Des Arc citizen., 1859-12-21
A List of Wonders.

Among the thousands of marvellous in. venlons which American genius has pro. duced within the last few years are the following compiled from the Patent oflics Report:
 The report explains tho principles of the celebrated Hobbs Lock. Its "unpick. ability" depends upon secondary or false set of tumblers, which touches the real ones. Moreover, the lockis powder.proof, and may be loaded through the key .hole and fired oF till the burglar is tired of his frui,less work, or fears that the explosions will bring to view his experiments more witnesses than he desires.
 A harpoon is described which makss the whale kill himself. Tho more hs pulls the line the deeper goes the bar. poon.
 An ice.making machine has been pat. ended, which is worked by steam engine. In experimental trial, it froze several bot. ties of sherry and produced blocks of ice the size of . cubic foot. when the ther. mometer was up to eighty degrees. IL is calculated that for every ton of coal put into the furnace, 1t will make ton of ice.
 From Dr. Dale's examiners report, we gather some idea of the value of patents. A man who had made slight improve- ment in straw cutters, took model ot his machine through the Western States, and after tour of eight months, returned with forty thousand dollars. Another man had machine 10 thrash and clear grain, which in fifteen months he sold for sixty thousand dollars These are ordinary cases-whils such inventions as the telegraph. the plan. ing machine, and India rubber patents, ara worth millions each. q. M s As
 Examiner Lanes report describes new electrical inventions. Among these is an electrical whaling apparatus, by which the whale is literally .sshocked to death." Another is an elec,ro-magnetic alarm. which rings bells and dsiplays signals in case of fire and burglars. Another is an electric clock; which wakes you up, tells you what time it is, and lights lamp for you at any hour you please. 9is
 There is "sound gatherer." sort ot huge ear trumpet. to be placed in front of locomotive, bringing to .be engineers ears all the noise ahead, perfectly dis linct, notwithstanding the noise of the train. hl aal AMasH% sai e@- There is aa invention that picks up pins from confused heap, turns them around with their heads up, and then sticks them in papers in regular rows.
 Another goes through the whole pro. cess of cigar making, taking in leaves and turning out finished cigars. <
 One machine cuts cheese; another one SCOUTS the knives and forks; and another rocks the cradle; and seven or eight take in washing and ironing. There is a parlor chair patented that cannot be tipped back on two lees-and . railway chair that can be tipped back 10 any position without any legs at all. ] Another patent is for machine that counts passengers in an omnibus and takes their fare. When very tat gen. teman gets in, i. counts two and charges | double. :.
 There are variety of guns patented that load themselves. fishing line that adjusts it's own bait. and rat trap which throws away the ra, and then bai,s hseli. and stands in the corner for another. There is machine, also, by which man prints instead of writes his thoughts: 1 It is played like piano forte. And speaking of pianos, 1t is estimated that nine thousand are made every year Tn the United States, giving conslan, employment to one thousand nine hundred persons,
 and costing over two millions ot dollars --Loys, like the cold bath, is never mega tive; 1t never leaves us where it hnds ss; IT
 once we plunge into it, it will either heigntso our virtues or inhame cur vices.