The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-17
EEL INVENTION FOR SEALING LETTERS

Mr. Martin Mclaughlin. Of the attor-
neys' division of the Pension Office is
one Of the most conscientious and faith
IuI workers among the army of en-
ployes in the big red brick building. Be
sides being a valuable and energetic
worker for Uncle sam, Mr. Mclaughlin
mas q decided inventive turn of mind.
one exceedingly ingenious device
which he has made is q machine for
seaIlng envelopes. Having number Of
letters to seal each day. Mr.. NcLaugh-
In decided he could improve greatly
upon the old method of passing a wet
sponge over the flap of each envelope
and then pressing 1t down with the
hand
He thought the matter over and with
no tools or materials except a jack
knife, q white pine board, a few rubber
bands, and several bits of sponge he
evolved machine that for all practical
purposes is as perfect as q laboT-saving
device costing many dollars. The ma
chine consists Of board OF table with
two upright posts about six inches high
and eight inches apart. Running in
grooves in the uprights Is beam hoI-
lowed as a trough and having a per
fOrated bottom filed with bits of
sponge.
Passing over the beam are two stout
rubber bands exeTting a downward ten
sion. The beam is raised and from 50
to 100 envelopes, with flaps opened. are
placed underneath. Water is then
placed in the trough of the beam. and
percolating through the sponge filed
1nterstices at the bottom evenly vets
the gUmmed edge of the uppermost en- /
velope.
One motion OF the hand draws the
envelope out and turns the flap under, /
thus sealing it. The sealing can be /
done almost as rapidly as the hand can
move.
Mr.. Mclaughlin is the inventor Of /
several other devices equally as useful !
and as simple in construction.
Mr. a. F Springsteen. who assisted /
with his drum in the Flag Day exercises
at the Pension Office last Saturday, was
the happy recipient yesterday afternoon /
from the committee OF arrangements Of
a beautiful Boston Sword Fern the /
same being appropriately decorated with
the national colors-
Mr. Springsteen is employed in the
medical division and is supposed to have
been the youngest soldier in the Union
army during the civil war
a we'll known Pennsylvania who has
Just returned from Harrisburg to his
desk IN one Of the departments discoy-
cred veritabIe genius in politics while
--whooplng it up" for his favoTite can
didate in the capital Of the Keystone
State IN one Of the interior counties
there Is g budding statesman Harry o.
Haag. By name The patTonyTnic OF this
aspfrant for political honors is usually
nd 50
derived from good old Dutch stock
that has for generations been located IN
that portion OF the State
The county which this young man as
pires to represent in the State Legisla-
ture is pretty evenly divided as to ma
tionalities between the Dutch and Irish
Says the department clerk
IF that young man Haag should be de-
feated for the Legislature he should be
given che of The best of the foreign mis-
sions. for, without doubt he is the
smoothest article IN the way of 2 dip
lonat that It has ever been my fortune
10 meet
"He has been a resident Of the county
which he now seeks TO represent but a
short while, and laying aside his ability
which is uuque5Jioned. ne is by long
odds the most popular man In the con
munity.
When the political bee commenced 10 / J
buzz in his bonnet he began TO visit all J
che prominent Dutch farmers in the ,
eastern portion Of the county. He as {
sumed the manners and Datois Of the ;
dWelleTs on the farms Z
He discussed hay and cabbages with !
the farmers over glasses CT beer. and !
gave the farmers wives the best re-
ceipts for salt pickles and saueTkraut e
He pronounced his surRaEe with the :
brcadest Dutch accent, and was one Of J
the people in every particular. / .
After making himself solid with the =
burghers he rent over the T .
mountains TO the western portion Of the !
county, which was inhabited principally n
by Irish miners In crossing the noun !.
tains his manner. speech and even name
underwent somewhat Of e transforaa-
ton II Is not recorded that he wore a
spike tailed coat ana carried q shilIaIah
under his arm. but his Dutch accent
had given place to q most decided Irish
brogue. He took a wee dhrap' with the "
miners. chucked the girls under the Q
chin. called them me darIints' and =
showed them the best way 70 boil the d
'prsties.'
His name too. had taken on an en-
erald tinge for when be handed around A
IS cards announcing his candidacy they 0
read: Harry O'Haac That little NJ
apostrophe worked wonders and 7 tell II
you" concluded the clerk he is bound "
to be minister pienipoteHdaTy and envoy b!
or something Of that sort II
some day. ST
4 publication that more zearIy ap- Pl
the sentimental THAI anything u
The Government has had published for al