The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-30
MADE or COMMON HAIRPINS.
All the Comforts of Home Constructed
with "Woman'- Best Friend.


Miss Cora Inman, an ingenious Ameri-
can girl, has invented dozen household
articles made from hairpins II you have
a package of hairplns and follow her di-
rectlons, you can have "all the comforts
of a home" for five cents.
The hair PIN has always been consider
ed the last resort of the feminine MIND
In an emergency. From picking the jeal-
Gus locks of guardians 10 opening COM
fit boxes, from buttouing shoes to eN-
tracing corks, from putting out the eyes
OF "a burglar TO doing hatpin service, II
has been in requisition since the ages be-
gan TO roll over the sleek and
come locks of beauty. In fact
where anything less than a crow
bar was needed the versatile
hair pin has been called upon 20 exer-
else its talents, with the result that many
women have ben Z. consciously aiding
in its becoming part Of the Patent
Ohice's documentary evidence about what
can be done with this remarkable little
article. so common and so demure.
Miss Inman has had some of her devices
patented, but is not ayerse 20 letting the
sisterhood into the secret Of how she
makes some OF her simplest and most
convenient little "contraptions' out Of
our old friend the hairpin.
In the first place there is a spool rack
20 be worn upon the person while sewing,
and which Will prove a boon 10 every wo-
man who is used TO seeing her spoOls
whirl away into corners smaller and more
distracting than the haunts OF the das-
tardly collar button. 1t is made Of a sin
gle hairpin, and can be snatched from
the auburn curls In haste, without leav-
ing the rocking chair so you see that
nothing could be more delightful.
The hairpin is taken by its two wires.
or prongs, or tines. or whatever you
agree to call them. and crossed 50 that
a loop appears at the top where the
arch generally comes. After this has
been done neatly and with enough care
TO leave the loop large enough TO 20
over an ordinary sized button on the
front of the basque the remaining length
Of wire is bent into the form of a tiny
pair OF ice tongs. or "nippers." the ends
slightly and sharply bent at right angles
with the curve above, and slipped into
the hole of common spool of any shape
or size. And there it is. all complete and
comfortable. and you nave not had 20
move out Of your chair, much less call
for materials with which TO make this
cunning, unique and almost necessary
thing.
Then there is a photograph holder,
which IL made from n brass or gilt hair
pin will prove delight for some dainty
desk. II is made by taking the hairpin
just as It comes from the package and
bending It over backward about one
third from the top; one other bend
In the opposite direction and It IS done.
al
the letter IN" Before II is quite complete.
the legs. or wires. are spread a little at
the bottom, enough to make II stand
plumb. and IL frOms a carte de visite
rack that is every whit as substantial and
good as the ones bought in stores for
that purpose.
If you happen 20 be fortunate enough
TO be the possessor of a number Of rings.
ring tree" will be found useful and
pretty article for the dresser" They are
sold in shops now made OF fire gilt. You
can have them OF black or fire gilt hair
pins that Will be quite as nice. and you
can make them yourself. II takes half
a dozen pins-long ones preferred in this
case. as in all others.
Three OF the hairpns are stretched out
20 their full length by undoiug the arch
IN the middle and pressing gently until
the hairpins are tiattened out and form a
wire twice their usual length. They are
wired together about an inch from the
bottom and an inch from the top. and
at the bottom the inch left free IS taken
up and turned at right angles from the
rest so as to form a three leggedrest.
Then three other pins are taken. bent
in the middle like the letter ''V' spread
out turned with their legs pointing sky
ward and wired together az their arch
tops. This. fastened 70 the three legged
institution already made forms tree. -
upon the limbs or arms OF which may be
hung at night the diamonds and tur-
quoise OF the days wearing.
After that intricate AFFAIR. you will
want to hear about something simple