The sun., 1881-04-10
WEATHER VANES.
Styles Different In Accordqpco with Various
Tastes-Ihs Oldest y'nne In America.


Styles Different In Accordarco with Various
Tastss-The Oldest ynne In America
Weather vanes have been used for many
centuries. for n quantity OF thcm have boen
discovered among ancient Grecinn and Roman
ruins. These ancient vanes are mostly brhzen
figures Of II triton holding rod. Near the APP
pnn Way ono was found revolving over round
stone base on which the names Of tho twelve
winds were inscribed. An old vane In Constan-
tinople is n female figure. called the handmaid
OF the winds, mounted on the summit OF n
braaen obelisk. As tho cock has always been
considered bird OF vigilance. 1t became in
olen times n favorite weather vane. Lately
however. many fancy figures and designs have
been devised TO suit tho idiosyncrasies Of buy
ers. and to be in keeping with the Kind OF build
ing on which they are placed. BOOSTERS are
favorie vnnes for barns. They are rarely more
than sixteen inchos in height, and IL the tail Is
very long tho bird reyolves without an arrow.
Gaino cocks, pigeons, pcacocke. and pheasants
can also be had Cows. bulls. and oxen. varying
In length from twenty TO forty-eight inches. are
often selected by farmers for their barns. Tho
largest cow vanes go by the trade names Ouch
ess OF Oneida and New Jersey Short II Horned.
Thon there are other animals for farmers to
choose from. such as sheep n largo Merino
rs Ethan Allen. and very fat hog. Ploughs.
spades. and other implements OF agriculture
also appeal to rural tastes.
There is greater variety In horse vanes than
in any other. One nrm in this city has no less
that twenty that include Dexter, Ethan Allen,
Ethan Allen, Jr.. George n. Patchen, Gold;
11!n..n 1!,i hiin!u, D'IHN nn"k; mouhtaln Roy. anu
and Ethan Allen, with sulky and driver, in full
r !rol DeN,er anu hehtucky Rniloping win
taking fence, and another jumping over q
ball an arabian horse and mounted civilian.
MYther nI drv nr 1 se!'s hartcIn AM m nr,, WIN suky
men ana SPORTING elnbs Gan select from running
inNes. three varieties q dogs the sports mans
running, leaping. and standing deer. There is
aso v@n2 r WhiGh l rgpresens deer pnrsaaeS Dy
usually rom twenty-i9ur TO thirty inches IN
length elephants IRON twoto iour ieet n length,
and lions 81 about the same size. The ele.
phants ana lions are bought Tor rmehaGerlcs ana
II addition to tho .boye described designs.
special purposes, One Of the most curious is
ilgure OF the anger liaOrlsl, represented as ny
sometimes found on country churches. AS ap-
propriate for armories. forts. arsenals. Govern
can find a gun and military CAP vane. cannon.
an American haS q liberty cap, and tho God
dess Of Liberty yre or violin vii do for
breweriss. whiiS tobacco manuiaeturers ,' can AN
procure the figure Of an Indian. with bow and
|
Some Of the prettiest' vanes are designed for
chgndlories They are ships. harks. schooners.
! and sloops. with spars and rigging. Some are
three or four feet in length, Then there is an
ocean steamship. the steamboat st. John. and n
| ferryboat plou!!hinE ths waves. Designs for
| fire companies include a hook and ladder vane.
fire engine. and hose carriage. with or with
| out horses and flremen. There are also horse
car vaue with horses. driver. conductor and
| passengers. and vane composed OF q locomo-
| tive and tender. a very pretty effect is pro.
| duced by adding gitterlnZ revolving cups and
| balls to the vanes.
As might be supposed. more weather vanes
! are found in tho country than in the city where
| they are placed on high buildings only. A very
| large yAne is on one of tho bank buildings 1t
| is an arrow. the wing OF which is about nine
| ornamental vano Ia on tho New York Elevated
| Railroad station at South Ferry. 1t is six feet
in length. and is composed of n scroll with many
| motive is cut. On the rod and Immediately
| above tho vane are four long -stemmed fl overs
Another, des gned for Il newspaper building, is
n Quill four feet in length topped by a ball and
an eagle with wings spread three feet Eagles
| ars favorte yancs in this city. They are frn-
Quently designed from life. Tho largest, with
wings spread twelve fprt drs EXPENSIVE cos,!n.
from $275 TO $500. Arrows must be used with
eagles.
Bannerets are very popular because numbers.
initials. monoGrams firm names, and other
designs may be cut in them. and the scroll
gives. opportunity for many curves and turns.
The bannefet is that part OF ihe yane which
spending to the wing In arrow yanes. while the
scroll correspopds to the arrows point. Favor
its designs on pnherets are little circles, stars.
| crescents. and flowers. The best vnnes are
| made OF sheet copper or brass. Rilded with the
| finest quality of gold leaf.
| In germany anu Holland the windmills have
| mill wheels around TO the wind. The peasants
! In those countries frequently use diminntlve
chnnicnl c6ntrivnnces ne in motion. ineIuding