The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-04
ART Or MAKING GLASS EYES.
AND STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO
TRADE IN AND WEAR THEM.

Made.
New York, March 2.-It is estimated
that about one in four persons either
wears or should wear an artificial eye.
The principal manufactures of these
goods are, in France AMI Germany, the only
one in this country being located in New
York city. Egyptians of the days Oh
the great Ptolneys made artificial eyes Of
gold silver and ivory. 1t was the GUS
tom of the ancients, when their passions
were stirred by events of great moment
to bring their artificial eyes and place
them in the public treasury for the good
of the cause, just a. people now give gold
watches and jewels when moved TO gen
crosby by an eloquent missionary.
In Paris the important manufacturers,
artists and scientists congregate in the
nefghborhood of the Madelein, while the
lesser lights are to be found in little streets
of the boulevard and Temple district.
The French artisan who makes class eyes
is known as an ocularist, TO which title
the wealthy dealers around the Madelein
add that of oculist
The wearer OF a glass eye is usually abb
llOi manly SOliSlllNC dPCut ~ 90 49,
exceedingly fearful of the physical pain
that may be caused by putting an artificial
eye in. The wealthy dealer in glass eyes
in Paris fits his place up gorgeously and
hires servant with one eye taking care
to select one who can be fitted with an
artificial eye to as perfectly match the
natural one as possible. 1t is admitted
by the dealers that no artificial organ
THAT exactly matches the natural ono has
ever been made. When the stump of the
eye and the muscles that moved it have
been left in the socked by the surgeon
who removed the eye, the artificial eye
will be moved up and down, to right or
left by these muscles in unison with the
other eye. But when the eye has been
out q long time before the artificial one
was inserted the lids will have shrunk,
thus necessitating the person to wear a
glass eye smaller than the one removed.
a few weeks wiusstretch the lids, larger
size is put in, and 50 on until the eyes
appear exactly the same size.
Encouraging Trade.
Although no perfect match has ever been
made they get near enough to perfec-
ton to deceive even oculists. 1t is such
a person as this that the wealthy Partisan
dealer in artificial eyes wants for a serv-
ant. When the tmid and doubling GUS
toner expresses his fears, the manufac-
turer says:
John, come here!'
The servant respectfully obeys and his
master says TO the customer: do you see
anything the matter with that man?''
mo"
Now, John, take out your eye"
John does this, placing the artificial
eye in the hand of the astonished visitor
who, of course, at once assumes that ii is
only question of time when his glass eye
will as perfectly match his natural one
as Johns does.
The oculaEist enameler is one of the
best paid artisans in Europe, being abe
to earn from 10 to Is francs day, some
of the best workers among them are wo-
men, In manufac tories IL is usually piece
work but sometimes the business is con-
Quoted on SORT of a cooperative plan,
The ocularist receiving a per cent. of the
profits, his poor work being thrown on his
hands and a charge made for material
used In This way the man gradually
accumuNates a stock of artificial eyes
which he will one day utilize in many
novel way, when he goes into business
for himself.
Second Hand Eyes.
The economy of the Parsians Is pro-
verbal and extends even into the wearing
of artificial eyes. 1t is generally supposed
that when a person is cnce fitted with
glass eye, there the matter ends. on
the contrary II mas just neSun NO grass
eye should lie worn moe than year and
in many cases 1t is necessary to change
them as often as once in six months. The
material of which they are made is more
or less porous, the acid in the moisture
Of the eye socket takes hold of the enam-
Ell which becomes rough, causing granu-
lated eyelids
The men in Paris who cater to the
cheap trade make a small allowance for
hand When the
eve beau or belle of the slums of Paris
wants to make an impression at ball
he goes to the dea,er and rents for the
night, a glass eye He is not fastidious
as to size or color. A glass eye for the
function" he is to attend he regards as
a necessity; perfect match he would es-
teen a superfluous luxury.
There is still another use made of these
secondhand glass eyes. The fashionable
embamer of Paris wants his subjects to
look as beaut fut and lfe-like as po:sb e.
The ma ural organs have sunk deep in the
head. The embalmer therefore gees to the
cheap ocularist and buys pair of eyes
of any color, so that they be of about the
same size. which he adjusts under the
eyelids, consoling himself with the refec-
ton that the dead man will neither COM
plain of the difference in the color Of his
eyes nor tell any tales, while the living
will be comforted at the improvement the
loved one.
Patriotic Eyes.
Occasional calls for artificial eyes come
TO Paris from almost every corner of the
globe A French manufacturer got an or
der from an officer of Emperor Souleque
of Haiti, some thirty years or more ago.
The ocularist was delighted. His vivid
Imagination pictured lively trade with
the island that would spring UP in con-
sequence of this order from so distin-
guished a person. possibly decoration
from the Emperor With the utmost care
he made the eye and sent IL on. For six
months he heard nothing Of st. then the
parcel was returned with this note:
"Your eye is of no use 10 me. II is
yel,owish and recalls the memory of the
Spanish flag. l will only wear an eye
of the color of my own country"
The heartbroken dealer picked up his
courage and went at IL again. The
solera or white of the eye in young
person Is OF clear blush white; past