Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-06-02

An Arkansas Invention; or the Scientific
American Sold.n

An Arkansas Invention; or the Scienti6
| American Sold"
About the commencement of the present d,
cade we had the honor of being one of an illu!
trious trio who originated and controlled
Democratic newspaper named the Arkansa
Traveller, published at the fiourishing town
Camden, Ouachita Co, Ark. We numbere
among our exchanges, the Scientific American
valuable then and now. Among our patrons a
| Camden was one General Tom Woodward,
shrewed old gent, full of anecdote, an inveterat
practical joker, and judge of "rye," and, to ca
the very climax of his convivial accomplish
ments, was grean on the Arkansaw Traveller,
70 celebrated dancing tune, with a legend
One Sultry day in the summer of 80, the Gen
walked into our printing office, picked up thu
Scientific American, and commenced reading
the Editors Notice to Inventors, in which HI
offered his services in the obtaining Of patent!
for useful inventions. After reading through
the General requested pen and paper The
stationary was placed before him, and in few
moments he had written his letter, sealed, sub
scribed it to Mum & Co., N. Y, and our devil
was dispatched to the post-of6ce with it. We
smelt mice, but said nothing. The next time
the Scientific American came, we eagerly opened
it, and there, sure enough among the "noticet
"T. w., Camden, Ark.-Musical inventions
if of real benefit, and not too costly, generally
prove lucrative to the inventor. We cannot in
patent, until you send US q model, or IN accu-
rate description of the instrument"
This paragraph we read to the General the
next time we saw him, aud for our politeness in
the matter, he permitted US to read his descrip-
f1n, ,offh fho ,f.,1 "a
being despatched to the Scientific American.
1t was as follows
"DEAR SIR BY your request, will, as
briefly and clearly as can, endeavor to des-
cribe my new musical invention. 1t has very
much the appearance at first sight, Of case
for huge, double-action harp from 6 to
inches square at the smaller end, thence gra-
dually expanding to four feet square; one side
perforated with auger-holes The inner COM
partments Of this instrument are occupied by
swine-from the four weeks roaster at the little
end, ranging gradually up to the eight years old
male grunter-the tails of all prottuding
through the aforesaid augerholes. The per-
former stands on the outside of the instrument,
with q couple of blacksmith's pincers in bis
hands; he has thus full command of the ma
chine, and a practiced hand can run the chro-
matte scale in q most brilliant manner. You
will at once perceive my invention is . valuable
one, combining immense volume of tone with an
almost unlimited power of expression, and vast
the shrill soprano of the in
fantile poker down to the deep "peddlar base"
as Mrs. Partington expresses it, Of his more
aged ancestor-thus including ever so many
octaves. By prolonging the pinch the tones can
The Eolian, Dolce Compano, and other attach
ments Gncluding the sherifrs) have not de-
;ided yet whether to call my invention the
" Swinet," or the "Piganna." Your advice
upon this subject, together with your assistance
in obtaining patent according to Hoyle,"
will be gratefully taken by
Yours truly, THOMAS WOODWARD.
The next weeks American contained the
following paragraph
"T. w., Camden, Ark.-Your description of
he new musical invention has come to hand.
We think it patentable, and on receipt of the
Usual fee will endeavor to obtain the desired
oatent We have no doubt but that you can
make the invention "pay," as it fills desidera-
:um which has been long felt in the refined
locality Of Arkansas. If the aged swine which
orms the bass of your Piganna," should
not be procurable, we would re-
the inventor to gil his place indeed
Nc Know OF no one more admirably adapted Dy
nature and education to the position, for in the
whole course of our editorial experience We
we're never bothered with the lubrications of q
more unmihgated BORE"
That last shot prostrated the General; he
reated all hands to water melons to keep the
oke to ourselves.
A HUSBAND FOR A DAY.-A very funny farce is
Ometimes presented to the public "A NabOb for
n Hour" Amelodrama has recently been enacted