Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-01-22
NUMBER 4.

Even ia baths and closets there have
been 1907, and in all machines for
working metals over $4,000. and the
number is increasing rapidly. With all
this the speed Of the examiners has been
greatly increased. When Commissioner
Seymour took charge April /, 1898, one
examiner was seven months behind,
auite number three or four months
behind and 5 two months behind. Now
none is so far ne month behind and
very few more than few days
A Subject For Jokes.
The patent Office report was long
perennial fountain of jokes, and con-
gressmon still smile at that drOll letter
which western man wrote 70 his rep
resentative in answer 10 long explana-
ton on the latter's votes: Dear Sir
Your course is approved. Send me
patent Office report. A. ID. Richardson
relates that while in New Mexico he saw
a wagon load OF these reports and other
documents put up at auction and bought
by very stupid looking Mexican for 81
cents. Wondering what such man
cond want with such arid literature, he
sought information and learned that
the fellow had bought them for fuel.
Back i'm the fortics and flftios the patent
Office report was the great reliance for
making scrapbOoks and for amusing in
genious children In our parts we used
20 cut ont the wheels and curious pic
tnres and paste them in thousand fanci-
ful combinations ON tine walls Of the log
cabins, and even now IN the garrets OF
many old farmhouses one can find vol
umes bearing the patent office label on
the back. but within pasted with recipes,
stories and old jokes from Brother JON
athan, Gleason's Pictorial, Major Jack
Downing letters and the newspaper
spuibs Of Prentice and John PhTnix. In
1856 there were issued 80. $50 sets Of
three volumes each. which aroused 80
much criticism that the allowance was
rapidly reduced. and in 1871 it was
Withdrawn altogether Now the office
issues a Weekly Gazette Of patents and
the drawings thereon, which goes at g.
per year and has 1000 subscribers.
Valuable Patents.
Everybody knows that Thomas Jeffer.
son was the father Of the patent Office,
and that he had deal Of trouble in get
ting it started. He has also been charged
with the paternity Of the Democratic
party. but it was recently stated in con-
gress that an alibi could be- proved.
However, this is a digression. In start
ing il he made the rules so stringent
that only three patents were issued the
first year The original act was approved
April 10, 1890, and no distinction was
made between citizens and aliens. For
II years one solitary clerk did all the
work. but in 1902 jefferson named ~
snperinteudent one DR. Thornton, a sci.
entific crank OF the very crankiest kind,
who settled every question by snap judg-
ment on the moment, and was accused
of administering Office discipline with
club. There Is story that when the
British captured the city they had a
cannon trained on the patent Office. when
DR. Thornton rushed out in front Of :hp
muzzlc and exclaimed: Are you Eng
lishmcn or only Goths and Vandals?
This building contains treasures for the
benefit Of the world. and If you fire ON
il let the first shots pass through my
body. " BE- that as il may, the British
did not molcst the office, but in 1896 It
was burned The present building was
completed in 1857. and ten years later
suffered by fire. 5ut this time there was
very little loss. Ii is known, moreover,