The opera-bouffe performance that laid the foundations of Gates's great industry was in every way characteristic of this period.

In 1871 Gates, then a clerk in a hardware store at twenty-five dollars a week, made his first attempt to sell barbed wire in the great cattle countries of the southwestern States.

When the cattle men in Texas first saw this barbed wire, they ridiculed the idea that it could ever hold their steers.

Gates selected a plaza in San Antonio, fenced it in with his new product, and invited the enemies to bring along their wildest specimens About thirty of Texas' most ferocious cattle, placed within the enclosure, spent a whole afternoon plunging at the barbs in a useless and tormenting attempt to escape.

This spectacular demonstration of efficiency launched Gates fairly upon his career.