Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-05-30
How Edison Made a Bug.

How Edison Made Bug.
A correspondent of the Indianapolis
journal tells the following story of Ed
SOD: One of my letters spoke Of the pos
sibility of utilizing the present gas pipes
by running the electric wires through them.
elbow is this wonderful Edison going to
get his wires through the pipes, I should
like to know?' asked an unbeliever. Edi-
son thought 1t over.
"Why, see here, Johnson!" he exclaimed
the next morning, 81 will make bug that
will drag wire through all the pipes in
New York"
make bug!'' said johnson. "what in
the world are you talking about?''
"Well, III make bug" said Edison.
ian iron bug that will go where you send
it and drag wire after it,
His assistant drew around while he dc
icribed his coming-or. rather, his going
bug. The next day he Matched rude
specimen of that insect as large as a coat
button. And it stood out on the table
and crawled!
1t was constructed thus: A minute
electromagnetic carried behind it a fine in
sIlated wire, the armature of the magnet
operating friction pawl. Now observe
every time the circuit is closed through
the magnet the armature is attracted, the
pawl clutches the sides of the gas pipe
with it's claws, and the magnet behind is
drawn towards the armature about six
tenth. Of an inch. When the circuit is
open, the armature reaches forward ready
to take a second step. Thus, at every
closing of the circuit, the little magnet adj
vances one step and drags forward the in
sulated wire. The description will be,
perhaps, incomprehensivs to non-experts,
but more people know something about
electricity than formerly did, and every
telegraph operator will understand how
this iron bug reaches out its armature
claws and claws around gas pipe.
CHOW, don't misunderstood this" said
Edison; sit isn't at all likely it will ever
be used to thread the gas pipes; have
made it merely for fun-just to show that
I can make 6rst-rate bug that will crawl
around all by himself. I shan't make a
cockroach, for there is no necessity for any
more, but-by the way, may make a toy
lightning bug some time. He could be
made to tighten easy enough. I wonder if
he could be made to fly"
The HAIR TRIGGERS OF SoCIET Y
There are many people always looking out
for sights. They cannot carry on the 'dai.
ly intercourse of the family without find
ing that some offence Is designed. They
are as touchy as hair-triggsrs. If they
meet an acquaintance who happens to be
preoccupied with business, they attribute
his abstraction in some mode personal to
themselves, and take umbrage according
ly. They lay on others the fruit of their
utter irritability. Indigestion makes them
them see lmpertinence in every one they
come in contact with. Innocent persons,
who never dreamed of giving offence, are
astonished to find some unfortunate word,
or momentary taciturnity, mistaken for
an insult. To say the least, the habit is
unfortunate. 1t is far wiser to take the
more charitable view of our fellow beings,
and not suppose that slight is intended.
unless the neglect is open and direct. At
ter all, too, life takes its hues in great
degree from the color Of our own mind.
If we are frank and generous, the world
treats US kindly; if, on the contrary, we
are suspicious, men learn to be cold and
cautious to US. Let person get the rep
utation of being ''touchy," and everybody
is under restraint, and in this way the
chances of an imaginary offence are vast
ly increased.
Mr.. SURGEONS RETURN Iron MEN
ToNE.-A gentleman present at the Tab
| ernacle. London. on the occasion of Mr.
| Surgeons first service after his illness,
writes: ut is satisfactory to find that the
protracted season of entire rest which he
was prevailed upon to take about the be-
ginning of the new year has had benef-
cial effect upon him. The last time Mr..
Spurgeon addressed his flock he had to sup
port himself upon has staff. On Sunday he
was able to move about his roomy pulpit
with comparative ease. A three month
residence at Mentone had impaired deep
bronze to his face, while the anguish of
body through which Mr.. Sturgeon has
passed of late has had the effect of turning
has hair completely gray. Although he had
taken slight cold since his arrival in this
country, the pastor seemed in excellent
spirits, and was heartily welcomed by a
congregation filling the Tabernacle from
floor to ceiling.''
Socrates called beauty short lived tyr
any; Plato, privilege ofnature; Theophas-
tus. silent cheat; Theocritus, delight
full prejudice: solitary kingdom; Domi-