The Brookhaven leader., 1883-05-31
Some Recent Inventions.

Nowadays, thanks to the powerful
and widespread influence of Mr.. Sulli-
van, Mr.. Mace, the late lamented Mr..
Elliott and cOgnate professional gentle
men, the popular conception of scien-
tific American is that of a gentleman
who knows how to "put up his hands. :"
But this is not the variety Of scientific
American with which the Scientific
american has to deal, as any one has
discovered to his disappointment who
has bought that excellent newspaper
with view of learning what was going
on in fistic circles. And yet the Scien-
6fc 4mericdn'S scientific American, al
though less showy, less eager for the
eulogies of the multitude, than Mr.
Henry Hills scientific American, is per-
haps just as great an ornament of sOci-
ETY.. True, the former has never been
able so successfully to popularize his
sort of science as to draw an audience
filling a vast garden whenever it is an
nounced that he is to have a benefit
That is where the latter has the advan-
tage. But the former, on the other
hand, undoubtedly harvests more of
that ultimate, clarified, enduring fame
which to some people is more attractive
than that effervescing applause of the
hour which is apt to be untimely ended
by the arrival of the police.
But it is not our present purpose to
institute competitive examination of
these two schools of science. We desire
simply to direct attention to one or two
of the recent interesting achievements
of the scientific American who does not
have respect to the Marquis of Queens
bury's rules. The last number of the
Scientific american contains list of the
contrivances which he has just patented.
They demonstrate that the inventive
genius of our country still is, as it has
always been, fully equal to the multi
tudinous demands made upon it. just
as fast as "a great popular want" So
called, makes itself seriously felt, a
scientific American appears and meets
it. For instance: on this list Is "a
safety hammer for firearms . which
prevents premature discharge" 1t is
unnecessary to point out that this inven-
ton was inspired by a great, very
great, popular want. Every State in the
Union and every Territory numbers
among its population greater or less
number of hopeless idiots who "didn't
know it was loaded" Until Congress
passes a law making it a capital and
objectionable offense not to know
it was loaded, some sort of a
"safety hammer is to be regarded as a
prime necessity in any house whose in
mates are addicted to the vice of guns.
Another instance: Ever since the days
of Eve, a long-drawn wall has gone
up from the heart of woman
touching her frizzes, and she has
passionately yearned for something
that would prevent them uncrimping at
inopportune times. In response to this
touching popular want, behold scien-
tiiic American holding up to the de-
lighted eyes of his countrywomen "a
crimp-protector for preventing the un-
crimping of ladies' frizzes." 1t was
Artemus Ward who once said of an illus
trious American that every time an
emergency arose he got up and "busted
in the emergency's head" In view of
this crimp-protector, who shall say that
Wards tribute to Washington Is not
equally applicable to the variety of
scientific American under considerations
If this protector really protects we have
no doubt that its patentee will come
unto such wealth as to be moved to ex-
claim: "Let me make the crimp-pro-
tectors of a nation and care not who
does its plumbing" And then to think
of women all over the civilized world
speaking his name with gratitude and
admiration, down through the ages until
time and frizzes shall be no more!
We have been led to call particular
attention to these achievements of
scientific Americans for what we regard
as an uncommon good reason. The ris-
ing youth of our land has a fondness for
the other school of science-the school
that knocks out" They are familiar
with its leading exponents, and can tell
you the leading points in their exciting
careers. Is it not perhaps well to give
the other school of science a better
chance than it has had of late with
young American We really think it is.
m Y. Tribune.
"A Virginia man aged one hundred