St. Landry democrat., 1883-06-02
Some Recent Inventions


Nowadays, thanks to the powerful
and widespread influence of Mr.. Sulli-
van, Mr.. Mace, the late Iamented Mr..
Elliott and cognate professional gentle
men, the popular conception of a scien-
tific American is that of 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 Seen
tfc american scientific American, al
though less snowy, less eager for the
eulogies of the multitude, than Mr..
Henry Hills scientific American, is per-
maps 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 vast garden whenever it is an
nounced that he is to have 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 a list of the
contriyances 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,
scientific American appears and meets
it. For instance: on this list is "a
safety hammer for firearms -. which
prevents premature discharge It's
unnecessary to point out that this inven-
ton was inspired by great, a very
great, popular want. Every State in the
Union and every Territory numbers
among it's population a greater or less
number of hopeless idiots who didn't
know it was loaded" Until Congress
passes 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
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 a scien-
tific American holding up to the de-
lighted eyes of his countrywomen "a
crimp- protector for preventing the I'M
crimping of ladies' frizzes. !" 1t was
Arten1us Ward who once said of an illus
trious American that every time an
emergency arose he got up and g 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 consideration
If this protector really protects we have
no doubt that its patentee will come
unto such wealth as to be moved to ex-
clam: Let me make the crimp-pro-
tectors of nation and'I 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 .sknocks out" They are familiar
with its leading opponents, 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 America? We really think it Is
IN. \. Tribune