The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-31

Slip Through.
From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat.
Washington, Dec 14.-vanity furnishes
the inspiration for many of the inventions
shown at the patent office. One of the
latest of this sort is mask of very thin
rubber, designed to be worn on the face
at night. 1t causes profuse perspiration,
which washes impurities out of the skin
and makes the complexion clearer. Sun
tan it quickly removes, so it is claimed.
Another device, for producing dimples, is
a woman's idea. 1t is wire mask, like
wise to put on when going to bed. By an
arrangement of screws, pencils of wood,
very blunt, are made to press upon the
cheeks and chin at the points where dim
Piles are desired. Uncomfortablel Why,
Of course. But, as the French say, it is
worth while to suffer Tor beauty's sake.
II one is so unfortunate as to lack a
nose he can obtain false one of papier
mache, artfully enameled, to initiate the
skin. One kind of imitation proboscis is
attached to a spectacle frame, so that the
owner puts on his counterfeit nasal organ
in adjusting his glasses. Yet another
style is intended to be painted at inter
NHAos w AOh ~ ECbS oudUOJ lLG WEdTEE
has merely to go to some ca
pable artist and have it touched up
with water colors. Several applications
have been made for patents for processes
for setting diamonds in the teeth-the
front teeth, of course-holes being drilled
to receive the gems. Such ornaments
must have rather a CHASTITY effect one
would think.
Dental surgeons have patented pro-
cesses for initiating gold filings in false
teeth. This is done by furnishing gold foil
upon them in the manner commonly called
fire gliding" Nobody would be likely
to suspect that grinders showing plain
signs OF repair were artificial. A very
curious invention is a device for keeping
the mouth open while singing. Teachers
of vocal music have had trouble as to this
point with their pupils, but it may be OBJ
waited by employing the contrivance de-
scribed, which has spring, and may be
set so as to expand the jaws at any angle
desired. Speaking of the mouth and teeth
reminds one of patent that was granite
only two years ago on an ordinary corn
cob of the pattern familiar in nature
Covered with corundum paste, it was to
! be used for polishing dental plates
The notion of getting patent
on one OF God Almighty's own corn cobs
seems rather absurd. But many queer
things have slipped through the great
bureau of inventions owing to careless
ness. In 1878, for example, exclusive
rights were granted on a process which
consisted of nothing more than punching
pin holes in hens eggs. This device was
for the purpose of letting the iuclosed gas
out of preserved eggs to prevent them
exploding when boiled A patent applied
for, but not granted, was for using corn
husks as wrappers for bottles. This was
to be done by removing the ear from the
husk without disturbing the integrity of
| the latter unnecessarily and putting the
bottle in its place. Besides making an
| excellent wrapper the husk thus en-
| ployed serves as disguise very desira BILE
in prohibition communities.
Masculine vanity is concerned in the
geneis of about eighty patents for vari-
GUS kinds of moustache guards: Some of
| these contrivances take the form of metal
attachments for the cup or glass. One
such is god plate with spring, which
may be fastened to any drinking vessel
at moments notice. Another is speci-
| ally designed for beer glasses. A tube
| connected with it goes deep down into the
| beer, so that the mOustache drinker is
able to avoid the foam. Similar devices
| are applied to spoons. Other guards are
to be worn like spectacles somewhat, with
| wires to pass back of the ears of the
wearer and hold them on. The shield for
the moustache is of gold or silver or of
| fine gold wire net. More simple is pair
of wire springs in the shape of helix,
one of which is made to incircle each
wing of the hirsute ornament, keeping it
away from the mouth.
Now and then a man from some out-of-
| the-way part of the country, who has
never heard of the new and improved arti-
| fetal limbs applies for a patent on a
wooden stump. 1t is granted if the de-
vice has anything novel about it, But
| people are constantly inventing things
| thought of long before. Not long ago a
person asked for exclusive rights in a pc
culiar kind of lock. The examiner, to
whom the matter was referred, turned to
book of drawings and showed him that
his lock was merely a reproduction of one
that had fastened gate of Thebes 4 ,00C
years ago. The applicant went away
with the impression that some ancient
Theban had stolen his idea There are
many interesting contrivances for indi-
viduals who are MANNED. One of them
enables the cripple 10 manipulate knife
fork and spoon with one hand, the appa,
ratus being screwed to the table.
In buying any cosmetic it is safest to
select a patented article, because Uncle
Sam will not grant such rights for any
article that is injurious. That is one
reason why most makers OF such prepare.
| tions keep their composition secret and
/ content themselves with trade marks and
labels. The protection accorded by law
to label or trade mark may be perpetu.
ated indefinitely by registration, whereas
a patent can only be extended by act OF
Congress. The rules of the patent office
| reject all that is Injurious to the well.
being or sound morals of society," A
patented cosmetic is good to purchase be-
cause it has been analysed by skilled
government chemists, and has stood the
requisite test of novelty and usefulness.
The same remarks apply to foods. A re-
cent application for patent on LIQUID
preparation for Frightening the eyes, al
| legged to INTENSITY their color and bril-
| liancy,p was refused, as a matter of
course, because it contained harmful
drug. One face wash submitted not long
ago revealed, on examination, the pres
ence of corrosive sublimate as an ingre.
dent
A rather curious and seemingly useful
invention Is rubber basin for employ
ment by BARRIERS in shampooing. 1t is
| fastened upon the head of the customer
in such manner as to encirele the crown.
The attachment being water tight, the
tonsorial artist is enabled to give the hair
and scalp thorough scrubbing with soap
and water while the person under treat
ment sits in the chair and reads a news
paper. A contrivance of the same ma
terial. even more interesting, is disease.