The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-05-10
GETTING READY FOR THE FOURTH
Preparing Torpedoes and Toy Pistols to Kill
off Mammals Darlipgs,

GhIIlNG READY FOR THE EOUkTH.
Preparing Torpedoes and Toy Pistols to Kill
of Mammals Darlings.
The New York San says that prepar-
ations for meeting the fourth -of-July de-
mand for torpedoes are already well ad-
vanced. The regulation toy torpedo
consists of bit of gravel done up in a
square of tissue paper with mite OF full.
inmate. The paper holds the gravel and
illuminate together; the gravel gives
weight to the torpedo, so that conclusion
is produced when it is thrown or dropped
against resisting substance, and the
illuminate does the business. There are
other kinds of toy torpedoes in which
cement or some other substance stronger
than tissue paper is used to contine the
explosive, and they make louder moist
than the paper ones. They are less to
be deplored, however, because their cost
places them beyond the reach of many
urchins. The toy torpedo is an abomin-
alton which is popularly believed to be
the product of heather ingenuity. The
historical fact that the fire-cracker-the
nuisance second to the toy torpedo
was invented by the Chinese, has brought
the race under the suspicion of originat-
ing many evils of which they are inno-
cent The name of the inventor of the
toy torpedo is not known. He is be-
Iieved to have persisted miserably after
seeing his ill-gotten gold turn to dross
in his hands. His descendants are not
likely to reveal the secret ofhis identity,
which he guarded so close till his death.
The active work in the making of toy
torpedoes, is done by little girls who are
too young to comprehend the enormity
of their offence. Provided with materi-
ais, one little girl will, in a single day,
lay five or six thousand squares of tissue
paper, over half-inch' holes in boards
containing 202 holes each, and will punch
the centers of the squares down into the
holes with a plug; another little girl will
shove up illuminate with quill, and with
another quill will poke a little of the
substance into each of the paper-lined
holes; third little girl will scatter roof
ing gravel over the boards, filling up the
little wells; and fourth little girl will
pick the papers containing the illuminate
and gravel out of the holes and twist
the edges of the paper together with a
small daub of paste. A hundred torpe-
does are then mixed with sawdust and
done up in round bunch with paper
covering, to be sold for a paltry sum to
little boys and girls who desire to be-
come enemies of humanity.
Toy torpedoes used to be manufac-
tured by machinery; but the evil ingen-
uity of this inventor failed to produce a
contrivance which was equal to the ac-
complishment of his fell purpose, and
the so-called industry is confined now to
the hand process. Manufacturers say
that the seasons demand for toy torpe-
does promises to be large, and unblush-
ingly proclaim their purpose to supply
it.
The Boston Herald says that the in
ventive genius of a young law student
of st. Louis is apparently of such a dan
gerous character that measures ought
to be taken, in behalf of the public veal,
to confine his energies to Blackstone,
Chitty, and kindred writers, or at least
to divert them into the harmless chan
mel of legal pugilism. This embryo bar
rister fell victim to the toy pistol man.
la some time ago, and, for the past half
| dozen years, he has been racking his
brains and wearing out his chest of tools
in the effort to produce pistol superior
| that is, more destructive-to anything
at present known. Several patents on
different forms of his toy pistol have
been taken out at different times, but il
has only been within day or two that
he has invented the ne plus ultra in this
weapon of carnage, and filed papers in
the United States patent office protect
ing him in the invention, from which
many citizens will doubtless soon be
praying to be protected. A reporter
called upon the inventor, who proudly
exhibited his latest pet invention. The
toy resembles an ordinary pistol in gen.
eral size, but is somewhat smaller and
lighter. A peculiarly adjusted spring
furnishes the propelling power and ex
plodes the paper caps used, the spring
being released by the pulling of an or
dinary trigger. Marbles are the minis-
ture cannon balls used for ammunition
and they are held in place by a second
spring. The distance to which the mar
bles can be shot is regulated solely by
| the strength of the spring, but the in
ventor at present will content himsel
with a discharge of fifteen feet in s
straight line. Broken glass in mirrors
and over pictures in the inventor room
. ClIISoC bliC illSl Ito VI lIio III iAN
safety of the weapon, however, is in
sisted upon by it's originator. ''lt'
death on caps, and it's a good shooter
too, but no one can be harmed by it
Ladies using it will get accustomed tt
the explosion, and be better able to de
fend themselves with genuine pistols
1t will make marksmen of the young
sters. The pistol can't harm any one
Why, it hasn't got power enough t.
break a homeopathic medicine bottle a
four yards. The boys are crying for i
already. Half 4 dozen to whom l hav
shown this model have been around t.
find out when am going to begin man
ufacturing them. They all want to Sc
up shooters galleries in their coal
sheds. There are three eastern manu-
featuring companies figuring upon th
purchase of the patent, and beginning
making them at once. don't believ
l will sell, though. They can be mad
to sell for % cents and have big MAJ
gin for profit, and l am thinking of be
ginning to put them upon the marke
soon. Safe or not, they will take wit
the boys, and that is all that is neces
sary."