Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-26
ROYAL ROAD TO LOVE
A RICHMOND MANS INVENTION TO
MAKE MARRIAGE EASY.
STORY OF /" The ORACULBR WHEEL"
Unique Invention Uncnrthed I'm the
Patent Oaicc-Designed 10 Throw
bnshfui SWANS and Coy Maids
Into Ono Another's Arms.

One OF the most unique inventions upon
which letters patent were ever issued
| Dy the United States Government was
the product OK the brain of a Richmond
man.
The invention has long been forgotten.
save by few who remember how the
man who conceived it used TO discuss
10 with friends and predict from it fame
and fortune Tor himself, and happiness
Tor thousands Of men and women
The inventor was Mr.. William O.
| George. OK this city. and his patent was
obtained upon what he termed the Ora
/ cular Wheel. or Unique Comfortable"
| The object of the wheel was the rev0lu-
| tonizlng OF matrimony. It's object was
To- bring about tho mating Of young men
and women, too bashiul 20 let each other
/ know the secret affection of their hearts.
! REMARKABLE EXPLANATION.
No better description of this wheel.
| which was TO work such wonders in the
social world can bo given than that
| which a rummager recently found in the
| United States Patent Office. at Wash
| ington, and which was written by the
inventor himself. The quaint style of
the writer makes the document all the
more attractive IL was submitted in
I April 1856, is written on blue parchment,
and reads as follows:
ITO the Commissioner Of Patents:
1.-THE petition of William O. George, or
/ the city OK Richmond. and in the county
/ of III auricO. and State of Virginia, re
! specIully represents.
THAT your petitioner has invented
| table, cons ructed upon new ana uselul
| plan, designed for use in the parlOr and
/ I'm other places. and So adapted as 20 con-
/ trlVe FOR the pleasant passing OF the hours
I OF company IN o. novel and interesting
! manner, which is done by means of a
l..ff
| toner calls the game of equality, social
ed ia consequence OF It's pacing man ana
woman upon an equal footing IN an Inn
p0rtanr respect, II being a new method
or process of enectug a desirable and
useful purpose in a remarkable, novel
and entertaining manner. and one which
VIII yield lasting happiness 10 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 Tor q young lady, no matter
how deeply they may bee attached 90 her.
Notwithstanding tho lady may possibly
be both willing and ready O. jump into
the gentleman's arms mt the slightest
/ declaration of affection. still his dihdeuce
or her mudesty can and often does pre-
vent it's accomplishment. thus destroying
the fond hopes and happiness OF two be-
mss perhaps exactly suited 10 each other.
"IO 0bviatc tho difficulty ana make the
road o. matrimOny easy and certain Is
The principal object OF thi5 invention. For
no matter how dhdcut the seutl man
may be, nor how coy the lady, II they
once play at This table ana play with
am earnest desire tO catch each other
their object Will certainly be accomplish
ed and chat with secrecy, safety and dis
patcn. The said table is also adapted
u other useful purposes, and is termed
by your petitioner the oracular wheel
or rniru4 cautr.-tahla.
"Iu order to- understand the object or
the invention and insure perfect COM
prrheurlOu OF the game, we must neces-
eIrily refer and go back tO the circum-
/ stances that originated the first ideas ON
the subject. thev being "a sort of Le Mot
a. Enigma or Uasse UdrtOut 10 the better
understanding Of the game.
HOW TT SIAkIE
"Tbe invention originated thus: The
inventor road fu q uowspappr a. paragraph
i'm substance as follows: AT a. wedding.
! which took place in the western part or
the State soms years back. the marriage
cercuonv being oyer and the company
hayins rarlaken of a plentiful supply OF
the good things t0 he found on such oc-
casl0ns. they amused themselves as besc
| they could in conversation un.ll some
! what run out when they SET tner WIS
90 "oiN 20 lllu i.e Hl"iV 49,, ms
| cupatlon There Drll5 10 musician 1T ,a-
| ent. they couid nor ounce, so pc was plo-
posed to play some came Sdch us 4 rs'
4 the IhimuIe, bilHu Lir bg-.0' ~, '"''
yer, stage 'otyH ~ Du. 49, wa
these games ming % me lhe dppIo-
baton OF the ladies. the company We're
at loss for somewhat 90 do, untn 10 was
happily suggested ny some one pte9enI
that each unmarried ltuy anu seHileHlah
should Poe required To CONFESS To tl'
oldest married man or MAJOR Don .',l lile
who they were in love with. the MAJOR
D.. 30 tO be first sworn not 10 dlNllse
Tho secrets told him unless they prove
mutual in which case he was 10 com
municate only 90 the paiues most NlitI-
estcd. The company c'hsehun5 10 'llH'