davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
A SUGGESTION FOR
A VACUUM BOTTLE

prepared BY the editors Of the Scientific American
for this paper. Copyright. lsi2. By Mum Col
Frequently there are found in old and
expired patents ideas and constructions
capable Of embodiment in articles OF re-
cent commercial development. Our at
tention has been attracted to a patent
issued June "A. 1854. for bottle or can
teen having a body portion divided into
two compartments in which different
liquids may be placed.
AThe Independent discharge orifices from
these two chambers or compartments
open through a fiat top. TO which is
fitted a neck or pouring nozzle mounted
so II may be turned to bring its discharge
channel into communication with the
outlet from one or the other of the
chambers TO dispense liquid therefrom,
and when the nozzle is turned TO an in
termedlate position II forms a valve or
closure TO stop the discharge from both
chambers.
In adapting this idea to vacuum bot
ties, the number Of chambers may be
varied, as well as the special application
of the rotating neck or nozzle, and
doubtless interesting inventive problems
will be presented to one seeking the prac-
teal production In a vacuum bottle OF
the duplex chambers with the discharge
nozzle common to both.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
THE PASSING OF THE
HORSE IN CITIES

Prepared by the editors Of the Scientific American
for this paper. Copyright. 49, Is Mum & COL
Time was, and that not 50 very long
ago, when the first thing the relatives OF
a sick person did was to cover the street
In front OF the house with straw so as
to deaden all sounds from passing We
hicles. The great number of rubber
tired automobiles has made this pre-
caution unnecessary. and instead of the
time-honored straw covering there ap-
peared a big sign at each street crossing
near the house Of sickness" on which
this sentence was painted in big letters:
Don't boot! Illness COincident with
the appearance of this sign in Kensins-
ton. London, the London Daily Mirror
published a trenchant editorial on the
foolishness Of taxing automobiles for the
use OF city streets. The horse is a
danger and a nuisance In the streets OF
a large city. We hear a lot of motor-car
street taxes, but II is the horse which
should be taxed. not the motor car The
horse is unhygienic, erratic and occupies
too mucn space. Tax the horse as you
would dogs and leave the motor cars
alone"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
NoNRUsTIEG TREAT
MENT FOR TOOLS

PREPARED by the editors Of the Scientific American
for this PAPER. Copyright. iolZ by Mum Co..
All iron tools, such as squares,
wrenches, pliers, dividerb. screw-drivers.
| &c. have the unwelcome property OF
rusting. In damp shops the tendency is
| even more marked. For all such cases
| as arise with plain iron tools Chose not
plated or painted) the following treat
ment will be found to be an efficient pre-
\ ventive measure. Obtain some potassium
bichromate Give or ten cents worth will
be sufficient for a gallon OF soIution) and
| some sodium hydroxide Qye).
The water used as a solvent should be
distilled and warm or hot II possible.
To gallon Of water add about one or
! two tablespoons OF the hydroxide Qye),
and after It is dissolved add the bichro-
mate. Make the solution saturated, l. e.,
put in as much of the bichromate as will
dissolve. Since the crystals do not dis
solve very fast, the solution should be
stirred. Now clean the TOOLS utensils,
or the like which are 20 be treated.
They should be smoothed and polished
II possible. Sandpaper or emery paper
or cloth will be found serviceable for this
purpose. Then submerge the tools in
the solution. When several pieces are
treated at the same time they should not
touch or interfere with one another. The
treatment should last as long as pos
sible. This may be for one. two or more
days, or even for several weeks.
The tools may be taken out Of the solu-
ton and used as needed and then REIN
serted In the solution. In such cases care
should be taken TO keep the tools clean
or else to reclean them. Some tools,
as screw drivers. squares. dividers. &c,
can be left in the solution continually,
day in ana day out, and be taken from
the solution as needed.
This method will keep them bright in
definitely. II the solution evaporates, II
can be replaced with more water or b.
Chromate and I've as needed. Ordinary
tools can be washed and wiped with a
cloth after treatment without destroying
the nonrusting effect
This treatment should be very valuable
about the shop. and since II does not
injure the tool in any way, 1t is apple
able to fine tools as well as the common
ones. The action is due to the COM
bined influence Of the hydroxide and BIZ
chromate, which .tends to inhibit and
prevent the iron from corroding. The
effect wears of in time, of course but II
can be renewed by a further treatment.
In fact. occasional treatment at given
intervals should render the tools practi-
caIly permanently immune.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29

