An experiment to make gold out of other metals has been attempted in Washington.
Ever since the world was young, men have been trying to discover a means of making gold.
The old alchemists, who were accused of being
magicians, and having dealings with the powers of evil, were always trying to make gold. Apparently no one ever succeeded.
Lately, a man from Chicago, a Mr. Brice, went to the Government and asked for a patent on a method of making gold, which he offered to sell the Government.
It has long been known to scientists that the precious metals, silver and gold, are present in many of the baser metals, such as antimony and lead.
Mr. Brice claimed that he could extract the gold from these metals, and that he could also make gold.
When he applied for his patent it was refused to him, on the ground that he had not shown that the work could really be done. He continued to ask for the patent; and, as the laboratory of the Patent Office was too small for him to show his process to the authorities, he was allowed to use the laboratory of the Mint Bureau for his experiments.
A committee of scientists was appointed to conduct the experiments, and Mr. Brice furnished them with his formula for making the gold.