Morning journal and courier., 1881-10-22
Eccentric John Muir.
His Love for Mecha anfcs and Some of H
 Queer Inventions.

His Love for Mechanics and Some of His Queer Inventions.
 From the Oconomoc [Wis) LooaIls
 Twenty years ago there came to Wisconsin
 University a queer genius named John Muir. He was of Scotch percentage, studious, indus trious, inclined to have but few companions, yet social, was lover of quiet fun and long rambIes in the country, and like many others who have had their way to make, cooked his meals in his room. In all things he was singular his remarkable trait was his love of practical mechanics and invention. He seem- ed to need few tools ax, saw, jack knife and gimlet were his chief weapons, while al most anything served as material. His clock served as a centre about which several of his most interesting machines clustered. This was in the form of scythe. and snath, hung in an old knarled burr oak grub where Father Time is supposed to have left it. The scythe was split Iengthwise, and in the opening thus formed was train of wheels constituting the works. The motor was heavy stone con- cealed under the roots and moss from which the clock rose on the table. The year, month, day. hour, minute and second were indicated by index arrows on the various paper d1als. The pendulum was also an arrow with heavy copper point.
 trap-door, under which moved rack in which his books were set up separately on their backs. He arranged his study hours for each III, desk to the clock, so that, at the appointed moment, the trap-door opened, dropped the book into it's rack moved this along, threw up the next book and closed the trap under <. -.
 His bed was machine utterly destructive to the 'tIittle more sleep' of the sluggard. It was hung on pivot, and supported at such a height that, when turned up, it stood nearly perpendicular, foot down. The foot was held up by lever. Beside tho bed was the lampstand, on which the fluid lamp, then i'll use, was placed at night. To this bed the clock was connected and then set for rising. In the morning the machine took off the ex- tinguisher, struck a match, lighted the lamp, and then withdrew the lever, letting the bed down and bringing its occupant out on his feet. I have known him to satisfy the curl osity of visitors by putting them into the bed wrong end to, and so bring them out head down. In summer time he. connected this bed to the east window by linen thread. srin-elass was so adjusted as to burn off this thread when the sun came to the right posi- ton.
 I roomed opposite him, and he arranged signals by which was often called to see bit of fun, in particular with his ''loafer chair.'' This was wooden chair with it's bottom split. Apparently to cure this split, an awkard chunk was nailed over 1t, near the front. This caused the sitter to spread his knees. As soon as the supposed loafer, but real victim, leaned pack ue Prssseu concealed spring which fired an old pistol, directly under the seat. The wonderful leaps of the victims were worth seeing.
 Nor did John forget the ladies, who some- times came to see his machines. Out of 8 raisin huge vicious-looking black spider was made, which was so suspended as to drop be- fore the fair visitor when she was well seat ed in his best chair. It was delicious to hear them scream. John has the reputation of knowing more of the Yosemite valley and the Nevada mountains than any living man.
 A certain good wife, who had been lectur- ing her husband for coming home intoxicat-