OF Judge and jury and counsel The jury
was not out five minutes till they return
ed verdict of guilty.
That young lawyer had so successfully
defended his prisoner as TO secure his
imprisonment in the penltentiary, where
as II he had kept silent there was not
scintilla of cOnvicting testimony offer
ed and the prisoner would have gone
free.
Witness Proud of His Politics.
In a lawsuit to set aside a deed, the
notary who executed the instrument was
asked, pOintedly:
Did the granter know at the time You
were notary publlc?''
The officer. who was grossly illiterats
and hard of hearing. but a staunch old
Democrat, Indignantly responded.
A nOtorius Republican! I amt no
such thing! I'm dyed-in-the-wool Andy
Jackson Dimmikrat!
4 Concrete objection.
A matter Of fact witness with a fatuous
lack OF humOr was on the witness stand
testifying as to the character OF the
plaintiff. To show his prejudice, the
counsel for the plaintiff bluntIy said:
rs it, not a fact that you and the
plaintiff are not on good terms?
Have you anything against him."
To the surprise Of the court, the wit
ness replied:
Yes, 1 have something against him"
Counsel Of course asked, And what
Is it?"
"oh. just two dollars and a half he
owes me. That's all 1 have against
him."
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29

prepared by the editors Of the Scientific American
for this paper. Copyright, 1872, b Mum & Coz
Many articles of literary merit have
been written on Mr.. dorado Tafts con-
crete statue TO the American Indian, but
these have not made quite GEAR the tech
meal side of the questionable methods
employed in the construction.
This statue, standing on Eagles Nest
Bluff, go feet above the Rock River at
Oregon, Ill, is 43 feet 1 inches in height
Five feet Of the 14-foot S-inch pedestal
is exposed. From the end OF the steel
reinforcing rods, two feet in solid rock
to the top Of the head It measures an
even so feet
The statue contains about two tons of
twisted steel reinforcing rods and ap-
proximately 23S cubic yards of concrete, %
tons of which are one-fourth inch to
dust pink granite screenings for the sur
face, giving it the appearance Of a gran
ite statue
As is customary with most sculptors,
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
AAH0X
A NOVEL ELECTRICAL HEATER.

prepared BY the editUFs Of the Scientific American
FIR this paper. Copyright. 1917 By Mum Il CO..
Among the newest applications OF
electricity TO heating and cooking IS
the "quartzalite" system. which was
recently shown a. the London EIec-l
trical Exhibition. The heating element
OF this appliance consists OF spiral wires
OF special composition fncIosed in a
quartz tube. When the current IL
switched on the wires are raised to a
bright red heat. The quartz cannot be-
come melted except by the action Of the
electric furnace. The cost of mainte-
nance is said to be very low and the ef-
ficlency high.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
By JORGE GODOY.

