Fakery

Last week the daily press of the U. S. gave extensive publicity to: "MECHANIC BROKE, GIVEN $1,500,000 FOR SECRET. COPPER-HARDENING PROCESS, LOST FOR 2,000 YEARS, BOUGHT BY DETROIT FIRM." An often-found lost art was again discovered by "an obscure mechanic, of little scientific knowledge," who lives in East St. Louis.

Said an official of the Copper Research Association: "I feel uneasy and lonely unless I receive at least once a month another news story about the discovery of the 'Lost Art of Hardening Copper.' I keep these stories tacked above my desk and seldom lack fresh copy. But since copper can already be hardened as hard as anybody wants it--and much harder than was possible through the use of the one alloy known to the Ancients--the reason for this dazzling payment [of $1,500,000] remains as obscure as the name of the company."