The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-08-23
The River Press.
Published erery Wednesday, Morning
By the Rirey Press Publish
ing Company.
PERFUME.

"A happy INSPIRATION Is wortn mIl'
lions in these latter days, when the
world is striving to increase the out
put OF Injuries and to reduce their
cost. Such an inspiration, passing
through the brain OF one Stephen
Patton, a farmer living near Hattles-
burg, Miss, bids fair to make him
the John D. Rockefeller of the per.
fumery trade of the world, says the
Washington Post. Like all great dis
coveries, it is perfectly simple, and
everybody will ask: ''Why didn't
some one think of that before:" The
story of Mr.. Patton's discovery is
told in a special dispatch to the At.
lanta Constitution:
"For several years Mr.. Patton has
been engaged in the business of rails.
ing p~olecats on a swampy piece of
ground adjacent to his farm, the pelts
Of the animals selling for from IS
cents to 3 l.50 each, according to color.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Patton estab.
lished q chicken farm near his pole.
cat swamp and q few days later the
fowls became deathly sick. He COM
menced placing coal oil in their food,
thinking they were afflicted with the
pips. The XXI batch of eggs gathered
tasted like coal oil. Mr.. Patton her
commenced reasoning from cause to
effect, and was seized with an idea.
He commenced feeding his polecats on
oil Of lavender, bergamot and orange
flowers. The new food had the de.
sired result. 1t not only changed the
nauseous OdOr of the p%olecats, but
actually produced a powerful and de-
lightful perfume, and further expert.
ments have revealed the wonderful
commercial possibilities of the dis
covery. One drop of the fluid emitted
by the polecats will produce a quart
Of perfume, and by careful selection
of the food of the little animals Mr..
Patton has succeeded in producing
three varieties of perfumes
Not only do we rejoice in this dis
on of the cheapening
of an Indispensable article, but be.
cause tardy justice is at last awarded
10 an humble but indefatigable ami.
NAL. The polecat through all ages
has been stunned through no fault Of
his own. He has been an object of
contumely and ridicule, and it is not
that at times his patience
has been sorely tried. An outcast, |
whose presence has always been noted
but never welcomed; q social pariah.
in spite OF the fact that his disposition
is at~fectionate; his advances repulsed,
his preference for human companion.
ship d~erided-we cay it is no wonder
he has sometimes insisted upon
being noticed.
Every dog has his day, and the
polecat's is here. Thanks to Mr.. Pat |
discovery, this really beautiful
animal Is to become the pet that he
has always yearned to be. A living
sachet bag, an animated perfume re.
tort, he will be found in every bou.
.oir, responding ~delicately to varia.
tons In his diet as the chameleon re-
fleets the variable colors of his envi-
ronment. This, it appears to US, will
be the most attractive result of Mr..
Patton's discovery. Naturally, Mr..
Patton has already laid plans for
manufacturing perfumery or q gigan'
tic scale, aud he deserves the pros.
that will be his II he escapes the
But many persons will prefer
to purchase their own perfumery fact
DRY in the shape of a pretty, affection
ate, and faithful ~polecat.
No doubt there will be cynics and
scoffers--they are always with us.
But as for us, we embrace the new
discovery with enthusiasm, and intend
to acquire a busy lit@le perfume plant
before the price scars 81 high as to
be beyond reach. No doubt the mere
announcement of this discovery will
start the Unsuitable bandits of Wall
stleet upon a still hunt tn the effort
t. corner and syndicate the polecat in
dustry. If Mr.. Patton i. not robbed
of his rights he will be lucky.