Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-17

formed that way by nature. Other bars and
pieces exhibit other metals Joined in the Same
manner by placing two ends almost together and
fuslng them with a powerful electric current
passed through. In this way metals which
could not be welded together at all formerly
are now made amenable TO mechanical science
Another wonderful electrical device is the
photographic telegraph" through the medium
OF which you can write a letter in Washington
and have IL lnstantaneously recorded In fac
smile OF your own handwriting at san Fran
cisco. This is the utmost advance in tele-
graphic art so far achieved.
FOR DOMESTIC ECONOMY
Among other models at the Patent Office is
one of char, the rocking Of which PLAYS an
organ inside of it; also another rocking chair
that works an automatic fan and a cradle that
rocks the baby TO sleep by clock work
while its mamma goes out 10 her club. There
Is a remarkable rat trap, in the shape Of Pc
cullar circular sheet of tin. that Is set upon an
open barrel To an attachment is hung =
bait and the minute Impudent rodent
touches II spring causes the tan surface 10 re-
yotve once, letting hun drop into the
oarrel aud resettlng itself immediately.
ready for the next victim. In
tins way the whole barrel can he filed with
rats without change OF bait Another curious
trap Is an imitation rat that has piece OF
toasted cheese stuck on the end OF little
spear that projects from its nose short dis
lance. When real rat comes up to nIbble at
the cheese the spear jumps out about SIX inches
ana impales the unfortunate. Another device
OF domestic economy is applied to the common
oarnyard fowl and is called the hen per-
suader. 1t is simply a piece of strong
wire, shaped like long fork without a handle
and fastened about the hens ankle with the
prongs extending rearward. In this way the
fowl is rendered unable to scratch and not
being able to move backward, because the
pronSs OF the persuader stick into the ground
when she tries TO do so. she must needs keen
on gong ahead all the time, which conduces 10
the hndlnS of the greatest possible number OF
bugs and TO the cheap nutrition OF the bird
There is
APATENT BooUs CAT
that is made by the pulling Of string TO lump
and startle pigeons for sportsmen SO that they
may fy quickly and DO difficult TO hit Also
there is trap to be nailed on the top OF any
tall pole which closes up instantaneously upon
any pigeon that lights there. Rubber earth
worms for fish bait are curious things and so
is a contrivance that dumps the servant out of
bed by clock work at the proper time in the
morning. Specimens of cloth woven out of
glass spun inconceivably fine are likewise in
terestng. The stuff is most beautiful for
curtains, tltering the light through
Its substance in vari-colored RAYS.
Cylindrical trunks, designed to defeat the
efforts of the baggage smEsher, would appear
SO well adapted TO that purpose that it seems a
wonder they have never been adopted But
of all models in the Patent Office the one that
attracts the most attention when IL is shown of
is called, indlfferently, the mechanical
Jackass." 1t is a device best described as a
combination of two whistles, a tin horn with a
reed pipe inside il and double fiat circular
tin diaphragm. II is worked by a sort of pis-
ton pump, the handle of which Is jerked with
one hand while the instrument itself is held in
the other, and the mixture of shrek and bel
low that 1t sends forth is too horrible for words
to give notion of. 1t was intended originally
for fog alarm. but it appears TO be chiefly in
actual use for assisting at ''shivaree" concerts
such as are given in rural districts in celebra-
ton of weddings that chance to be unpopular