Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-05
NATURAL MEASURES.
SOME PERSONAL SUBSTITUTES FOR
THE FOOT RULE.

Accurately Compile Your Own Table,
Mcmori1c IL and Then Observe
How Frequently II VIII Prove of
Valuable Service to You.
When the dressmaker wishes to cs-
innate the number Of yards in the
piece of cloth furnished she will, four
times out of five, measure 1t swiftly
between her chin and her outstretched
hand or If It is a matter Of inches,
she will fold the Bonded upper Joint
Of her thumb along the cloth.
She calls the one measure yard
and the other an inch, and the estimate
is usually close enough to serve her
purpose, although there are inches Of
difference In the length of arms. and a
light turn of the head will cause still
greater error.
Since these methods have proved
themselves so useful in spite of their
inaccuracy, it is easy to see how valu-
able some similar measures which
can be depended on would become
The Individual must necessarily he
the first consideration. 1t is hardly
two persons identical in those dimen-
sions Of which use can be made. Thus
each must establish his own table Of
measures.
The forearm-from point of elbow
to tip of middle finger-is one of the
most practicable Of the natural meas
ures. This is the cubt of Scripture.
Set the point of the bent elbow in the
corner Of the wall. Holding it firmly
there, straighten the forearm and fin
gers, mark the point reached Ivy the
middle digit and measure carefully the
distance to the wall. A man is likely
TO find this measure about twenty
inches. II woman about sixteen.
For making quick measurement of
the side of a room. the length of
wood pile, ana % forth, this idea has
some very useful qualities
Take the foot rule now and spread,
or rather span. the hand TO its utmost
upon IT, There is sure to be a differ
ence between the right and left. so
use always tho same hand, or have
separate measure for each
If extended rigidiy to its utmost each
time the inches 'spanned" will be n
practically fixed quantity. Note the
measurement carefully. as before. 1t
is most likely TO be FOR an adult from
seven and one-half 10 nine inches.
This is Hn even more convenient
measure than that of the forearm. since
it can he conveniently applied either
horizontally or vertically and at any
point where the hand can reach.
The band" of four inches used in
the measurement of horses is of course
derived from the breadth of the palm.
But this has become so firmly fixed in
its one use that it may 20 well he omit
ted here. The measure of thumb and
palm Is, however. worth consideration.
The measurement from the opposite
edge of the palm TO the end OF the eX-
tended thumb is very nearly six inches
and is therefore a convenient unit.
These measures need. Of course. to be
supplemented by shOrter one, and
here Is the opportunity of our old
friend the thumb joint. Bend the
thumb sharply and measure on the
back from the point Of the knuckle,
over the nail. to the end of the fieshy
ball of the thumb.
The resulting cunt" Is likely to vary
from scven-eighths of an inch to one
and one-half inches. IF the measure
ment does not come out in even
quarter inches use finger second joint
| instead 1t will be as reliah bic and al
most as convenient.
eJ,A
| his own height with sufficient exact
ness. but still more useful piece of
knowledge Is the height Of the eyes.
| This is, as a rule, about four and one
| quarter inches less than the total
| height. But do not accept this sub,
traction for the new table: measure.
When one is standing erect, with the
face close to the wall, II is easy TO
mark the exact point in front of ones
eyes when they are looking straight
| ahead. This measure will vary to
| trifiing extent with the changing thick
ness of boot sOles. and SO forth, but
such an error rarely rises above ono
sixteenth of an inch in the foot.
The measure of ones outstretched
arms-beginning and ending with the
tip of the middle fingerS-is another
valuable thing to know. The familiar
theory that this "span" is the same as
the height is not correct enough to be
depended upon for purposes of meas
| urement.
A much used natural measure IS tine
pace Probably everybody who has
much to do with land is accustomed 10
employ it. The usual way is to stride
Off, taking as long steps as possible
and calling" each pace n yard. A far
better way is to measure the natural
step and continue to walk with it.
Take twenty or thirty ordinary walk
Ing steps on level ground. measure the
distance and secure the average length
When the table Of natural measures
is fully compiled it will be somewhat
| like this
| lhumo JOINT ..'..............,...,lh lnches
| Thumb and palm ......,............G inches
flanu span ........'.......,......,..S lncheS
| forearm ',..,....,.,,....,....,...-O lnCntS
| Stretch OF arms .............,...6 feet inch
i1tlsHt '.'''''''''' '''''..'''''..o leet = men
| Height OF eyes ..........,,,..o feet inches
Pace ........................,@ lnches
When one has constructed his table
substituting his own measures for
those given, let him not merely write
|