The typewriter, like every great advance in human progress, came in the fullness of its own time. Looking back over the past, we can now see why it came when it did, and why it could not have come before. In the days when commerce was smaller, when writing tasks were fewer, when the ability to write or even to read was limited, when life itself was simpler, the world could get along after its own fashion without the writing machine. As education grew, as business grew, as the means for transportation grew, as all human activities grew, so the need grew, and it grew much faster than any real consciousness of the need, which seems always to be the way with our poor humanity. It is this fact which explains the struggle and frequently the tragedy in the early history of so many great inventions. They do not come in response to a demand, but in recognition of a need, and this recognition, in its early phases, is usually confined to the few. These few are the real pioneers of progress, and it is through their labors and struggles, often unappreciated and unrewarded, that humanity advances in all the civilized and useful arts. It was even so with the writing machine! CHAPTER II. EARLY EFFORTS The first recorded attempt to invent a typewriter is found in the records of the British Patent Office. These show that on the 7th of January, 1714, or more than two centuries ago, a patent was granted by Her Majesty, Queen Anne, to Henry Mill, an English engineer. The historical importance of the first typewriter patent makes this document of such interest that we quote the opening sentences, as follows: Anne, by the grace of God, &c., to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas our trusty and wellbeloved subiect, Henry Mill, hath, by his humble peticon, represented vnto vs, that he has, by his great study, paines, and expence, lately invented and brought to perfection "An artificial machine or method for the impressing or transcribing of letters singly or progressively one after another, as in writing, whereby all writings whatsoever may be engrossed in paper or parchment so neat and exact as not to be distinguished from print; that the said machine or method may be of great vse in settlements and publick recors, the impression being deeper and more lasting than any other writing, and not to be erased or counterfeited without manifest discovery;" and having, therefore, humbly prayed vs to grant him our Royall Letters Patents for the sole vse of his said Invention for the term of fourteen yeares, etc.