Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-16

OF all modern Inventions, nuns
seems to belong more typically to the
present day than the so-caiied NC
Gill paper fastener--the small hasS
continuance used to fasten Il NUMBER
of sheets OF paper together. Yet
Though it has been ratented), 1T was
we'll known more than two thousand
years ago, being used by the soldiers
of Rome as an incidental of their cos
tune. The belt of thin copper worn
by TIE ancient legionary was fasten-
ed to a strip OF cloth, for lining, with
a series of little bronze clamps exact
ly like the paper fastener in question.
The Smithsonian institution, at
Washington, has got together a very
interesting collection of such ancient
inventions-one of the specimens
shown being the belt of an ancient Ro-
man soldier, which exhibits the appli-
cation of the contrivance described.
Among other objects belonging to the
same category are thimbles $500 years
old They are of bronze, and their
outer surfaces show the familiar in
1entations for engaging the head OF
the needle. Indeed, these thimbles are
much like modern ones, barring the
fact that they have no tops to cover
the end of the finger. For that mat
ter, however, many thimbles OF today
are topless
The women In those days had bronze
bodkins made just like those i'll use
now, and for toilet purposes they en-
ployed small tweeZers of pattern
that has not been altered in 1000
years. Te hold their hair in place,
they had not hit upon the notion or
bending wire double; but they
twisted for that purpose straight
bronze pins, made exactly like mod
ern hat pins with big spherical heads.
1t is from this early type of hairpin.
in truth, that the hatpin of today is
derived Mayhap the ancient Roman
virago. when aroused to rage, pluckedl
an improvised dagger from her back
hair and employed it vigorously.
In the collection referred to is
number OF fish hooks, not less than
1900 years old, obtained from ancient
Swiss lake dwellings. They are of
bronze, and in shape are exactly ike
the most improved modern fish hooks.
They have the same curves and the
same barbs, with similar expansion
of the top of the shank for the at
tachment of the line. Barring the
metal of which they are composed,
they might have been made yester-
day. Other eurios from the old
Etruscan tombs are strainers, ladies,
spoons and knives of bronze. Such
articles. as we'll as daggers and other
weapons and utensils. were cast most
commonly in molds that We're made
of hard stone, pair of stones being
m
was afterward polished and otherwise
elaborated. Among the most interest
ing of the contrivanees for the toilet
is a fine tooth comb of ivory. which
in shape is precisely like the fine tooth
combs of today.
OF course, the gentleman of ancient
Rome was obliged TO shave himself
unless he chose to wear a beard, and
for this purpose he used razor
which must have made the operation
decidedly severe. 1t was not at all
like modern razors. but was of bronze,
and somewhat like a small sickle,
Very broad in the moon-shaped blade,
and with handle rigidly attached.
1t is we'll known that the ancient
Romans knew how To plate one met
al with another. They made. and
some OF lHtHi, IKE 1lGtIp, "hit ldioc
teeth. The manufacture of glass was
entirely familiar to them. and they
knew the modern method of mend
ing broken pots by means of riyets-
which Is shown by the fact of the
discovery of many pieces of pottery
thus restored. 1t seems rather sur
prising that they did not acquire the
art of printing with movable types,
inasmuch as they came so very near
it. They had wooden blocks carved
with words in reverse, by means or
which they stamped words on pottery
while the latter was as Yet unbaked
and soft
Every Roman gentleman had
latch key which fitted the door of his
dwelling. 1t was attached to n finger
ring, so that it could not easily be
lost, and would always be ready for
use, no matter what the
hour or the condition of the owner.
Naturally. the Roman damsel or
matron had to have something in the
way of looking glass, and it is odd
to find that her hand mirror was pre-
cisely of the most fashionable mod
ern type. 1t was of polished bronze.
because the art of silvering glass to
make ii serve as n reflector was then
unknown.-New York American