Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-21


use and benefit of men exclusively. and the
number and variety of articles patented by
the fair sex during the last few years rival
those of the men.
Among the most unexpected of the wo-
mems inventions is furnace run by chem
icals. the latter being used instead of fuel.
Some others just as unnatural are foot sup
ports for telegraph poles, a machine that
catches the grass when it is cut with a
lawn mower, transfer apparatus for trac
ton cable cars and a machine for hanging
wall paper. 1t is easy to imagine that a
very delicate lady who suffers, severely
from the cold patented the heat concen
traitor. by means of which she is enabled
TO turn all the hot air into one room and
have that comfortable even If the rest Of
the house is freezing. 1t is harder TO guess
why one Of the gentler sex should devote
her ingenuity to contrivIng an apparatus
for sanding railway tracks
For the Comfort of Man.
women are so much interested in the
comfort and welfare of men that they have
devoted a great deal of time and thought
to inventing articles which are entirely for
their benefit For instance, the fair in
ventor of mustache guard could never
be suspected of selfishness Another femi-
nine patentee has an idea which she calls
an Improvement In cigars" Her notion is
that the tobacco shall be soaked in an ex-
tract or pine needles. Another thinks that
cigars made Of eucalyptus leaves leave a
cream ana pleasant taste in the mouth I'M
IKE horrid tobacco. These leaves NAV also
he used for pipes or as snuff. They are
likewise good for tooth powder or with the
addltlon OF suitable fats for soap and
canoies. other patents granted to women
ana especially intended for masculine use
are pocket spittoons, mustache spoons TO-
bacco bags and cigarette holders A com
Elned cane and camera tripod is a very in
sehious contT1yance and supposed to save
It's owner trotibie. An umbrella that can
De turned into cane when the rain stops
is an addition to dudery. Lots of ideas for
keeping pantaloons in shape have been
tnought OF by clever fair ones. They have
also devised machines for making cigar
cites.
For Fire and Travel
Women are very nervous and seem to
especially dread being burned up, as Is
shown by the fact that they have taken out
more patents for fire escapes than for any
other one article One of the most novel
of these ideas is for a spring bed that can
be converted at moments notice into a
fire escape. A thermometer that Is at the
same time fire alarm ls very liUtzeH1ouS
Another feminine notion Is to hay& the
doors and shutters made Of lre-proof ma
terial. SO that even II the house were burn
ing there would be a good chance to get
out.
1t Is very evident that women have ex-
perienced great discomfort while travel
ing as the number, Of trunks they have
patented will testify. One of the most in
geEtous of these can be turned, when de-
sired. into bureau or a writing table An
other is combined trunk and bed. The
fair inventor Of this latter must nave suf-
fered much to have thought of this con-
trivance. Others who have been crowded
for room have devised trunks that fold
themselves automa tically. A most novel
idea is for a convertible or combined bath
tub and travelling bag.
For the Relief of Housekeeperr.
Housekeepers suffer more annoyance from
insects than from any other evil they have
to contend wiz, so it is not surprising that
they have devoted much attention to ways
and means of getting rid of them. One
woman has invented device to protect
chairs and tables from crawling bugs OF
course, If they cannot walk up the legs
of the furniture the latter is safe from
them. Somebody else has patented an in
sect guard for DOORS her idea being to
keep them out entirely. Another has pat
ented a vermin trap. Many novel schemes
for fly traps have fair originators. very
humane woman has devised a net to pro-
tect horses from flies. Only those who
have been tortured by the pests can appre-
ciate mosquito cap for out of doors which
will fold up and go in the pocket being
thus easily carried about and always ready
for use.
Bicycle Patents.
That craze of the day, the bicycle has
not been neglected by the women inventors.
Patents have been granted to them for
almost all parts of wheels Several fair
riders have exerted all their ingenuity in
trying to devise comfortable saddles 9th
ers have tried their hand in making locks
They have also made experiments in pneu-
tn tSv~oC 1prrr
locipedes was the idea. But OF ,ourse
they have devoted more attention to bfcy-
Gle garments than to anything else in con
nection with the wheel Trousers that look
like skirts appear to be their most particu-
lar ambition.
Much thought has been expended by the
women inventors Of our country to things
TO make life for the afflicted more endura-
BILE. One has patented typewriter for the
blind Another has made a slate for the
blind by which they can tell what thew
are writing as they put it down. An at
tachment for railway cars which deadens
the sound is undoubtedly for the benefit of
nervous people For any one who has no
hands a rocking chair with a fan attached
to 1t which will work as the chair rocks
would be invaluable. A sunshade for
horses is most humane
Really Feminine.
The most strictly feminine articles de-
Vlsed by women are for the enhancement of
peduty. mere IS Hotnlng that can add to
their attractiveness that they have NOT
thought of. The most ambitious of tbasa
is an instrument that is supposed to Ie-
store facial symmetry. AnyDody with
crooked features who wears this apparatus
persistently enough will be rewarded hv
their becoming straight. If one has simnIy
a bad complexion, there are innumerahle
remedies. A mask, to be worn at night
Is supposed to- be, most effective. A hv
gienic apparatus for steamlng the face 10
greatly beneficial, as is also a vapor face
bath. Then. of course, there are ali sorts
Some women's hands are their snecia,
pride, so one has Invented what she calls
a hand protector This enables The own
Ell to work without disfiguring those usefnI
members We should all have ianerinp
fingers, and if nature has not bestowed
them upon us we can cultivate Them arti-
fcially. The apparatus required for this 10
very simple and can be worn at night
1t congresses the ends of the fingers A
cap for keeping the ears close to The head
Is another important beautifier as nothing
Is more hideous than ears that stand out.
Must Have Had Experience.
1t is only too evident that the inventor of
a combined beer and water cooler likes to
drink the wicked malt beverage herself.
Probably the woman who thinks tina. she
had discovered method for the purifica-
ton of alcoholic liquids will not be thanked
by the men. Undoubtedly the originator of