Omaha daily bee., 1917-10-21
AMERICANS MAKE
GLASS LIKE JENA
Sill Greater improvements in
Chemistry Ecve Led to
Development of Glass
Kitchenware.

A year or more ago Ellwood Hen
drick expressed the opinion in the
New York Times that chemistry had
not broken into society; that chemists
sometimes tread its invisible doorsills
but that the dc:ngs we:e not a SUBJ
iect Of among men and women, at
statement does not hold good today.
The New York chemistry exnIu., IN
altered the point of view and Mi.
Hendrick tells why in this words:
"An exhibit on like the present
would have been impossible ten years
ago, even if the apparatus and prod
ucts had been at hand. An observer
remarked the other day that this is
no real chemical show; there should
be a big display of leather, all kinds
OF soaps, synthetic perfumery, and 2
great variety of lacquered goods.
Ten wears ago tha, is the only kind OF
a display that would have drawn. but
the observer was wrong because 10"
day we have passed the kindergarten
and object lesson stage OF chemistry,
Instead OF great heaps OF toilet soaps
in fancy labels, there are the things
the soapmaker wants to know about
--marvelousiy designed and cast ket'
ties, drying and distillation apparatus
in which to conduct his process OF
splitting oils and fats to soap and
glycerine, for pressing and moidlnE
his soaps, and for the recovery OF his
siyccrine. II is not a scarehead ex-
hibition, but rather an opportunity
for enlightenment
laboratory Glassware.
an referring TO society ] have not
so much in mind a succession OF tea
parties and nner-dances as meetings
of bank directors and the discussion
OF men who direct affairs. ! oHer
the subject OF glassware in proof OF
my contention. "a.
Ten years ago an improved LAP
oratory glassware, made in this coun~
try, was offered on the market. Gov
ernment tests showed it to be better
than any imported. But chemists
themselves were bluffed out OF using
It by the persuasive voice of the Ger
man agent. Circumstances over which
we have had no control have demon
strated to US that a German accent Is
not of necessity the voice OF truth.
and yet there we sat, popeyed and
open-mouthed in wonder and adnira-
ton, when they told US that Jena
glass was standard" Nobody would
buy that American glass. But under
the whip of necessity we buy it now
and marvel at its merit. It really
seems as though. compared with the
German selling agent. the American
commercial traveller was a shy and
modest yioiet--a soul of whispers and
bushes. In the meantime, still greater
improvements have been made, and
these have led to the development OF
glass kitchenware and baking dishes,
which is a step forward IN household
practice. A metal dish or pan re.
fleets the heat away from the sides,
whereas a glass dish lets it through.
Therefore, glass dish saves both
heat and time in baking.
Il want to emphasize the fact that
we Americans are very like other
people and that while we are doing
pretty we'll in chemistry, the old fogy
ID plCNdlCil alhDIib uS' " hSh SAhRSl
Solvay's ammonia process Tor max"
ing soda ash was established here the
product was pure and white. For
economical reasons they packed il in
large containers. The imported soda
ash, made by the Leblanc process,
came in small containers. and il had
a yelowish tinge. We (for the old
fog,es are as much part of us as are
the clever ones) would not have it;
we wanted that yellow stain and the
small barrels because we were used
TO them. When they put little yell
low coloring matter into the soda and
packed it in small barrels we began
to buy. They do not have to do so
any more, but the practice had to
continue until a good many first-class
funerals had taken place. New
York Times