The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-04-08
WEATHER VANES.
Some Unique Designs Upon the
Homes Of Public Men.
Adjustment of the Indicator a
Very Delicate Operation.

There are over 100, 900 weather
vnnes sold every year in this country
and they are of all shapes, sizes and
representations. Personal taste in
weather vanes is apparent everywhere.
For instance, 50 says the weather
vano manufacturers, the far west loves
emblems of its rich agriculture. A
sheaf of ripe wheat is the favorite in
its farming districts. In others buffalo,
cattle, live stock of all kinds and life
size deer and antelope are liked. The
rooster is bird that is chosen in all
parts of the world for weather vane.
Kentucky is partial to the horse as an
ornament to its chimncys and stecplcs.
Alix, with her pneumatic sulky;
Patchen, with wagon; Flora Temple
and mate, and all the great horses of
the South, are made in brass weather
vanes and sold freely for ornaments
to country homes, breeding stables,
manufactures and large buildings.
Weather vanes are made out of
solid copper and brass, hammered
and followed out The term "solid'
means that the metal is of the best
quality. The iron vaDe, or the wood
en- one, is considered inferior, or if
used at all, is selected by n man who
has plenty of money, and who can af-
ford to replace the wooden or other
perishablo vane as often as it is worn
out.
In the city the great destroyer Of a
gilded weather vane is the dust and
smoke. The gold gets tarnishcd and
the copper discolored. The ingenuity
of weather vane makers is constantly
taxed to overcome this difficulty. On
this account many weather vanes al,
made of some substance dark enough
not to liscolor, and if not as beautiful
MS gold, warranted to last much
longer.
Gladstone has upon his country
home, Hawarden, weather vane in
the form of British lion that is of
copper so bright that in some lights it
looks rs black as iron. The lion has
n curly tail, and his head wears the
joyful expression of being about to
spring upon its prey. The head of
the lion points to where the wind lies.
If the head is at the north, the wind is
north.
1t is remarkable fact that, though
England put up weather vanes and had
its factories before Columbus came
over here, most of the English wealth
or vanes are now made in this coun-
try. Mr.. Gladstone obtained his lion
here, and the man who made it tells
with pride of receiving letter in the
handwriting of tho old Premier. He
wanted "a weather vane bright, light
and registering accurately"
The weather vane upon the Fifth
avenue home of John Jacob Astor, is
crescent, covered with fine gold leaf.
Tie cost might have been 81, 800. To
this must be added half the sum for
putting up. The adjustment of n
weather vane is very delicate opera
ton. The leveling is very nice work.
Levi p. Morton has very large
Indian feather upon his country
house. 1t is very ornamental, has the
corners of the compass underneath,
and makes suitable finish to the
finely trimmed cupola of his magnii-
cent seat. The cost of such a vane is
not over 800 at the most, and from
that price down you can get feather
or an arrow at all costs down to 81 so
which is about as cheap as vanes ever
come.
The weather vane ornament on
Blenheim is rooster. 1t is an Ameri-
can rooster and was purchased and
placed there by Mrs. Hamersloy when
she became the Duchess of Marl-
borough. 1t is of bright gold and is
very large. Its pole is 100 feet high,
and the bird itself from tail to head
measures Six feet. That is large for
q gold rooster. New York Journal