Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-07-13
EYES MADE OF CRYSTAL.
What a New York Dealer Says Concern
ing Artificial Optics.

ing Artificial Optics.
1T Is all wrong To say bully boy with
aglass eye, said a Maiden lane manufact-
urer and importer who is something of
wag.
Why is it all wrongg"
well. there may be bully boz S. but
there Is no such thing as a glass eye"
What would you call thisy' we asked,
at the same time holding up an artificial
human eve.
II would call that crystal eye, because
it is made out of crystal, and not out of
glass"
us there any difference"
"Of course there is. As | understand
it, crystal eyes cannot be nodded into
shape just how they are colored and
made t, initiate the natural eye have no
idea. You see, the method of making
artificial human eyes out of crystal is one
of the secret arts | have tried to see
whether there is not something in the
books, but the writers maintain deep
silence on the subject"
Where are most of the artificial eyes
made?"
1--WE import most of our eyes from
France. The manufacture of artificial
human eyes is in the hands of few
French worllmen, who keep the process a
secret, the same as the workers ON
Gobelin tapestry keep their art a secret.
There are two or three in this country en-
gagged in the manufacture of artificial
eyes, but their product lacks often the
close finish and the naturalness of the
French. Yet we can make good eye to
order"
''How much would an eye to order cost?"
Not over $15. We keep large as
sortment in stock, and if we can fit a
man the cost would be only $40. There
is not such difference in peoples eyes as
most persons suppose. The ordinary
black eye, the light and dark blue eye
and the gray eye and what is called the
wall eye are pretty much on the same
pattern. Oculists have studied the diff
ferent shades and tints Of the eye so long
that they make a pretty good match to
the natural eye. Not only that, but they
can fit an artificial eye exactly in the
place of n diseased eye after tho latter
has been removed. IL the muscles have
not been damaged. the artificial eye can
be made to roll little after the manner
of good eye, but hardly in the fine
frenzy of the past. | have known cases
so skillfully done that it was hard mat
ter to tell at the first glance which was
the artificial and which was the natural,
although o sharp observer would dis
tngulSn III IN a snort tlmo.
Do you think there arc many bully
boys in New York with glass eyes?" we
laughingly inquired.
"Well, can hardly say how many New
Workers sleep with one eye open. A fair
estimate would perhaps be over 1, 900 or
1900. A great many from out Of the
city come to be fitted with artificial eyes.
can Judge somewhat of the number by
the amount of my sales every year"
81 suppose you have come across some
curious cases?"
"Yes, / could tell you some funny ex-
periences which have had | remember
one young lady who was never suited
with her eye, and had it changed once or
twice year. Another old lady used to
lose her eye about once or twice year.
One man who used to go on periodical
sprees often went home without his eye.
lie came to me one day and ordered an
extra optic. He said that he wanted to
be prepared for any emergency. But
guess the greatest emergency was meet
ing his wife after being out all night
L. j. Vance in New York Graphic.