Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-20

script OF certain passages in the original
application of the patentee will give TO the
reader a sympathetic and adequate idea
OF the vast daring and the great scope
of his purpose. Moreover. the naivete of
the writer's style adds Il charm to his writ
ings. even in so matter-of-fact Il document
as an application for letters patent. To
tell the truth. there was an objection rails
ed by the commissioned of patents to Mr..
Georges first application on the ground
that it contained irrelevant matter, and
certain of the passages objected to were
afterward omitted in a revised appl;ca-
ton. This same irrelevant matter. how
ever, forms a not uninteresting chapter in
the history Of the invention. and as it is
filed with the other papers in the case is
given in part below. 1t was submitted in
the latter part of April, 1856. and reads as
follows:
Remarkable Explanation.
the Commissioner of Patents:-The
petition of William O. George. of the city
of Richmond, and in the county of Henri
co. and state of Virginia. respectfully rep
resents:
'Tha your petitioner has invented a ia
BILE. constructed upon a new and useful
plan. designed for use in the parlor and in
other places. and so adapted as to con-
trive for the pleasant passing OF the hours
of company in IA novel and interesting
manner. which Is done by means of a Pc
ticner calls the game of equality, so-called
in consequence of its placing man and
woman upon an equal footing in an i'm
portant respect; it being a new method or
process of effecting a desirable and useful
purpose in a remarkable. novel and en-
PERTAINING manner. and one which will yield
lasting happiness to society.
There are in this world numbers of the
male sex so very nervous. backward and
bashful as not to be able to declare their
affections for a young lady, no matter
notwithstanding the lady may possibly be
both willing and ready TO jump into the
gentlen.an.s arms at the slightest declara-
ton of affection. still his diffidence or her
modesty can and often does prevent its ac-
complishment. thus destroying the fond
hopes and happiness of two beings per-
haps exactly suited to each other.
To obviate the difficulty and make the
road to matrimony easy and certain is the
principal object of this invention. For no
matter how diffident the gentleman may
at this table and play with an earnest de-
sire to catch each other their object will
certainly be accomplished. and that with
secrecy, safety and dispatch. The said
poses, and Is, termed by your petitioner the
oracular wheel or unique center table.
In order to understand the object Of
the Invention and insure a perfect com-
prehension Of the game. we must neces-
sarily refer and go back to the circum-
stances that originated the first ideas on
d 'Enigr1a or passe partout to the better
understanding of the game.
How 1t Started.
1.-The invention originated thus: The
inventor read in a newspaper 4 paragraph
In substance as follows: t a wedding.
which took place in the western part OF
the state some years back. the marriage
ceremony being over and the company
having partaken of il plentiful supply Of
casiOns. they amused themselves as best
they could in conversation until some
what run out. when they set their wits TO
work to find some more agreeable occu-
patton. There being no musician present.
they could not dance, so 1t Was proposed
TO play some game. such as pass the
thimble. grind the bottle. The lawyer.
games seeming to meet the appreciation
of the ladies, the company were at Il loss
for somewhat to do until /, was happily
unmarried lady and gentleman, should he
required to confess to the oldest married
man Or major domo the state of their af-
f%ections, in other words. who they We're
in love with. the major domO to be first
sworn not TO d!vulse thu, secrets told him
unless they prove mutual. in which ease
n. was to communicate only TO the par
ties most interested The company con-
scented 10 this. the experiment, COM
mencsd. and each one having performed
the task of making the old man. or major
dono. their father cOEfessOr. the result
was announced followed by "a burst OF
applause'. which was that three matches
had been perfected. three couples made
happy, but which could not be ascertained
at the time by any but the parties pr!n-
cipally concerned.
1t was only after several weeks hal
elapsed that the discovery was made
which happened III this wise: One of thos.
itinerar.t intrrmrddiing ladies'. yci-pt an
old ma. d. whose only occupation consisted
IN croakins around the neighborhood. hav-
ing made several Intellectual attempts To
find GU: and having passed a few sleeples>
nights thinking on the subject. went as
Il dernier resort 10 the only mJntuamak.
In the place. and. after much iinessins
succeeded IN picking out OF her the fact
that size was making three brida gar.
ments. and VINO they were for. OF course
the seer; was out and flew Ike hight.
ming. The result was thar the three cou-
pies Were soon after married. 10 tn. Sr..al
delight of heir friends and 10 the ~.
feeding annoyance of the old maid. who
! regret To say was neither invited. ex.
pected. nor desired at either wedding"
To Avoid Tattling.
Mr.. George then continued his applica.
ton as follows: Having read something
similar 10 the above. thu idea occurred IL
the inventor that provided anything couId
be invented which would supply the plac.
Of the old man or ma jur domo that could
not possibly tell tales. il would he Il mos,
amusing as Well a. useful invention. Ac.
cordiTSly he Set his mind TO the. subject
believing in the proverh. Nil tam d;fficiIs
quod non solerIia wheat and after som.
reflection turned out the table and game
hereafter described. which he hopes an.
fully believes Will answer the purpose in.
tended.
The top of the table is SO CONSTRUCTED
as 10 lie taken of. having on the QUITE.
edge al aperture sufficiently large to ad.
nit the hand. with Il lie nicely :itted anc
hinged to the same; or the opening ma,
have a slide 10 be pulled in and ou;
Within the table IS a wheel revolving or
a PIVOT. This wheel is turned by pIacias
the hand under the table behind notche.
and pushing it around, In the wheel ana
near the outer edge is placed a uumbel
of small. movable drawers or boxes
Each box contains TWO apartments witt
a lid hinged TO each apartment so a q
be raised and lowered. With the table
go d number OF checks. a different, col.
or.d. sized or shaped check for Zach box
Tn inventor OF the game then goes on
al great length TO describe the way in
which The game is played. and how ihose
members of the male sex who are nerv.
Gus. and bashful and those Ia.
dies who are modest and coy car com.
munisats to one another their mutual
patch. through the agency OF mis- pecul.
lar method known As the game Of equa..