Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-02-28
Ornamental Glass Blowing.

We remember in our boyhood,
when Barnum's American museum
was in its greatest glory, watching
with intense interest the operations
of the glaSs-blower, whose table was
q marvellous. centre of attraction,
and whose wonderful little birds
with long silken tails of iridescent
glass always tempted US to violate
the tenth commandment. This work.
man was a descendant of the arti-
sans OF Venice, and perpetuated as
curiosity what was once profitable,
but is now almost a lost art. The
glass-spinner sits at little table.
Before him are quantity of glass
tubes of various colors. A spirit
lamp also sits before him, which.
blown by pair Of bellows placed
under the table, and worked by the
feet of the operator, gives forth a
long jet of flame. The workman
places the end of one of his tubes in
this flame. 1t speedily begins to
soften. No sooner dose it do so than
be seizes one extremity with small
pair of pincers and draws it out in q
long thread, the size of which ne
easily determines. He then winds
and weaves it back and forth, form
ing those ornaments which give that
peculiar aspect of ornamentation to
nearly all the specimens of Venetian
glass which we have presented to our
readers. By attaching the end of
the glass tube to a little wheel or
drum, and gradually winding it round
and round, fine thread may be
produced, so delicate that, despite it's
fragile character, it may be woven
into a robe. The aigrets which or
nament the ladies' bonnets, and are
so fine and flexible that the slightest
breeze agitates them, are of spun
glass The same material was once
employed in constructing flowing
black curls, which, worn by prince,
became the admiration of all Paris.
If any Of our readers were at the
Universal Exhibition of 1866, they
may remember piece Of statuary
composed of spun glass-a lion of
the size of life, with splendid hair
and bristling name, sitting a serpent
"A piece Of workmanship which is
said to have cost its author thirty
years of labor. Spotted tigers, strip
ed hyenas, variegated serpents, as
well as birds of all variety of plum
age, are successfully initiated by this
curious but useless art. Now fallen
into disuse, it was once so highly
esteemed that in the commencement
of the 10th century, Fugger, the rich
banker of Augsburg-who, not con-
tent with warming his guest, Charles
", with bundles of wood,
lighted them with the bond for a
large sum which the sovereign had
borrowed from him-found nothing
rarer or more worthy of being offer
ed to his imperial visitor than a
small vessel of molten, spun, cast,
and twisted glass.-Lymaa Abbott, IN
HGrper'S Magazine for Feb.
A NOBLE WIFE.-A bankrupt mer-
chant, returning home one night,
said to his wife:
"My dear, am ruined everything
we have is in the hands Of the Sher-
iff!"
After few moments of silence,
the wife looked calmly into bis face
and said
"Will the Sheriff sell you ?"
ooh, mol"
"Will he sell me p
ooh, mol"
"Will he sell the children ?"
ooh, mol"
"Then do not say that we have
lost everything. All that is most
remains to us-manhood,
childhood. We have
lost all but the results Of our skill
and industry. We can make anoth-
Or fortune if our hearts and hands
are left u.s."
Can-wo wonder that, encouraged
by such noble wife, he is on the
road to fortune again.