The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-11

I there must be bored hole at each end
| of sufficient size to permit the passage
| through of a wire. This is a very deli
| cate task. for the bones split easily, and
ordinarily. when once split they are use
less.
! In the work-rOoms where the more deli
cate portion of the task of placing the
keletons together is performed, the sight
is so odd that one really forgets its grew
someness. Here an anatomist lis engaged
in putting together the various bones
which go to make up the hand.
Another is putting the finishing touch
on the bones of the foot, just as the shoe
maker carefully examines the shoe before
he turns it over to his assistant to be
made pIVsentable. When the task of the
anatomist is completed, the skeleton is
taken into an adjoining apartment and
mounted on stand attached to an iron
rod, or the ring which is inserted into
the skull is placed upon ahook at the
end of a rope which depends from the
ceiling, and hangs suspended.
The showroom of the factory indi-
Gates perhaps better than all else the ex-
ceedingly businesslike methods of the
establishment. 1t is very large and light
and lined with glass cases containing
specimen skeletons of giants, dwarfs, ne
groes and strange races discovered by
travellers in foreign lands. Then there
are skeletons of criminals with the name,
date .of execution and a record of their
crimes on attached labels skeletons of
males and females of all ages shelves
of baby skeletons. huge of head and
small Of body, and others of all sorts.
= ~k-a ,NIn md hrrs rn \
est of all things to me was the absolute
non-chalance of everybody about. They
appeared to consider the skeleton bust
ness nothing more out of the ordinary
than the selling of dry goods or the manu-
featuring of toys. | do not believe that
one of the persons in this place over
which, it seemed to me, the shadow of
death and the funeral pail always hung,
had any of that physical fear of the
discarded mortal tenement that exists in
the heart of almost everyone.
/ learned in the course of investigating
the matter that the London skeleton fac
tory is an offshoot of a parent establish
ment in Paris which has existed for
nearly, century. / also learned that
similar institution was in full operation
in New York and that both places were
as busy as they could possibly be filling
the orders. This is perhaps accounted
for by the statement to me by well posted
men that ten thousand skeletons year
are needed to supply the demand. Per-
sonally, l think this is an exaggeration,
but the demand is certainly very great.
The Partisan factory is under govern
ment supervision, but its secret is well
guarded and few persons know of its
existence, outside the pale of those who
have daily buiness connection Herewith.
The factory in New York lis located on,
/ have been told it is called, the East
Side, though / am sure | do not know
where that region is. 1t is said to en-
ploy nearly hundred persons. One of
the most curious things about these es-
Establishments is the fact that all about
them is kept secret so well. One would
think in employing so many persons the
facts would leak out, but they do not
seem to.
Certainly the skeleton factory is one of
the most curious of modern institutions.
would not recommend it, however, to
any one who is inclined to be nervous.