Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-03-24

weight of the metal and the constant
fixity of the look.

fixity Of the look.
The data of tho introduction of
glass eyes is not recorded, but they
have been found in the heads of
mummies staring with unearthly
light. In olden days solid glass eyes
were used, but the artificial eye of
to-day is of shell-like formation, and
in its construction remarkable nicely
and skill is required.
With the exception Of few small
notifications in detail and finish, the
manufacture of artificial eyes has not
made any particular steps forward In
the last half century. Each manu-
| facturer has a secret of his own as to
the combination of the material used
and the mode of applying them.
This secret, which in most cases is
handed down from father to son, is
jealously guarded, and strangers are
rarely permitted to witness any Of the
processes of manufacture. The artif-
cial eye being only light shell of
enamel without any precise form, since
it has to be suited to the different sizes
and shapes of eyeballs, is placed under
the eyelid, and is composed of two
parts; the one exterior, which gives
the colors of the iris, of the sclerotic,Ior
white on the eye, as well as the blood
vessels of the healthy eye; the other,
the interior, which fitting into and
capping the stump, receives movement
from it. The manufacture Of artif-
cial eyes consists in three distinct
operations, as follows:
The artist seats himself at his table
with lamp or gas jet before him
which is blown by Il bellows and blow
pipe worked by the foot, and gives a
pointed jet of flame of the strength he
desires. Within reach of his hand are
placed rods of enamel of different
colors. He begins by taking hollow
tube of colorless crystal, one of the
extremities of which being soon melted
in the fire Of the jet forms ball
when blown. AS the color given by
the crystal has no resemblance to that
of the sclerotic, usually called the
white of the eye, his first labor is to
color the ball in such a manner that it
may be of the same hue as the natural
eye. To attain this result, he applies
to the ball, e,.amol Of different colors
which amalga:nating with the crystal
in pasty state, gradually gives it the
desired tint, which differs in each
individual. This tint obtained, he
makes a circular opening in the center
of the ball, destined to receive the
globe of the eye. When the hole is
made the ball is put on one side.
The globe is made by first forming the
iris, which is done by the use of sew
eral amalgamations of enamel accord
ing to requirements of the case.
TheIiris finished. spot of black ename
is placed in the center to form the
pupil, which is then encircled with its
aureola. The infinitely small tibers
found in the iris are then drawn.
The globe when finished is soldered
to the sclerotic by means of the lamp,
after which the artist rectifies any
small imperfections which he may
observe, and it only remains to pare
the ball in order to obtain a shell,
which, rounded at the edges. may
perfectly resemble the living eye with
which it is to be placed, not only in
form but also in color. The cnameled
surface of a well-madc eye is really
lovely, and when even closely exam
ined it has every appearance of the
natural, eye both in brlliancy, depth
and light.
Prices vary from SIS to $50, accord
ing to circumstances, although all are
equally well finished.