Evening journal., 1893-09-18
ALWAYS INVENTING.
AN INGENIOUS MAN WHO Is USUALLY
DOING SOMETHING.

HAD II not been that my family went
out Of town a short time ago and leftme
homeless and despondent, would never
have been able to write this story. AS it
was was won over by the entreaties Of a
friend and went TO live with him and his
little family-for awhile.
It pleases re to meet geniuses. I like
10 touch shoulders with men Of ideas,
and that is just what this friend Of mine
might be labeled-a man Of ideas. did
not know it before I went to his house,
but then 1 discovered he is an inventor.
What he invents is imuaterial suf-
fee it to say he invents in the full sense
Of the word. If he works out an idea,
and when the model is perfected it doesn't
10 what he thought it would, he makes
it do something else.
It's a double back action style of in
venting that is destined to fill long felt
wants or leave an aching void. The in
ventor is not to blame for either of these
happenings, his business being exclu-
sively to invent.
We were sitting in his dining room the
first evening / was at his house. The
servant had just cleared the dinner table,
and my friends wife was looking after
the youngsters and keeping their nurse
out of mischief.
George was looking intently at one Of
the gas tips, and his brain machinery was
grinding exceeding fine material, could
see.
well, what is it?' ] asked, looking up
and around for a stray June bug or some
other bird Of plumage.
''Tm just thinking, Georgesaid rather
dreamily, 81 can improve on that gas
tip. III do it. I've got it sure" Then
he began drawing things on a piece of
paper that looked like deformed church
steeples He said they were gas tips.
For a day or two George ate very lit
tie. / afterward learned this is COM
mon with inventors, as they are able to
20 for weeks at a time without touching
morsel Their brains stop working
when their owner eats. There's nomon-
ey in eating except for the dealers in
edibles.
When George came back to earth and
food, he had a model in his pocket. 1t
was the tangible outcome Of his think
ing
"Isn't that splendid?" he said, with
ecstasy, holding it up before me. His
black eyes ghstened.
"Yes, it's very pretty" Ireplied. "Will
It work?o
"You bet it'll work. The user viii
get large and steady flame, with no
waste of gas and with one-third the usual
pressure. III show you."
George got up and adjusted it to the
chandelier. He got out matches and
then turned out the remaining gas jet.
| Fully IA matches We're struck while we
sat in the dark. 1 held my breath be-
cause my hold on solemnity beiitling the
occasion was fast loosing.
He said many things which could
not be led to repeat. The sanctity Of a
private home should not be invaded. 1t
was his right to say things, as he paid
the rent.
The thing did not work. 1 could see
that, even though it was dark. He re-
lighted the gas and sat down. You can
never tell what an inventor is going to
DO, so / said nothing Oh, believe
did ask him if there was an opening in
the end for the gas to ooze through. I'm
not sure, though, but 1 know George
didn't answer.
He finally secured q couple of feet OF
small rubber hose that he had used in
another experiment and fastened the gas
tip on one end. He thought perhap.
there was an obstruction that water
would clear away. The other end Of the
hose he attached to afGucet.
stood by like any well behaved in
vited guest. George turned the water
and it shot through in first rate shape
The fact was the gas tip was a splendid
sprinkler. Even Georges wife aclmowl
edged that, and she gave up acbnowledg
ing anything but his inventive failures
years ago.
by graciousr George exclaimed
isn't that a dandy sprinklerg I'll ge
that patented" Then he laid it down.
It was the next evening Georges wifi
said that her expensive music box wa
out Of order and would not play. Th
valuable instrument was put on the Ia
bic, and George peered into it for abou
Z live minutes
"No wonder; / see what's the matter,
George remarked as he left the room
He returned with four or five imple
ments that for all know belonged to
kitchen range.
He unfastened a couple Of screws AM
Z then-yes, and theni The case was ful
f Of snarled up springs, things that loolSel
like comb teeth and various odds an,
ends that one would never suspect hay
ing been within 10 miles Of the house
d minute before. Tears ran down th
;, cheeks Of Georges wife and dropped il
on the cylinders.
z "What are You trying to do-spoil an
u rust the works. George asked. Then h
dickered and dickered until he ha
st about a bushel Of pieces Of machiner
strewn about. Georges wife retired
and fell asleep on a lounge. My no:
worked until o'clock in the mornin
nj and then gave il up.
as 1 left the next day II was impossibl
NJ for me TO remain longer in the hou.
10 with Georges inventive brain. 1t fairl