The mania went on for years and years. Decades according to the article. So there had to be an acceptance of value at higher levels. In other words people forgot after a time that they were just flower bulbs. Much like Treasury's are just pieces of paper.
that's why you don't buy tulips. You buy compainies that develope and breed tulips. Especially if they have a good balance sheet and a business plan that doesn't require an ever upward eternal outlook that tulips will always go up in price. However, it is not delusional to believe the stock of well run companies who can survive the bubbles and depressions will eternally always go up in price. A few people made a lot of money trading that crude from the long side in it's last great bull market. Many more probably lost owning crude on it's last big decline. Exxon was there at $8 they were there at $120 and they are still there now.