The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-08-01
TOILET OF THE DIVER
OPERATION or PUTTING ON AND
TAKING OFF HIS COSTUME.

One - the Requisites of the Divers
Dressing Platform H. nm OId Tin
Cana Lesson In the Art ~ Taking
Things nsy-Nccesrity For Cnre.
TO watch n diver while he Is dressing
Ur divcstiug himself Of bis professional
apparel is not only 10 be- taught les
son in the art Of taking things easily,
but also imprcssc5 one with the fact
that the divers is the only occupation
under the sun in which tin can is a
toilet requisite
The can Ia question is not an orua-
mental object. such us silver backed
hairbrush is or set Of manicure in.
sirumouts. but the divers valet needs
it in bis business as mach as amy Top
needs either Of the silver implements.
for it o. in this battered old tin That
the valet drops the thumbscrcws that
keep thc rubber cloth Of the diving
suit confined in place between the
jutcr and inner plates Of the cuira.s-
ike she'll the diver wears over his
shoulders aul across his breast There
they remain until the diver is ready 10
dress again. when the valet carefully
lpicIs them ont OF the tin aud screws
them back Boz place.
The operation uf dressing @ diver re-
quircs two distinct movements. one
taking place ON the deck uf the vessel
or platform from which he IS working.
| the other at the head ~ the ladder on
/ which the diver dcsccuds tu the depths
below. II Is % business that requires q
good deal uf time FOR the divers life
depends on Just how carefully each ~
the several things are done, and no
one sacrifices thoruughucss 10 speed.
The diver always has a comfortable
place to sit un before hc hcgus rcmov-
Ing his shoes. after which hc draws on
u long Iuir Of heavy wooden stockings
over the legs of trousers. over these
again he pulls ou another pair ~
trousers. and then hc draws ou the
lower part of Dis diving suit proper.
After that i8 don hc is ln the hands ~
his valet. who {. Also the man who
tends tlc air pipe aud signal rope after
the diver hus descended t) the bottom
Of tie sea-
one of the curiosItics ~ this opera
ton De- the immuhillty of the man who
| o. being dressed. lly s,ts perfectly E,!i
with his hands cNspol between h.l
knees. rarely speaking. his eyes NSrl
on some distant point az though lr
were absorbed u considering some
wcIghty problem.
I Meanwhile the valet las been draw
lug the rubber suit up on the divers
arms und part way mp over his chest
and then he slips down over his head
the steel curass that keeps the pres.
sure cf the water away from hs chest
aud also serves o. support the weight
Of the copper helmet on his shoulders.
At this point in the operation the tin
can comes Into use. uud the valet takes
from IL the brass thumhscrcws that
cuunnc the upper edges Of the diving
suit between the cuiruss and the four
steel bands that are fastened outside
Of it Then the valet puts q black silk
slullcap on the divers head, and the
diver wuddlcs over 10 the head Of the
ladder after pair Of heavy rubber
bands are slipped over the rubber cuffs
Of the suit, tor the diver works with
barred hands.
Then come the nual touches ~ the
costume. which are always made ms
near the head of the ladder as possible
Tor these operations consist Of putting
on the weighted shoes. the weighted
breast belt uud the copper helmet The
diver slips his feet into the shoes of
cast iron. aud his valet aud another
helper buckle them around his instcp
Then hc bends down. resting his arms
on the head Of the ladder. while the
belt. on which are fastened great, thicl.
squares of lead, IN huclglcd around his
breast und across his shoulders
The signal cord Is fastened 10 the
brcustplute with leather thongs aud
then the signal Is given 90 the man al
the air pump To work lively" whicl
means that he is 10 send the whcc
around at a much faster pace than h,
does when the diver is at work. TAI,
being done a. get good current of aii
passing through the pipe. Least time
of an does Il take 60 put the hclmo
on, Tor IL Is dropped into place, an,
after one half turn the thing Is done
Down glcs the grotcsuuc figure hc
low tho surface ~ the water, up iron
the helmet comes q constant stream o
air bubbles, aud IL the diver Is no
, worlug ut too great depth you can
. presently hear the click of his tool
ringing away 40 work - New Nurl
Press.