Suppose a newly arrived foreigner in
this country happened to witness the
lynching of a negro in the South by q
number of Caucasian sons of Uncle Sam
suppose he beheld that poor trembling
colored man relentiessly hanged on a tree
~ people belonging to one of the richest
and most powerful nations of the uni
Verse-the United States-and suppose
that same foreigner, after having con-
templated, horror-stricken, that inhuman
spectacle, Furthermore saw the niger
riddled with bullets, slapped, kicked. and
cursed, and thus numerically murdered
in cold blood.
What would be the foreigners opinion
regarding the Yankees? Would he con-
slider them enlightened, courageous, and
kind-hearted? No. He would certainly
picture the United States as a barbarous
and sanguinary country. No matter
what atrocious crime the negro previous
ly committed. the foreigner would. by no
means. consider it justihable for the
white men who lynched the negro to
have done what they did.
He undoubtedly would think to himself,
What are the jails made for; what is
the law coed for? If the negro was
drunkard~ thief, or an assassin, why
didn't the law punish him accordingly,
benignantly, or severely as It thought
Mt instead Of allowing the offender to
be insulted and treated like a helpless
beast of burden, and finally killed by pri-
waite citizens of the United States?'
This is exactly how. some Americans
judge Mexico to-day They impatiently
see the dark side Of things there; they
do not take their time to gaze on the
bright side. Go. for example, to an
American theater and witness a drama
IN which Mexican appears.
HorrorsI The Mexican is. ninety-ninc
times CUE of a hundred. bound to be a
villain of the lowest type. NoiseIessly
you see him creep along, the stake like
a venomous reptile His jet black eyes
stare at you and seem to come forth
from their sockets The defiant Satanic
like smile that plays about his lips in
spires you with dread. His general APP
rearance of an outlaw sends the chiIs
through your body, and the long, sharp
dagger that he hourishes in one hand
with murderous intent-ughi makes your
heart go pitter-patter.
Then probably you hear footsteps. The
Mexican villain conceals himself behind
a tree. The footsteps become more
audible. The smiling moon illumes the
scene with its silvery light. You won
der who>is approaching. You restlessly
ask, yourself what viii happen next Al
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29

self-supporting after the head had been
removed and lowered in the same man
ner as it had been hoisted up.
Excavating was carried on at the same
time that the mold was being made.
While this was being done the figure
was shored up by tirnbers from the
solid rock II feet below the ground level.
The central tower was retained as a
scaffolding until the piece-moId of the
head had been fitted. The interior was
patched and cleaned. and the interior OF
the mould was given two coats. one of
wall size, and one Of paraffin grease; the
former to keep the plaster mold from
absorbing the wafer from the cement.
and the latter to insure its release.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29

plan on the working model. wire netting
was used for the curves; this in turn was
covered with 200 yards OF burlap for a
surface. the burlap being pinned to the
wire with nails at close intervals
A specially constructed derrick was
used for the hosting and setting OF the
temporary head, which had been pre-
viously modelled.
The mold on the figure was now made
of plaster and fiber supported by four
So-foot I-beams blocked up on cribbing
timbers on a level with the top of the fu-
ture pedestal Every 4 or square feet
of the mold had independent bracing
directly from the timbers on the I-beams,
with strutting, cross bracing and hoops
around the barrel-like structure, tending
to equaliZe the outward strains imposed
by the cement.
The structure was built to shoulder
level, the piece-mold fitted to the head
and neck, and the two Joined together
insuch a way as to be interlocking and
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
Mexican Girls Attractive.

Now let US depict a Mexican girl As
a ruie- she possesses bright dark eyes,
has extremely small feet and a delicate
rosy complexion. She is attractive. al
though not of a coquettish disposition.
She 1irts less than her Northern neigh
Dor. the American girl; and is physically
weaker than the latter. as she exercises
comparatively little, and seldom enjoys
out-of-door sports. She is strictly for
hidden to attend theatrical performance,
dance or any entertainment with a
young man, unless, OF course, she goes
accompanied by a chaperon or is already
engaged to be married.
Making love In Mexico is not as easy
a task as it Is here. Many times the
ardent wooer is obliged to smile and
throw kisses at his lady love from a
distance, and tip her maid servant hand
somely II he wishes his love letters to
arrive at their destination.
When a Mexican "senorita" goes shop
ping or visiting she is frequently accom-
panied by a domestic who sees that no
'lagartijo," or ''masher," flirts with her
more than is proper. The Mexican
woman is a loving wife and a tender
mother and devotes most of her time
TO housekeeping and the education Of
her children.
The most beautiful Indian girls are
found in Guadalajara and Tehuantepec.
and the latter are taught from infancy
to be very religious and say their beads
and humble their prayers nightly. The
Mexican society girls-remember they are
not Indian maidens - besides having
pretty faces, are engaging in their con-
witty. fond Of literature, and
some of them greatly resemble the be-
witching Southern women of this coun-
try, as far as beauty is concerned.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
Preventing a tank from
bursting in freezing
weather.

