Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-07-23

A slender man OF quiet and respee-
table appearance, sitting in Sixth
avenue elevated train. last evening,
drew from his inner coat-pocket a mar
row steel rod about six inches in
length. The rod was flat and the
width of an ordinary lead-pencil. At
one end there was small slot in it.
So curious an implement and the pre-
occupied manner of the man attracted
the attention Of the other passengers
in the car A lady opposite, accompa-
MED by littie boy, glanced with alarm
toward the conductor, who was intent
~ watching the man, as the latter put
the slotted end OF the steel rod in his
mouth. The man shut his teeth to-
gether and his face underwent a series
of contortions as he worked his hand
with motion rs if he were tightening
up loose nut on bolt The lady be-
came so agitated that she left her scat
and took one nearer the door.
you needn't be frightened, marin,
said the conductor, Il guess that's on
ly the circus man with the iron jaw.
what in the worlds the matter
with him?n asked the lady.
81 guess lie is only tightening up his
jaw, marin, replied the conductor,
conso'ingly.
The man had now finished the oper-
alton, and he restored the steel rod to
his pocket. Then he took out mem
Orapdum book and made some entries
in it carefully, and having finished
these entries, he remarked to his neigh
Dor in the adjoining seat, as he closed
the book:
Science does remarkable things in
these days. " The neighbor nodded.
Now, l don't suppose you would
have the least idea that ] had q jack
screw between two of my teeth.
"A jack-screwP" inquired his neigh
Dor.
Yes, returned the man, smiling.
Il m undergoing a dental operation.
One of my teeth had been extracted,
and one of those adjoining it began to
grow over in the vacant space. 1t was
q good tooth, and l didn't want it
pulled, but the dentist couldn't get it
back to its place, until one day an idea
struck him AID he said he would put
Jac6-screW in there. So he made one. 1t
Is less than quarter Of an inch long,
but 1t IS on the same principle as the
other Jack-screws; just like those used
20 lifting up Cooper institute, only on
small scale, you see.
is there any danger Of slipping
uut?''
"Oh, not at all, my dear sir. 1t is a
very ingenious little contrivance. The
whole thing is made of gold and the
nut by which it is turned is next to the
lat5; you saw me turn it Just now?
Well, | turn it once around every TWEEN
iy-tour hours, and that turn is equal to
about a 250th part of an inch. Then,
you see, l make n memorandum of
each turn. Generally | turn it twice
day but only halfway round each
time. / expect that it win take two
or three weeks TO straighten the tooth.
is it uncomfortable? No, not es-
pecially a little unpleasant when
am turning it. Makes me grit my
teeth some, but | soon get used to hay
ing 1t there. The only objection is
that gold is a little too soft q metal
where there is so much pressure
brought to bear. You see, the screw is
q very slender wire and the thread on
1t is very delicate, though it feels as
though the whole thing was a foot
long and as big as those used under a
building. A day or two after l began
70 use it the thread snapped under the
train. Then | thought there was
dynamite cartridge in my mouth and
lae whole top of my head was coming
oil. But il did not hurt me. The den
.ist IS going to make one Of PLATINUM
II case this should give out. That is q
harder metal. This is my station.
GOOD night, and the man with the
.ack-serew between his teeth left the
train.-N ]. Tribune.