Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-15
SOME POSSIBILITIES.
Aseses, Tapestries, Furniture and Utensils
Made OF Glass.

Aseses, Tapestries, Furniture and Utensils
Made OF Glass
The future of the glass industry in the
United States is encouraging, for it is
of.iy .sAce the war that the manufact-
ure of polished plate has grown up;
and there are now running, or build
ing, enough furnaces to supply all
that will be used in the country. 1t is
within the last ten years that the
manufacture of cathedral and rough
plate has been thoroughly established.
at first disputing and now controlling
the home market against England and
Belgium. The improvement in
window-glass has also been great, and
there are workmen and manufacturers
who think they see the rising sun Of
much better days and much better
American glass. The concentration
of capital in powerful concerns must
certainly lead to changes in the system
of labor that are bound to insure q
more finished product. A new glass
recently invented in Germany is said
to add marvelously to the power Of
the microscope. A Yale professor
announces the invention of a perfect
acromatic telescope lens.
Legend tells of the lost invention of
"malleable glass" Tiberius is said
to have discouraged a genius who
found the secret by beheading him.
fearing the innovation would reduce
the value Of gold. 1t is also recorded
that Cardinal Richelieu was presented
with bust of malleable glass by
chemist, who purpOsely let it fall into
| fragments, and mended it before his
eyes with hammer. The inventor
was promptly rewarded by perpetual
Imprisonment, lest his ingenuity
should ruin the vested interests" Of
| French manufacturers. But If glass
may not ape the metals in malleability,
| it may initiate them in another respect
| Just as important. A more fortunate
Frenchman. on. de la Bastie) has with
in few years introduced into Europe
transmitted glass which, he claims,
may displace cast-irOn. If it fulfls
his expectations it will make q new
era In glass, and the old adage las
brittle as glass;" will be superseded
by new one, las tough as glass" BY
his process railway sleepers, fence
posts, drain pipes, tanks, etc, are cast
in molds, and so tOughened by bath
in oils as to be stronger than iron,
though much lighter, and costing one
third as much. But it is questioned
whether his results reach what is
claimed for the process. These un-
developed toughening processes augur
astounding changes in the future Of
glass. "Glass houses" may become
the fashion, and we would have to re-
verse our proverb about them, for
they would be bomb-prOof. Already
transparent glass bricks are made.
Extending the possibilities Of glass a
little further, why may we not build
the entire structure OF glass? The
walls might be cemented blocks cast
like hewn stone, but translucent, and
of any color. One could thus ihhabit
huge pile of amber or Of gigantic
gems. The windows could be multi
form, some of them telescope. bring
ing distant things near, some with
lenses or mirrors guiding the focused
suns heat for culinary and comfortable
purposes. others straining out the
light or chemic rays. Tapestries,
furniture and utensils might be made
} of the universal material. The whole
would be more endurable than granite.
No fire could harm it; lightning would
: shuu it. Such a dream, .blOssOming
from this miraculous substance, may
be realized by an Aladdin whose lamp
. is of glass.-Harper's Magazine