This was no unusual thing, for chemists of most
of the other countries were working feverishly in their laboratories
at the same enigma."
"Doesn't it seem funny?"
"As you look back on it, yes," answered Mr. Croyden. "It is almost
tragic when you consider the time, patience, and money that went into
these experiments--most of them failures, at that."
"Did Boettger fail too?"
"I am coming to that," replied the story-teller. "While mixing
various combinations of clays Boettger and his associates came upon a
hard pottery clay which was neither white nor translucent like the
Chinese, but which nevertheless was nearer that ware than anything
they had previously succeeded in making. In 1708 some dishes were
made from this material, but they were not very satisfactory. After
that Boettger tried again. You see he was not a person who was easily
discouraged. The next time he got a white ware, but it was not thin;
instead it was thick and ugly. He now had the hardness and the
whiteness, but not the semi-transparency and fine texture of the
Chinese porcelain; and although he tried repeatedly he was unable to
fathom the secret of these qualities."
Theo waited while Mr.
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