting, Jeb? Figure they'll call it off? They wouldn't mind much if they did, this wind cut sharp on the knife. I wonder what they're aiming to do, Jeb. Put a machine up there on the track, and they got fixed there? Yeah, reckon that's a ticket, Moke. Of course, you can't fly. Any fool would know that. Yeah, here's the Wright brothers now. How, Orv? I'll do it, Mr. Wright. Well? What do you say, Will? The wind's steadying. Yes, Orv, I've been watching it. Should we give her a try? Yes. Let's get underway. All right, fellas, lend a hand here. Sure, Mr. Wright. What do you have? We're going to turn the machine around. Throw it to heaven downhill, Mr. Wright? Yes, that's right. Push on the wind, you two. You want the three, each take hold of the strut and pull. All together now. That's right. Careful of the monorail. Don't let the landing skids bump it. It appears to me, them little pieces of bamboo won't stand much trifling. That's enough. Now, everyone, please come in close. Grab hold of the landing skids and lift. The whole machine only weighs 650 pounds, so I reckon the seven of us can lift it easily. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. I reckon the seven of us can lift it easily, huh? Yeah. Come on. Are you all ready? I reckon I can lift it most myself. All together, boys. All right. Aye-yah! Easy now. Let her down on the tracks gently. That's it. You ready, Orbs? Why, it's your turn. You won the toss, Will. No, I had my chance the other day. Down near wrecked the machine. Come on, climb aboard. You won't change your mind, Will? No. Maybe your chance to make history. Maybe his chance to commit suicide. Well, all right. Start the machine. All right. All right. All right. All right. Start the propellers, Will. Benzene on. Benzene on. Switch on. Got the switch on, too. Give it a crank. Here it goes, then. Let it warm up a bit, Orbs. Mr. Wright. Mr. Wright's out from the North Pole Virginia pilot. Would you like to give me a statement before you go? A better way till I come back. Yes, sir. All right, Will. When I give the signal, throw off the holding wire. And run beside the right wing tip. Right. Try to keep it level with the track. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. All right. Orbs, that wind's increasing. Yes. I'd better go. All right, Will. Good luck, Orbs. It's awful slow, ain't it? They never get it off the ground at that speed. She's picking up. Holy crappie, look. She's lifted. It's in the air. Look. It's climbing. Stick to it, Orbs. Stick to it. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming. Thanks to the indomitable perseverance of two Americans, man had at last lifted himself off the ground, had finally conquered the realm of the bird. After centuries of hope and endeavor, the impossible had been attained thanks to these same inherent qualities of character that are always found in the cavalcade of America. America has been fortunate indeed to have had citizens in every generation inspired by the spark of inventive genius. Their perseverance has created greater comforts and wider opportunities for every individual in the land. Last week I had an experience which led me to discover some of the little known ways in which chemical research contributes to our daily lives. It all started when I found a large ugly spot on my suit. A telephone call brought the dry cleaners to my door and in a couple of days I had my suit back, spic and span. That same day I was expressing my admiration of the job dry cleaners do when a friend of mine who happens to be a DuPont chemist told me a lot of interesting facts about solvent, chemicals that serve us by reason of their dissolving power. I learned that DuPont supplies a great many dry cleaners with a very solvent that does such remarkable work. It's also put up in handy cans for household use and sold in retail stores under the trademark Try Clean. Dry clean is only one of a large number of solvents that chemists have developed for various purposes. Many metal objects, for instance, must be cleaned to prepare them for electroplating, lacquering or painting. If this cleaning had to be done by hand, the cost of many articles that you use every day would be much higher. Instead, they're given a bath in vats of the proper solvent and they come out clean as a whistle ready for the finishing operation. Before you wear nice fluffy warm woolen clothing, you can thank chemistry because solvents were used to clean the raw wool. The paint varnish and lacquer industry uses great quantities also, for it is the solvent in these finishes that makes it possible to apply them. And if you've ever refinished an old piece of furniture, you probably used a solvent to remove the paint or varnish. Vegetable oils are sometimes extracted with solvent. Oil refining with them and rubber cement made with them. The task of producing just the right solvent for any particular job represents an inconspicuous but nonetheless important service that DuPont chemists perform for a number of American industries and indirectly for all of us. This is simply another expression of the DuPont ideal. Better things for better living through chemistry. They also serve. Stories of the fortitude and bravery of American womanhood will be heard next week at this same time when DuPont again presents the Cavalcade of America. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System. WABC, New York.
