The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-09
DANGERS OF THE FOLDING BED.
Science hes Probably Overstepped
Itself in the Bedstead Line.

G(ACdC0 aE0 EIOOaOly ON6E6bCPPOA
Itself in the Bedstead Line.
- From the Nelo York Tribune.
Everybody has known, Of course. that It
would come some time. Luck will carry a
man through a great many tight
ylaces, but IL man presiss in getting
into tee same tight place time after time,
luck will eventually get tired and desert
him. The man who puts his head In the
lions mouth professionally every day =.
finallY leaves ID there and goes on his uncer-
tain way without any head; he is not so
pretty according to the generally received
standards of beauty, but he knows more
about lions. And since people would per-
sist 3n sleeping night after night in folding
beds. it was peIfectlo plain that soon or
latter somebody was going to be caught
and realize the feelings of Jonah during the
three days which, TO quote from the modest
young minister. he passed in the whales
er-society."
Josiah Baker, Jr., il appears from the
dispatches, Is one of the wealthiest young
stockmen of Central Missouri. Instead OF
sleeping out doors with his head on bis sad
die, as becomes a stockman of Central Mis-
souri,, Mr.. Baker has long affected folding
bedstead which makes a piano, upright but
silent. during the day. There was room
enough In Mr.. Bakers house for the ordi-
nary open or quiet bedstead, but while in
Chicago few years ago he fell In love with
the more active and gymnasttc folding bed.
His neighbors, of course, warned him
against it, but he paid no attention TO this.
They told him that the folding bed was too
uncertain and emotional for evsry-
day use. but he needed them not.
But the sequel shows that he tempted
the folding bed once too often-that it was
but half reclaimed after all, like the little
boys ponies. which were pretty tame in
front but awful wild behind Monday
night Mr.. and Mrs. Baker retired at the
usual hour. That was the last seen OF them
In a soupd, normal condition. At about 8
O'Clock Tuesday morning one Of the children
heard weird noise coming from his
parents room which sounded like the
moan Of the autumn wind by tele-
phone. He started TO investigate,
and soon shouted TO the other
children that 1.-THE folding bed had gone up
on papa and mamma" The other children
rushed in and found that it was only too
true. The mufiied means we're from the
throat Of one Of the wealthiest stock
men Of Central Missouri The chill
dren instantly set about to release
their parents. The bedstead had
snapped shut from some unknown cause,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Baker were in sadly
cramped and reversed position. Their
presence rendered the bed very hard to
open, ana the children were Obliged TO work
upward of two hours before they could re-
lease the prisoners. Indeed, they only sue
ceeded in getting the bed to open a very
little, and were obliged TO pick their parents
out OF a narrow crack. They were both
found to be distorted into curious and
interesting shapes, and it took the
family physician, who arrived later most
OF tho forenoon to restore them to their
normal outlines, Mrs. Baker is not yet able
to leave her room. Mr. Baker will sue the
manufacturers of the bed for damages. Ic
appears, however, at this distance, that this
will be like suing the manufacturers Of a
shotgun when you blow your hand of with
1t. 1t was Mr.. Bakers business to know
that his bed was loaded.
But this should not the less teach the
makers OF folding beds to throw greater
security abouty them. Their discharge
should be made more difficult. The going
of OF q folding bed should not depend on a
hair trigger which a mouse or a movement
OF the sleeper may BET off. They should be
fastened open securely in some way like the
upper berth In sleeping car. These formerly
often closed on the unwary traveller, but
now the only danger Is In having the porter
shut the berth In revenge for your not leav-
ing out your shoes where he can get at them
and cover them with lamp black and mus
cilage. Even with improved fasteners for
folding beds, a burglar may occasionally
snap one OF them shut while he rifles the
jewel case and trousers pocket. This, OBJ
viously, cannot well be guarded against,
but the involuntary convulsions of the
folding bed must be cured.