Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-18

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skins ever got together.
The fashion Of the csntury's end reouires
what are termed "fancy" pelts, Tor making all
sorts OF articles, from belts to travelling bags,
and, In response to this demand. animals until
now unheArd Of as leather producers and their
skins required of them. Such humble creatures
- the frog. the Goldfish and the domestic chicken
are included in the list. The lion and shs golden
eagle are hayed for similar commercial use. as
well as the shark. the pelican and the rattle
snake.
In the collection described will appear the
hides OF alligators and crocodiles tanned whole
and In many colors-green, blue, yellow,
bronze and black. Likewise feathers from the
iguana lizard, the porpoise. the eel, the trout
the wild swan. and all sorts Of domestic fowls.
Skins similarly prepared are contributed by
| the skunk. the woodchuck the armsdillo, the
| tame cat and the elephant. One of the most
remarkable feathers is obtained from the
chameleon-that curious South American rep
tue which has lung 80 huge that. when it is
innated, the body appears transparent. This
led the ancIents to believe that the animal fed
on air 1t is like two creatures in one, each
halt having movements and feelings OF its own.
While ons side is asleep tho other may be
awaEe; the eyes have separate motions and the
limbs do not act in concert.
OBJECTS MADE FROM TEETH.
same
hibit will consist OF teeth and objects made
from them. To begin with there will be one Of
the biggest elephants tusks 10 the world.
weighing one hundred and thirty-seveu pounds
and measu ring over eight feet in length. The
tusks are merely the upper incisor teeth of the
animal developed for purposes OF defense Tn @
manufacture of piano ivory and a 4rea. variety
o! other things from the tusks of the eephant
will be illustrated For example, thin ..plsnk'
cnt from a tusk leng:hwise shows several brush
handles marked out on it with lead pencil for saw
ing ont. The tip of little tusk makes a cary
| ing knife handle. while the piece next it fur
nishes an umbrella handle Beyond that point
the ivory is no. solid, and SO the lower part of
the tusk is transformed into a hairpin box and
napkin ring.
TOOTH TWELVE FEE LONG.
the ivory lance Of the narwhal, from which
carvings and other ornamental objects are
made, attains leng Ia Of twelve feet and is
sharp and strong enough to be driven through
the side of a ship. It is simply the left upper
incisOr tooth OF this marine mammal Once in
a while, by freak. both upper incisors are
developed, though ordinarily the RICH: one is
aborted Thus the animal is equipped with
two lances instead OF one. This extraordinary
tooth is not possessed by the female. 1t is on
account OF the value OF its teeth fo- ivory tina.
the walrus has been we'll nigh exterminated
Exquisite carvings and pipes OF elaborate de-
signs are produced from walrus trsks by the
japanese and the Eskimo. They are employed
In the manufacture of sword hilts. buttons.
necktie rings and even pie crimpers. Among
other things included in this display will be the
carved teeth OF sperm whales. wild boars' teeth
for umbrella handles and alligator teeth for
jewelry. The lncisor teeth OF the beaver are
employed rs chiseIs by the Indians.
Fon PERSONAL DECORATION.
just a. the Indian strings wildcat teeth for
ornaments SO the society woman Of today wears
the carved tooth OF the common pig for a
brooch. with gold Pin to fasten it. Even the
teeth Of human beings are utilized for personal
decoration by savages One OF the horrors at
the National Museum is q necklace of forty-
eight human incsors. representing six lives
There is also collection of necklaces made of
the claws OF various animals-among them one
composed of the end finger joints. bearing the
nails, Of four men. The South Sea Islanders
fasten sharks teeth all along the edges OF their
swords, thus rendering those wea ms extremely
formidable. 1t is worth mentioning. by the
way, that the most elaborate dental apparatus
known belongs to the sea urchin, whose Jaws
are composed of forty pieces, moved by as
many different muscles.
CARVINGS FROM HORNS.
Yet another feature OF the exhibit will COM
prise horns and their uses. For instance, tho
Dutch Beers make ramrods from rhinoceros
horns, while the Hottentots carve war clubs from
them. Civilized people manufacture amber
like umbrella and cane handles from them.
The horn Of the rhinoceros is an oddly in it's
| way, being nothing more than o protuberapce
composed OF agglutinated hair. When cut in
two and examined under the microscope it is
found to be entirely made up OF little tubes re-
sembling hair tubes. Rhinoceros horns were
anciently employed for drinking cups by royal
personages, the notion being that poison put
into them would show itself by bubbIng
There may have been some truth in this idea,
svo ,,nha ~ =.
and would decompose the horny material very
quickly.
FROM cows HORNS.
The horns Of many other animals possess
commercial value. From the horn of the COW
ever SO many beautiful objects are manu-
featured. To begin with. the core is pulled
ont and sent to the glue factory. The horn Ia
then sawed into three pieces. These are boiled
| in oil, which renders the material so soft that
1t can be rolled out into a sheet like putty. The
sheet thus prepared is stamped out into fret
! work or other pattern. colored, and put
transformed into an exquisite "tortoise SHELF
comb or other things Of use or ornament.
| Bowls. cups. knives and pipe stems are made
| from cows horn.
YEArHKR ROBES AND FANS.
Feathers will probably cut figure in the ex-
hibit described. They will appear in the shape
! OF robes and fans. Also will be shown artificial
| flowers made Of feathers, As well az paintings
executed with feathers by laying them on in
stead OF pigments. The plumss Of thousands
| Of species Of tropical birds are utilized nova
days for ornamental purposes, while the corsets
| Of the women who wear 80 many Of them are
| stidened with the quilts Of turkey feathers, en-
ployed as q substitute for whalebone. Scientists
say that all birds are descended from reptiles.
| Their feathers are mere scalesly modified BY
fraying out at the edges. Fish scales are used
for making flowers, and the outer coating Of
| such scales, dissolved In acid, il made 10 ssrvs
in the manufacture Of Roman pearls, 70 which
| . lining Of this curious substance gives their
beauty. Savages wear the hide Of 2ardsh for
breastplate, which will turn any knife OF
spear. A bullet will pierce 1t, but . Ratchet
cannot chop through lat one blow. snpple-
mentary to this 10 worn . helmet made ffon
the skin Of the porcupine dsh, which 10 covered
with formidable spines This, when fastened
| on the head, serves most sflectually to butt
with. The Eskimos make travelling boots and
whole suits Of clothing out Of salmon skin.
THE BONES, HOOPS AND HAIR
Of animals viii not bs neglected Bsef bones
are used very extensively q . substitute for
ivory. Poker chips are made from the shtn-
bones of the COW. The finest shaving brushes
are manufactured from badgers hair. and
| ''camers hair" brushes are turned out in great
| quantities from squirrsls' tails and from the
hair that grows inside the car Of the OK. Hoofs
supply furniture casters, - well - glue and
that beautiful pigment known - PrussiAn blue.
| R1ooH is v,<S1{xeN a u&atarial frup AooR keakn