Ulrepared By the editors Of the Scientific American
for this paper. Copyright 1917, BY Mum e CO..
To keep a water tank from bursting
when freezing up, procure a very large
jug, and inverting in the tank fasten
It in this position by a wire wrapped
around the neck and fastened to an eye
in the bottom OF the tank. This has been
found successful by the writer. The Sc
cret lies in the fact that this jug con-
talns air, mostly, and when any extra
pressure is put upon the water. this air
is compressed, relieving the pressure on
the tank
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29

the idea Of a new work is expressed In
the form OF a sketch model. In this case
the first model was only inches high.
The next size was feet. and the third
size 6 feet. This last served as the work.
ing model. Then a system was devised
by which the enlargement was made and
when finished the enlargement was an
exact duplicate of the 6-foot model, in
creased seven times.
The site having been chosen, a square
central tower was built to the height OF
IS feet and anchored with guy wires.
Plans for charging the model were
drawn on the model by obtaining all
straight lines and fiat surfaces, and num-
bering the points with a specially con-
structed machine. at the termination of
these straight lines and fat surfaces A
section of the surface Of the model could
be enlarged on the ground and drawn up
by a rope, and nailed in place to cor
respond to the model. After all the
points were made to correspond to the
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
TO RESTORE BURNT STEEL.

lPrerared by the editors q the Scientific American
for this Iaper. Copyright. 1872 by Mum & CO..
To restore burnt tool steel. heat the
piece TO a red heat, then sprinkle over
it a mixture c. eight parts red chromate
OF potassium, three parts saltpetre, one
quarter Part aloes. One-Quarter part gum
arabic, and one-quarter part rosin. Ma
chine tools treated in this way will stand
up as well as before they were burned.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
PRIVATE" DALZELL
WRITES SOME MEMOIRS
DIARY of Thiry-hree Years at the Ohio Bar" Title
of Book-Some Excerpts from It.

Private DalzelL. known as a fine racon-
| teur, has put some of his best stories
| in his Dairy Of the Thirty-three Years
| at the Ohio Bar" To The Washington
Herald Private Dalzell has given the
privilege of printing several
The first Is this:
In a horse case" one of these harum-
scarum fellows who like to put the
laugh on the lawyer was on the witness
stand and was asked
Did you know the horse mentioned
in this suit?''
Quick as lightning the wag flashed
back, No, I can't say that I had any
personal acquaintance with him
The Court instantly was in an uproar
OF laughter and that lawyer lost his
case without any regard to its merits,
for sometimes little incidents occurring
at trial change the whole case without
rhyme or reason.
Some NimrOd Was This Witness.
Many years ago when the West was
wild and woolly, a scapegrace and tough
and withal a cheerful liar was on the
stand. swearing a case through with
the reckless abandon of a swift witness.
Some time before he had returned from
the West and had been telling all manner
of Munchausen stories about his hunting
out there, and among the rest he told
one about shooting a cyclone, meaning a
coyote
When the case in which he was a
witness had seemed well-nigh hopeless
for the opposing counsel, on cross exami-
nation, he simply asked the fellow,
'Aint you the chap that shot cyclones
out West?"
A roar of laughter filed the court room,
the case was won and a verdict for the
defense quickly followed
A Young Lawyers Novel Defense
In a burglary case the State had
closed its evidence, and had miserably
failed to prove the prisoners guilt. The
phasize, as he foolfshly thought the pro-
fessional victory SO won, put the defend
ant on the stand. always a dangerous
experiment, and in this case fatal, as the
sequel proved.
Did you, or did you not, commit the
crime?'
II did not" replied the silly defendant,
but know who did,
The attorney did not leave it there,
so he asked.
We'll. il you know who did it, tell the
court and jury who IT was
CThe testimony already had shown the |
brother had recently dled)
Eyes. / know who did II = 1t was my |
brother Tom who is dead and can't be |
A flash OF Indignation passed over the |
court room, plainly reelected in the faces
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
HANDY UNIVERSAL WRENCH.

tPreparsd BY de editors q the Scientific American
for this paper. Copyright. 1872. b. Mum Cc.l
The accompanying engraving illus
trates a very simple wrench for nuts
and bolts Of various sizes. 1t is made
Of piece Of L-Inch square iron rod
about a foot long. This is heated to a
cherry red and then is bent to the shape
shown. The wrench may be strengthen
ed by welding II at the joint W. The
manner of applying the wrench on the
bolt head or nut Is illustrated clearly.
the nut being Indicated by dotted lines.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
CynicisIn.
From Judge.

