Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-12-19
The Work of a Wonderful Girl.

A correspondent of the New York
Sun writes from Amherst, Mass:
1t has often been said that there is
no mechanical genius in woman; but
there lssa representative woman near
here who is endowed with remarkable
mechanical genius. Her name is Miss
Martha Knight. She has invented
machine for manufacturing paper bags
The continuance is very simple, consist
ing of but little machinery, and is al
ready pronounced an inevitable acquisi-
ton to the paper bag making trade,
which centers near Northampton, Hol-
yoke, and Chicopee.
A frotune is predicted for the inven-
tress in comparatively short time.
The authorities at the Patent Office,
Washington, say this is the first COM
plete invention gotten out by a wo-
man.
Miss Knight is now experimenting
the making of the machines, which are
being manufactured at the Ames Com
pany's works, Chicopee. Some amusing
and interesting accounts are given of
her visit to the works. The plans for
machines had been sent on previously,
and preparations had been made to be.
gin the machinery.
On her arrival much curiosity was man.
Tested by the workmen regarding her.
All they were aware of was that the
plans had been sent, and that they were
drawn by a woman. There was not a
particle of fault to be found with them:
they were correct to a dot But they
were not convinced. "Probably she had
man to tell her everythingr' the
workmen averred, and so they be.
lieved.
On the day of her first appearance in
the shops all tools were dropped, and
the whole force of men stood facing her.
Not in the least inundated, she met
scrutiny with frank, honest smile,
that at least won their friendly regard.
When she went on to explain her
plans, and when, wishing to illustrate
more particularly her meaning, she ac-
tually stepped to one of the mems
places and did herself what she wanted
done, instead of asking to have it done
for her, they were not only surprised.
but convinceT at once of her entire ca
pabllity OF managing her own affairs,
and all the employees were ready to do
whatever she said they were to do.
Since that time she has made them
diurnal visits, goes down and labors with
them herself, detects mistakes and flaws
with keener eye than most men, and
she has gained the admiration, respect,
and friendship of every man in the
large establishment. They all have
word of welcome for her, and her visits
to them are the pleasantest parts of the
day.
In personal appearance Miss knight
is decidedly progressing. She is a tall,
weildeveloped woman, with a frank,
pleasant face, very expressive, honest,
and fearless, with blue eyes, and light
brown hair, which she wears plain, with
coil at the back of her head. Her
manner is singularly simple, being en-.
tlrely free from affectaticn. She has a
way of going straight to the point at
once when she desires to say anything,
and herjmode of expression is decided
and correct.
When friend, in a conversation,
ventured to wonder some at the pecu-
llarlty OF her present vocation, and
could not explain how woman should
ever do anything in machinery, she sensi.
bly, replied:
sit is only following out nature. l
never cared for things that girls usually
admire; dolls never possessed any
charms for me. l could not see the
sense of eoddling bits of porcelain with
senseless faces. The only things wanted
were jack.knife, gimlet, and pieces
of wood. My friends were Mortified.
| was styled Ton-boy, but that made
but little difference to me, and effected
no impression, whatever. | sighed
sometimes because l was not like other
girls, but wisely concluded that could
not help it, AMI sought further consola-
ton from my tools. l was always
making things for my brothers: did
they want anything in the line of play
things they always said: Matte will
make them for u.s. | was famous for
my kites, and my sleds were the envy
and admiration of all the boys in town.
I'm not surprised at what I've done.
I'm only sorry 1 could not have had as
good chance as boy, and been put to
my trade regularly
Yet she knows as much about ma
chinery as though she had made it a
study all her life. 1t is a genuine Gift.
Miss Knight is native of Boston, but
was employed IN one of the large paper
bag manufactures near Northampton
for some time, and it was while so en-
G ged that she first conceived the crea-
ton of machine that would save labor
in paper bag manufacturing. Several
attempts have been made before to in
vent something of this kind, but ali
have proved unsuccessful.
Election BetsvA Sporting Mans Opin-
IT. : ion. as=
The death of Mr.. Greeley gives riseto
question of the liability of his hackers
for their bets on the election. A rule of
the turf is WHARF fhera 10 No channo To