The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-02-09
Ancient ROmansUSed Safety
Pins and Latch KEYS

Every now and then it is discovered
that some extremely modern" inven-
ton is in reality exceedingly old. For
example, the safety pin, far from be-
ing novelty or even recent origin,
is decidedly ancient-a fact made GER
tain by the finding of great many
such pins. fashioned exactly like
those of today, in old Roman cities at
a period good deal earlier than the
birth of Christ.
The safety pin in truth was an ar
ticle of common use in Italy long be-
fore the Roman empire attained the
height of its glory. Some of them
were exactly like those of today, util-
izing the familiar principle of coiled
spring and catch. says the Scientific
American, but the material Of which
they were made seems always to have
been bronze. They took on a devel-
opment, however, far more remark
able than our modern safety pins,
many of them being quite large af-
fairs, ten inches or so in length and
hollow, as if designed to be attached
to the gown in front and possibly to
contain something or other-conceiv-
ably flowers. Not infrequently they
were ornamented with gems.
Another ancient invention was the
collar stud. 1t is true that the an
cient Romans did not use buttons to
fasten their garments, but for this
very reason safety pins were more
urgently required: and the latter
seem to have been supplemented by
studs of bronze, which were in shape
exactly like.those of today. Of course
people in those times wore no collars;
but the little continuance in question
was utilized in other ways. Probably
and indeed the assumption is not a
| rash one-it had in that early epoch
the same habit as now of rolling I'M
der a piece of furniture on slight
provocation for the purpose of elud-
ing observation and pursuit, with the
usual perversity of inanimate objects.
OF all modern inventions none
| seems to belong more rypically to
| the present day than the so-called
| McGill paper fastener-the small
brass contrivance used to fasten a
number of sheets of paper together
Yet though it has been patented, it
was we'll known more than 1900
years ago. being used by the soldiers
of Rome as an incidental Of their
costume The belt of thin copper worn
by the ancient legionary was fastened
to strip of cloth, for lining, with a
series of little bronze jclamps exA
actly life the paper fastener in ques-
ton.
ThimbIes $500 Years Old.
The Smithsonian institution at
Washington has got together a very
interesting collection of such ancient
inventions. Among other objects be-
longing to the same category are thim-
bles $500 years old. They are OF
bronze and their outer surfaces show
the familiar indentations for engaging
the head of the needle. Indeed, these
thimbles are much like modern ones
barring the fact that they have nc
tops to cover the end of the finger
For that matter, however, many thimb-
les of today are tOpless.
The woman in those days had bronze
bodkins, made just like those in use
now, and for toilet purposes they en-
| ployed small tweezers of pattern that
has not been altered in 1000 years. TIC
hold their hair in place they had not
hit upon the notion of bending wire
double, but they used for that purpose