Sharp County record., 1881-08-25
PAUL AND THE COMB.MAKERS.

Little Paul PerkinS-MaSter Paul his
uncle called him-did not feel happy.
But for the fact that he was q guest at
his uncle's home he might have made
an unpleasant exhibition of his unhap-
piness; but he was q well-bred city boy,
of which fact he was somewhat proud,
and so his impatience was vented in
swapping off the teeth of his pocket
combs, as he sat by the window and
looked out into the rain.
1t was the rain which caused his dis
content. Only the day before his ia
ther, going from New York to Boston
on business, had left Paul at his uncle 5,
some distance from the Hub" to
await his return. 1t being the lad
first visit, Mr. Sanford had arranged a
very full programme Tor the next day,
including trip in the woods, fishing, a
picnic, and in fact quite enough to COW
er an ordinary week of leisure.
And now that the eventful morning
had come, it brought a drizzling, disa-
greeable storm, so that Mr.. Sanford, as
he met his nephew, was constrained to
admit that he did not know what they
should find to supply the place OF the
spoiled programme.
And my little nephew is so disap-
pointed that he has ruined his pretty
comb, into the bargain, said the uncle.
Il was was trying to see what it
was made Of Paul stammered, thrust
ing the handful Of teeth into his coat
pocket. 81 don't see how combs are
made. Could YOU make one, uncle"
Il never made one" MIR. Sanford
replied, but have seen very many
made. There is a cOmb-shOp not more
than a half-mile away, and it is quite a
curiosity to see how they make the
great horns, rough and ugly as they
are, into all sorts Of dainty combs and
knicknacks."
"What kind Of horns, uncle.'
Horns from all parts of the country,
Paul. This shop alone uses nearly a
million horns a year, and they come in
carloads from Canada, from the great
West, from Texas, from South America,
and from the cattle-yards about Boston
and other Eastern cities"
You don't mean the horns Of COM
mon cattle?"
"Yes, Paul; all kinds Of horns are
used, though some are much tougher
and better than others The cattle
raised in the Eastern, Middle and West
ern States furnish the best horns, and
there is the curious difference that the
horns of six COWS are worth no more
than those Of a single OK. Many mill
ions of horn combs are made every year
in Massachusetts; perhaps more than
in all the rest Of the country. If you
like we will 20 down after breakfast
and have q look at the comb.makers. !"
Paul was pleased with the idea
though he would much rather have
passed the day as at first proposed.
By and by mail stage came rafting
along, without any passengers, and Mr.
Sanford took his nephew aboard. They
stopped before a low, struggling pile Of
buildings, located upon both sides Of 4
sluggish looking raCe-way which sup
piled the water power, covered passage
ways connecting different portions Of
the works.
Presently, Just over the knoll, " said
his uncle, ''you will see a big pile of
horns, as they are unloaded from the
cars"
They moved around the knoll, and
there lay a monsrous pile of horns
thrown indiscriminatelv together
"Really, there are not so many as we
should think" said Mr. Sanford, as
Paul expressed his establishment.
THAT is only a small portion of the
stock of this shop. l will show you a
good many more
He led the way to group of semi
detached buildings in rear of the prin-
cipal works, and there Paul saw great
bins of horns, the different sizes and
varieties carefully assorted, the total
number so vast that the immense pile
in the open yard began to look small in
contrast.
In another building only one man was
employed, and the peculiar character
of his work at once attracted the atten-
ton of Paul. In small frame before
him was suspended q very savage-look-
ing circular saw, running at high rate
of speed, The operator caught one of
the great horns by its tip, gave it a
turn through the air before his eyes,
seized it in both hands and applied it
to the saw. With a sharp hiss the keen
teeth severed the solid tip from the
body of the horn, and another move
ment trimmed away the thin, imperfect
parts about the base. The latter fell
into a pile of refuse at the foot of the
frame, the tip was cast into box with
others; the horn, if large was divided
into two or more sections, a longitude
nal slit sawn in one side, and the Sec
tions thrown into a box.
"This man." said Mr.. Sanford, "re-
ceives large pay and many privileges,
on account Of the danger and the un-
pleasant nature of his task. He has
worked at this saw for about forty years,
and in that time has handled, according
to his record, some twenty-five millions
of horns, or over two thousand for every
1T-ssisi u 81 king iay. He has oJdTUUfy whOfg
finger or thumb upon either hand
many of them are entirely gone; but
most of these were lost during his ap-
premiership. The least carelessness
was rewarded by the loss of a finger,
for the saw cannot be protected with
guards, as in lumber cutting"
Paul watched the skillful man with
| tho closest interpst shuddprino IN 600