Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
THE COTTON GIN.
How . Woman Helped Whitney to Per-
feet His Great Invention.

How . Woman Helped Whitney to Per-
feet His Great Invention.
"Recollections of Washington and
His Friends" is contributed to The Gen.
tary by Martha Littlefeld Phillips.
They were taken down from the lips of
the authors grandmother, who was the
youngest daughter of General Nathan
ael Greene. The following is one of the
stories:
During my life at Dungeness cir
cumstance occurred there of some his
toric and scientific interest and in re-
gard to which much erroneous state
ment has been made. refer to the in
vention of the cotton gin by Eli Whit
ney and my mothers connection with
it. The facts, briefly stated, were about
us follows: While spending the provi-
GUS summer at Newport, II. l., my
mother became acquainted with Mr..
Whitney and grew much interested in
the outcome of the experiments he was
then making in the interest Of his pro-
jected gin. To assist in his enterprise,
my mother invited him to spend the
following winter at Dungeness, where
an abundance of cotton and quiet could
be assured. Mr.. Whitney accordingly
came to Dungeness and diligently pur-
sued his experiments, room in the
fifth story having been specially fitted
for his use as an inventor. One morn
ing he descended headlong into the
drawing room, where a number Of
guests were assembled and excitedly
exclaimed, The victory is mineP In
deep sympathy with him the guests
and hostess went with him to his work
shop. Whitney set his model in motion.
For few moments the miniature saws
revolved without hindrance and the
separation of the seed frem the cotton
wool was successfully accomplish, but
after little the saws clogged with lint,
the wheel stopped, and poor Whitney
was in despair.
Here's what you need, exclaimed
my mother in her clear, decisive way,
and she instantly seized elothesbrush
lying on the mantel and held it firmly
to the teeth of the saws. Again the
drum rsvolved, and instantly the saws
were cleaned Of the lint, and the last
requirement of the great invention was
satisfied.
Madam, said Whitney, overcome
with emotion and speaking with the
exaggeratioE of gratitude, you have
perfected my invention!'"
Anrifat Mr.. Bsnt1..'s La>..
The late George Won Bunsep, the &C
complished and delightful son of the
baroness whose Life and Letters" are
we'll known in America, once told me
an anecdote of the late Princess Mary
of Teck and the celebrated Banting.
The princess became, i'll her middle life,
enormously stout, and finding her
weight burden tried several methods
of reducing it. At last, having heard
much of Banting, she sent for him. She
was surprised to see that he was still
extremely bulky, and after few civil
preparatory remarks she said, but
your system has not made you very thin,
Mr.. Banting.
"Allow me, madam, said Banting.
And proceeding to unbutten his coat
he disclosed large wire structure over
which the garment fitted Inside was
the real Banting. incased in another
coat.
"This, madam" said he, pointing
with pardoaable satisfaction to his
cage, twas my size before commenced
dieting" He then nimbly disembarrass
ed himself of his framework and stood
before the royal lady exhibiting his ele-
CANT figure.
Apparently the interview led to moth
ing but amusement for the good Ouch
ess OF 1,ck remained very stout to the
end of her days. Exchange