From Judge
Always pay debts and compliments,
and you will succeed.
The spice Of life is no sort Of season.
ing for morality.
You've got one guess as to which =
woman would choose, halo or a dia-
mond tiara.
Mans troubles are nine-tenths fem
mime gender.
Did you ever notice that a mans cred
liable ancestors are never half as much
use to him as his rich ones?
Man has his price. woman her figure
and both Of them are uncertain.
Curiosity is busy matrimonial agent.
Il A Bru4nn
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29

and rob him after dark. This Is not
true.
For over three months the writer was
employed on a daily paper in Mexico
City. He would return from his noe
turnal labors at about l o'clock a. m,
and many other times he even visited
deserted and evil-looking alleys and high
ways in the suburbs and lonely sections
OF the Mexican capital when acting as
a reporter at an advanced hour of the
night But never was he insulted by any
one, never did anybody attempt to re-
lease him Of his valuable (ahemD and
never did he feel more restless than II
he had been walking through crowded
business street in New York City in
the middle Of the day.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
SECTIONAL ELECTRIC FIXTURES

prepared by the editors Of the Scientific American
for this paper. Copyright, 49,. by Mum & Col
Much delay in securing electrical fix
lures Is obviated by the introduction of
a new idea in their manufacture. The
fixtures are made on the sectional plan,
and patrons desiring to secure a fixture
buy the parts necessary for the number
OF lights desired and assemble them to
suit their purposes. Thus with eighty-six
standard parts Il is possible to make
up nearly 1900 fixtures Of different shape
and size.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
Stranger Surprised at City.

When a foreigner walks along the prin-
cipal tboroughfares of Mexico City see
ing the sights he is astonished at the
magnificent edifices that he views. and
generally exclaims: why, didn't know
there were such wonderful buildings
here" OF course he didn't know Il;
how could he when he had never seen
them before. Take, for instance, the
post-ofice. 1t is one of the most artistic
and well finished buildings in America.
Both outside and inside 1t is well worth
looking at
There are a number of other edifices
in Mexico City, such as the National
Theater, "El Palacio de Hero" and
many Mexican private residences which
can be compared with the beautiful
buildings OF this very Capital. There are
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
A Substitute for Coal.
From Judge.

From Judge
The wise man who has saved all the
campaign literature he has received since
early In June last will find 1t a very ex-
oellent mulch to put on a lying furnace
fire in the absence OF coal. Most of 1t
will be found sufficiently inflammable
without the use of parafin or other dan
gerous aids to combustion.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
The Unborn Trait.

From Judge.
Sweet Nell, whose age is two times two,
One day upon my knee will COO
Love words, hold up her lips to kiss.
Next day she is frigid miss.
Girls must be born men to perflex
And tease and tantalIze and vex,
Because Nefrs grown-up sister, May,
Doth also treat me that same way.
-TEeg L0Ta Holiday.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29

PREPARED BY the editors Of the Scientific American
fOT this paper. Copyright 1872. By Mum & Col
Two Holsters that are claimed to hold
the worlds record for size have Just been
and placed on exhibition in the
Museum Of Natural History, New York
The larger specimen. the one on the
right, weighed. when alive. thirty-four
pounds and was nearly three feet long:
the other one weighed twenty-eight
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29

pounds. Both of these monster Holsters
were caught of the Highlands of New
Jersey, where they are said to have
played havoc with the lobster traps. cut
ting holes in them and robbing them OF
all the bait, as their bodies were too
large to get inside. Finally they were
hauled up to the surface clinging to a
trap.
The larger specimen showed many
scars. evidently from savage combats.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
The Beginning.

From Judge.
Mary-Ive just found out what was.
the origin of the harp.
John docking up from his newspaper)
Yes
Mary-It was in the Garden Of Eden.
Eve ate the apple-and msn have been
harping about 1t ever since.