The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-04
W0MAN's INVENTIONS.
A Curious Compilation Of Facts on the
Subject Articles of Luxury and
Utility Discovered and Patented
by the Fair Sex in all Ages
of the World.

Mrs. Matilda Joslypin the North Anaer-
icdp ReCie1o says The most ancient
Chinese writers accord the invention OF
spinning to 1ao, wife of the fourth
Emperor, and the discovery of silk to
Sl-Ling-chi, wife of the Emperor Ho-
ang-ti, 1900 years before Christ.
At the exposition of woman's work
in Florence few years since, visitors
were greatly interested in a specimen of
the magnificent lace known as "Puleto
di Venezid" (Venetian Point Its stitch,
lost since the thirteenth century, has
recently been rediscovered by Madame
Bessani, a humble workwoman. to
whom the Italian Minister of Com
mere accorded letters patent with ex-
elusive control of her discovery for tif-
teen years.
With Kamejo, woman worker in
bronze, the decorations in relief, so
much used by Japanese artists. origi-
mated. Wood engraving, the pioneer
OF all other forms. OF engraving, was the
invention of the Cunio children, twin
sister and brother, at Ravenna, Italy,
in the thirteenth century. The discoy-
cry of cotton as a textile fiber, ascribed
IN the East to Semiramis, was in Amer
lea attributed to the mother of the In
cas-, who Taught the Peruvians its man
ufacture.
Pillow-lace making, which brought
this elegant addition to the toilet with
in the reach of all was the invention
Of Barbara Ultman, of Saxony, at a
period when that country was on the
Verge of financial ruin.
To Mheural Nisa. best known to Eng
disappearing people through Moore 5
Light of the Harem' as Nourmahal,
is the world indebted for its priceless
Cashmere shawls, the manufacture OF
which gives employment to thousands
of men and women, and forms one OF
the principal sources Of revenue in In.
dia. To her, also, we owe that most
exquisite and costly perfume, altar, OF
more properly, attyr of roses.
The straw industry of the United
States owes its origin to Miss Betsy
Metcalf, who, in 1898, made the first
straw bonnet ever manufactured in this
ter the State of Massachusetts alone
produced half million dollars worth
of straw goods. That State now pro-
aduces 5000, 900 hats and bonnets an
nually; a great deal of straw is also
manufactured in other States.
The most remarkable invention Of
the age, in its industrial, social and
political infuence-the cotton-gin-
owes its origin TO a woman, Catharine
Littlefield Greene, widow of General
Greene, of Revolutionary memory,
with whom the idea originated. The
cotton-gin heads the list of sixteen re-
markable American inventions that
have been adopted by the world.
Miss Louise Mclaughlin invention
of under1glaze painting in pottery was
appropriated by man who look out
| patent upon 1t,
The Burden horseshoe machine
turning out a complete shoe every
| three seconds, was a wOman's nven
ton. At renewal of the patent, il
1871, it was claimed that $50, 900, O0t
had been saved to the public during
the fourteen years of its usc.
A third great American invention
the mower and reaper, owes its early
perfection to Mrs. Ann Harmed Man
ming, of Plainheld, N. D., who in 1917
IS, perfected system for the com
bined action of teeth and cutters
whether in a transverse or revolving
direction" Mrs Manning also mad,
other improvements, OF which, not hay
ing been patented, she was robbed at
tier aher husbands death by neighbo
whose name appears in the list o
patentees upon this machine. Mrs
Manning also invented clover clean
er, which proved very lucrative to he
husband, who took out the patent
Nor was she the only woman who's
thought has been turned toward agri
cultural The name of Eliza
beth Smith. also of New Jersey, ap
pears in 1861 among the list of patent
ees upon an improvement. to tn
mower and reaper, whereby the knive
could be adjusted while the machin
was in motion.
The smallest inventions sometime
prove the most lucrative. A San Fran
cisco lady. inventor of baby carriage
received $14,0 900 for her patent. Th
paper pail, the invention of a Chicag
| lady, Yields large income. The gin
let-pointed screw, the idea of it'll
girl. has realized millions of dollars t
its patentee.
Among recent inventions of impol
ltance by women are a spinning ms
chine, capable of running from twely
to forty threads; a rotary loom, dom
i three times the work of an Ordinar
loom; space-saving clothes mangl'
a chain elevator; screw crank to
steamships; a ire-escaper device fC
correct pen-holding, Invaluable
schools; a wool feeder and weigher, on
of the most delicate machines ever il
vented, and of incalculable benefit t
every wooden manufacturer; self-fas
ening button; portable reservoir, fC
use ia case of fire; a process for burr
ing petroleum in place of wood an
. coal for steam-generating purposes; a
!. Improvement in spark-arresters, to /
c applied to locomotives; danger signi
= for street crossings on railways; pla
I flor heating cars without fire; a lubr
eating felt for subduing friction 9th
last five all bearing upon railroa
travel a rapid change box, marv'
of simplicity and convenience. invalui
BILE at railway stations and ferries, tn
invention of girl of sixteen; syllab
type, with adjustable cases and appar'
tus; machine for trimming pamphlet
writing machine; signal rocket, used
the navy; deep-sea telescope; method
deadening sound on elevated railway
smoke-burner; satchel-bottomed bag
5 bag-folding machine, ETC., etc. Mar
Improvements in sewing machines hay
lbeen made by women-as, device fl