The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-05-11

Luu COFefcu OVcr WIN ZlnC OfuaulcntS
, Here is miller who got rich by build
J ing patriotic monument, and he be
longs to the gentlest set Of all. Here
is stone-cutter with bank, coun.
try villa, and a Transformed town
. mansion, all bristling with minarets
!: and pinnacles. Here is a aclaim-agent
who came out Of the war without a
penny inhabiting a. castle made of
pressed-brick set in lampblack imortar
1 and resting on granite piers. sr i,e=3q
4 The time isappr0aching when cards
wilibe scanned before the lady of the
house comes down. to- receive strange
callers, and when the servant at the
door will perform the duty of asking
for invitations and resisting intruders.
i ---.-ll--.--.s ss.-.--L--1il-lL-l
/ .4'@a HsMAN IEArHfR. ~
i .ssa2n es4ajI --4l--fsss EFsSeE'I lBf4ffa.
Converting the Cuticle of an Unknown
Man into Boots-How tho .Tsnnlng was
Dosss@ ehhstfy ConffIDdtfon 20 tho Gen.
From the New York III ercnry. sft-t } $3.50
Human skin has at last been utilized
and a pair OF boots is the result. II,
81 A. Mahrenholz, bootmakers of this
city, have long been interested in ex-
perimenting upon the skins of snndry
animals and fishes, with q view to
ascertaining their adaptability for
leather. In addition to tanning the
hides of horses, donkeys, kangaroos,
aligators, anacondas, boa constructors,
and catfishes, Mr.. H. Mahrenholz, who
is more especially interested in the
work. has produced good leather from
the skin of a human being. or this
which haye been sent to the Smith
sOnian Institute at Washington for
transmission to the Centennial. OF
pair of boots from alligator skins also
sent, Prof. Spencer ". Baird, of that
institution, writes that they will be
accorded a place in the exhibition. but
he has not decided on displaying the
human boots. lie fears the indigna-
ton that may. be excited against an
assumed proclamation of the human
body. The skin was taken from the
breast, stomach and back of man in !
the dissecting room, who had died
suddenly from an accident, and whom
decay had not begun TO act upon. 1t
was placed in a solution of hcmlock
bark and white oak bark, usually used
in tanning, and in three weeks from
the first sleeping appeared as the up
per feathers and legs of the boots in
question. The soles were make from |
The boots were not BACKED |
but forwarded in the light brown col
OF that the tanning had created. The |
leather is somewhat coarser than calf
skin, and more porous. The pores OF
cattle are far more minute than those
of horses and human beings, and bo-
vine animals, like dogs, perspire but
slightly. Their heat departs largely
from the open mouth.
After allowing for the necessary
waste, the skin of an average sized
man would make two pair of boots,
including the soles, but the latter
would not be sufficiently hard for
use. Here is a new idea
for individuals selling their bodies for
before death. The Mercury
chronicles to-day, in its amusement
items, the fact of a variety performer
having bequeathed his corpse to doc
,or for dissection in consideration of
SlOO. II he had made a reservation
Of the skin and ordered its manufac-
lure into boots, he might have real
zed another 500. Numbers of the
curious would give $50 pair for
them.
Mr.. Mahrenholz is continuing his
upon human skin, but
with higher view than preparing it
for boots. He desires that after tam
ming, it shall preserve its original
whiteness, and is now endeavoring,
by process different from that ordi-
narily availed of, to attain his end. In
case of success, he proposes to tan the
,uticle ofa man, woman, and baby
and stuff them for exhibition in the
Bellevue Hospital Medical Museum.
He proposes also to tan and stuff a
,olored brother and a sister.
The fragments of human skin now
under process of tanning were recent.
y exhibited to Mercu,y reporter.
The aspect Of the skin and its sur
were not fascinating. 1t
was in dilapidated pail in cellar
nnder the sidewalk, and lying around
were coal and wood. bits of rope and
iron, old boxes, scraps of leather,
moldy alligator skins and dirt incal-4
;ulable. The decoction in the pail
was a yellowish solution Of dog
manure and water. It is not general
y known that dog manure is highly
valued for dressing the finer qualities
IF leather, especially when of a very
imy order. 1t is purchased of dog
anciers and dog hospital-keepers at
81, 80 bushel, when lime does not en-
er largely into Its composition. The
human skin was half the breast and
Irmpit of man suddenly killed, and
Who had not been identified. 1t had s
ost none of its color. and the identity
vas not to be mistaken. The grease
lid not leave the skin quicksy. 1t
vas at the bottom of the pail, with
tone upon it, and aboye was piece
If anaconda skin.
The inventor divsd his hand boldly
nto the repulsiye liquid, pulled aside
he latter, and brought to the surface
he object sought. "The dog manure
xaS ground to q nnUder hsfore / used