The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1892-11-15

hnttrosting Facts In Relation 70 Their In
venfion md Evoiusion.
Since man became secrctive or
c0vetous locks and bolts have been
necessity. To keep would be in
truder % the right side OF door and
the fingers of thief from the object
Of his cupidity our ancestors impro
vised tho wooden bar and designed
the mysterious lock. The latter was
of course. the later product as involv-
ing mechanical skill and q knowledge
of metals. The ancient Egyptians
are credited with the manufacture Of
the original lock, which was simple
In construction and by no means
proof against the Ingenuity of the
primitive burglar. They wero most
ly made OF wood, with an occasional
example of iron OF copper. The
war1ed lock was a further evolution,
and during the Middle Ages, In which
'lso much OF mechanical work was
associated with saeerdotal instincts
and objects the products were char
acterized by elaboration and the
highest style of finish.
Tho religion Of mechanics In those
medieval times was conscience in
work and faith In its thoroughness,
to which IN modern days we cannot
honestly mske so valid claim. The
result 10 theert OF lccl1 making was
the production OF specimens, Of
which 1t is eai4 that history ard
antiquarians tell OF no fner speci-
nsens art and handtwork being hap
ply compared. The t1inbler lock is
Monaghan, and has been in use in
the Celestial empire for centuries,
the ancient Chinese being artists in
mechanical devices, and by no means
the bleckheads SO literally scandal
lied on the sand lots and platforms
Of modern times Tho combination
paddock has also venerable record,
and is attributed to tho genius of
French locksmith, the opinion, how
ever, being held by antiquarians that
its inception dates back to remotor
period.
Be that as it may, 1t is evident that
IN locks as in everything else in pure
mechanics, we are but improvers
on our predecessors. Ingenuity has
adapted itself to changing conditions.
The lock is moro necessity than
ever. 1t has more valuables to pro-
tect, and better educated rogues to
frustrate, ard we are getting emf
nently rich in both articles, while in
the skill of the locksmith as much as
IN the valor of the police we place
the faith that leaves no headache in
our nightcaes, and keeps our bonds
and ledgers safe. We have evolu-
tionized IN lock manufacture from
the Egyptian article to the modern
combination mystery of which, as
far as burglarious intentions are con-
cerned. there Is no key but deposit
of giant powder or q pinch of dyna-
mite.
Z. II is, however, to tho four types of
n 3cks named that we owe ell subso-
q lent evolutions and arc not per-
y n, except In Improvements, go
l Tioh Sad of elderly skill as wc some
,ooosa salne. 1t is simply a matter
y ssIigree, and in mechanical in
lpon luity, as in a family calendar, we
K build as reasonably expect to be on
fshe census roll without grand
father, as to be where we are
in manufactures without our ante
cedents. In the matter of locks
we care moro about practical
protection than in making their
brass and iron monumental Of
canonized man or act, and in this
sense we arc in keeping with the age
that Is mere anxious about it's de
posts than it's biographies. 1t is,
however, none the less fact that il
the ingenious mechanism of tho
modern lock we are but simply am
plifying the discoveries of our prede-
cessors Age OF Stool.