Antony van Leeuwenhoek is a marvel, isn't he? Even from his jail cell, he keeps subscribers posted on all the latest signals, in hindsight. He writes in a letter:
"My work, which I've done for a long time, was not pursued in order to gain the praise I now enjoy, but chiefly from a craving after knowledge, which I notice resides in me more than in most other men. And therewithal, whenever I found out anything remarkable, I have thought it my duty to put down my discovery on paper, so that all ingenious people might be informed thereof."
Leeuwenhoek really did write this, by the way -- in a letter of June 12, 1716. He's had an opportunity to study the markets for many years, as you can see -- admittedly not as long as L. Rukeyser or Abby Joe, but many years nonetheless. Actually, I think the letter may have been edited by an idealistic, heavy-handed editor. He actually may have written:
"My work, which I've done for a long time, was not pursued in order to gain the praise I now enjoy, but chiefly from a craving after money. And therewithal, whenever I found out anything remarkable, I have thought it my duty to upload my discovery to my Website, so that all ingenious people might be informed thereof, if they are willing to pay the exorbitant subscription fees for my on-line newsletter." |
