The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-06-17

What do you think of this fellow 2" a.ks the
Oculist of his client. "Study his features his
look. and say frankly what you think"
"Hs looks well enough answers the other.
laboring usually under some little emotion.
"Well, Jean, reveal your secret to this gem
tleman."
Whereupon Jean introduces knitting needle
under his eyelid, removes his eye, places it in
the hand Of the astonished spectator as though it
we're shirt-stud. How is it possible to resist
such der onstratiou q? These gentlemen charge
from ferty to fifty francs for an eye. The man.
ufacturer of the Rue du Temple has an entirely
ditfsreu. way OF doing business. He is general
ly man pretty well informed; simple, polite.
little of an artist, little of a workman, and
little of a tradesman. He scarcely employs either
apprentice or assistant, except when he receives
a good order from naturalist for animals eyes
for his collection. All day long, seated at
table at one end of his work.room, he works by
the light Of spirit lamp. Before him are ar.
ranged in either cakes or sticks, the materials
used by him in his profession. He takes little
enamel, melts it, and, by the aid OF blow pipe,
blows it until it becomes small ball at the end
OF the instrument This ball is destined to re-
present the white of an eye. He next takes
some enamel, which is colored this time, and
let's drop of it fall upon the summit Of the
cOrned.
Gently he,',.'. il ut the flme, it spre Ids out
i'll round spot, ,nd eventually becomes hat and
resembles the iris. a darker drop Of enamel.
placed in the same manner in the centre of the
iris, initiates the pupil. The ball is now de.
tached from the bow.pipe, cut to ON oval shape,
and smoothed at the edges, SO that on insroduc-
ing 1t beneath the eye-lid, it may not wound any
of the smaller nerves. These eyes cost no more
than from twenty to twenty-five francs, which
| no one can quite comprehend as there is neither
heavy rent to pay nor the wages of iveried
| cyclops.
The manufacture of artificial eyes is both diff.
| fcult and tedious 1t suits alike both men
| and women, and many of the latter succeed we'll
| in it it is moreover one of the best remunera.
| ted of ar, industries. Most of the work.people
| are paid by piece-work; that is, so much per
eye, varying from ten to fifteen francs, and u
| clever workman will turn out His eye per diem.
Others receive from the large manufacturers q
share of the proceeds arising from the sales of
eyes manufactured BY them, and have to take
back any eyes not approved by the customers.
These they put to one side to serve for their
stock in trade when they commence business on
their own account.
One Of these collections furnishes somewhat
curious sight. Reposing upon wadding at the
bottom of drawer are several scores of eyes,
ranged side by side, and exhibiting singular
variety of expression. Some are small others
| large, SOIne OlaCk, OtneTS UlUe, udLcl.UTOWH,
light.bro blush and greenish gray; nearly
all are Brilliant all have q fixed stare-all are.
in fact, looking you through. On one side are
laughing shildrens eyes, next to them the liquid.
locking eyes of young girls, the languid eyes Of
middle.aged women, eyes with an amiable or
sinister expression, severe toficial eyes then
come the old mems eyes, slightly filmy and in
a corner are the WORKOUT eyes-eyes tina. have
already been used, and have been returned b.
the customers as models to make other eyes by.
The enamel eye after being exposed TO the &C.
ton of the atmosphere for some months. loses
alike its color rnd its lustre, and becomes Opaque
looking, thick, dingy coating OF solid humors
spreads over its polished surface, and it has a
CLASSY look, like the eye of dead person
'Touch them, you will do no HARM" says the
oculist to visitors, just as though it was a col
lection of coins or minerals they were iuspe citing
Scientific american.