National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-12-27

There was goodly number Of visitors
In tho patent Office museum whom a ro-
porter of THE REPUBLICAN strollcd In
there yesterday afternoon. Ordinarily
the difficulty of access restricts tho visit
ors' list the progress Of the remodeling
of the south wing rendering the stairway
useless, the elevator being the sole means
of reaching the upper floors Holiday
leisure, with congress In recess, gave the
curiosities Of the model museum add toinal
attractions yesterday, and the increased
crowd present was tho result. The partiou-
lar class of patents that drew the largest
crowd struck the reporter as worthy OF
observation. One case at the end Of the
hall seemed to have the bulk Of the crowd
grouped about IL, examining the contents.
Walking toward the spot collection OF
artificial limbs was frat seen. Thoro
were legs that could DO kicked with.
walked with, sat down with. and would
even permit participation in tho giddy
waltz. Arms with hands, the fingers
of which were as mobile aud pre-
bensile rs those man is born with,
and but for the constantly gloved condi-
ton could scarcely BIO distinguished from
the work Of nature herself, laid around
the shelves in careless profusion. But
these were not what had caused tho gath
ering. In the other end of tho case was
COLLECTION OF coFFINs
Every variety of burial case that could
be imagined or contrived by the living
for the comfort of the dead was repre-
scented. And this was tho magnet that
drew these festive holiday people. One
invention seemed to have superior power
o interest the crowd. 1t was an elabo-
ate contrivanco for obviating the posi-
Utilities of the permanent intombment of
he quick with the dead. Its inventor is
aid to have died and been buried in the
usual way while his application for a pat
emit was pending. A rectangular metal
shaft extended from the head of the coffin,
which was to be of size to permit the
reviving cadaver to move around in its
shroud. Two plates Of heavy glass close
the respective ends of the shaft. The
lower one is SO arranged as to drop out on
the slightest movement within, the casket
A bell at tho upper end. which is sup
posed to project above the ground and
form sort of ready-made headstoDe, is
rung by the aforesaid movement of the
supposed dead person, and keeps on ring
ing for q space of time supposed to
be sufficient to arouse tho keeper of tho
city Of the dead. This Is a provision for
such q condition of foebleness on the part
of tho recent corpse as to prevent its using
the ladder that IL available II the restora-
ton is complete en- ough to leave an able
boiled man or woman as the result. The
top plate ID immovable from the outside,
but falls before the approach Of the party
RETURNING From THE GRAVE TO TIE
WORLD.
M provision is made for a change of
clotS ing, Fad walk homo will have to
be taken in the burial shroud should the
alarm bell not have summoned crowd
to receive the visitor.
There were cylindrical Baskets, square
and lozenge-shaped Baskets, arched tops,
dome tops, trunk-ld tops, folding
door tops, and every other conceivable
shape of coffin cover was there,
every material from pine to por.
celain. including all the commoner
metals, asphalt, terra Gotta, cement,
stone. paper, and oak bark. Ventilated
collins, Theoretically sealed Baskets, and
antisoptic burial cases are shown. All
found advocates in that holiday crowd.
ONE NEwLY-MApE BRIDE
made her very fresh-looking groom sol
emily promise to have her buried in
that patent corpse reviving contrivance,
or she would go right back to her ma.
The promise was given. An old man,
with sharp features and an unmistakab able
dir Of country store about him, wanted to
find model of the brass collins that they
bury presidents and congressman and tho
other great people Of thea earth in, and
that cost $1,000. But that style was not
represented in the collection. When the
time for closing the building came tho
sutieiad crnyvl nf holiday yiaitnra torn