The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-01-17
INVENTORS OF GAMES.
cENlUsEs EARN GOOD INCOMES BY
DEVlSlNC ADJUSTMENTS.

ing games and forms Of entertain
ment for private parties, sociables and
receptions, says the Scientific Ameri-
can. The extraordinary demand for
something new in the line OF entertain
ing is evidenced by the number of new
games and tricks put on the market
every year. These multiply rapidly,
but most Of them, being merely varia-
lions Of old games, attract little more
than passing notice But when a real
ly new and original game, trick or form
Of entertainment Is invented, the pub
lie shows its appreciation by adopting
1t Immediately as the prevailing fad.
There are so very few original inven-
lions Of this nature that it is safe to
say that any one who has the genius
to discover one will reap financial re-
ward sufficient to support her for the
rest of her life.
These new forms Of amusement need
not necessarily be elaborate and ex-
pensve in character. Sometimes the
very simple ones attract the most at
tention and actually earn more money
for their owners. Women in particu-
lar are finding this field an attractive
one for testing their inventive abili-
tiles. Many who go into it find in a
little while that they are untitled for
it, They have great adaptive powers,
but not inventive faculties. The for
mer will win renown and financial re-
turns in proportion to the amount Of
work put in the efforts.
The patent Office at Washington is
besieged by applicants for inventions
that are made for the purpose of anus
ing and entertaining, and the list
that is annually rejected because they
infringe upon the rights Of others is
very great. Nevertheless, women have
been very successful in the last two
years in this direction, and according
to statistics given they have equaled
the men both in the number and pop
ularity of their inventions to amuse.
Last year fully a score of such pat
ents were taken out by women who
| must have made comfortable incomes
from the sales of the articles One
successful trick, game or puzzle should
in the ordinary course Of events make
tidy income for woman for several
years.
1t is somewhat surprising that wom-
en- inventors have not invaded this
field more numerously than they have,
for by virtue Of their associations, life
work and aspirations they should be
in closer touch with what children
and societies need of entertainment
than men. Until quite recently most
Of the toys and games were invented
entirely by men, while women invent
Ors seemed to, turn their attention to
other subjects. This now has been
changed somewhat, and the toys that
are annually brought out are the work
of minds and hands of women as much
as of those of the masculine sex
The toy season is not by any means
confined to Christmas. 1t is pretty well
distributed over the whole year. but
the toys differ according to the sea-
sons, and the inventor who wishes tt
make money with her designs mus
anticipate events. Birthdays are hap
pening every day in the year, ant
thousands Of toys suitable for such oc
casions are bought continuously thu
year round. The popular birthday
present is a feature of the toy trade
that was never better appreciated thar
today Heretofore the remnants 0
Christmas toys were supposed to an
sWer the purpose, and Disguised pa
rents would travel from store to stor
in a vain search for something unlik
the toys that had piled up around tn
family hearth at the last midwife
holiday. Birthday toys are consequent
ly in great demand.
Who can produce something appro
pirate for such occasions, suitable t
man, woman, boy and girl? The per
son who can accomplish this is sur
to find a steady sale that will in tn
t end more than aggregate the tota
= Christmas sales. Souvenirs and tabl
! decorations of a novel form and shap
are also as constantly in demand q
e the birthday presents, and, like tn
g latter, they must be peculiarly adapte
t to the purpose. To invent such gi
4 or souvenir to sell well the mind mus
9 study out the question as CAREFUL
as if a mathematical problem was o
t fered for solution One must NAL
: herself more or less thoroughly fl
9 miliar with all the material on han
y and with the inventions in the san
| field that have been made before. Wit
- out this necessary preliminary pre-
: aration the chances of successful il
It ventions will hardly be very great