The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-07-08
BY DIR. CHARLES NJ A. SINE

BY DR.. CHARLES NJ. A, SINE
Chemical Director Of the E. / du Point de
Nemours & Co.
written Especially for N1A Service and
The Times
MODERN life owes most Of its
4V1 possibilities TO chemistry.
Chemistry has been able to release
man from purely manual drudgery
and free him to lead life OF the
mind and spirit, rather than life
Of bondage to physical labor which
was the lot of our ancestors.
The clock We glance at on awaken
ing owes its luminous dial, its
crystal, its compensatory move
ments, even its fabrikoid case-cov-
ering to chemistry. Our pajamas
are rayon, the first artificial fiber
produced by man, dyed with chem
ical dyes whose brilhancy lasts as
long as the fabric.
The sheets of our bed and the
coverlets and blankets all owe either
color or softness to chemistry; even
the bedsprings themselves were pro-
duced by metallurgical chemistry.
The tiled floor and the pyroxylin
paneled walls of the bathroom are
chemical products. The porcelain
enameled tub, the various fixtures
and the mirror are all produced By
some wizardry of the chemist
Not only the razor We shave With
but the brush and shaving soap have
been improved by chemistry.
TINE suit which We wear is chenii-
L cally dyed by the new fast dyes
which have done so much to inn
prove the wear Of fabrics The but
tons on it are nodded from a plas-
tic. chemically produced. Our neck
tie is very likely rayon.
The ink and the paper of our
daily newspaper are both chemical
products. The morning glass Of
water is cleared of germs by the
chemist.
Our ham or bacon is preserved
chemically and shipped and kept in
/ refrigerated state; again chemi-
cal triumph. since the very ice is
chemically produced.
Our bread is kept sanitary by a
transparent cellophane wrapping
which also keeps it moist.
The kitchen where breakfast is
prepared is as much a laboratory
product as the bathroom. The pipes
the taps, all metal ware, even the
aluminium. glass and enarneled cook
ing utensils owe their shining per-
lection to the chemist.
The gas range is chromium plated
to keep it rustless. The walls are
cheerfully colored in a washable
lacquer. All the furniture of the
house in fact is enameled with this
extremely wearable finish.
I'm leaving the house to get our
" car, we slip on rubbers and
I perhaps a raincoat. Both have been
chemically treated; the rubber to
prevent it deteriorating with the
action of air and heat and the rain
coat with a material which leaves it
rainproof and yet light in weight
Our car is entirely chemical, from
the special "gas," which makes it
run smoothly, to the waterproof top
and the durable colored enamels.
The batteries, the tires, even the
button on the horn are the results
of chemistry, the latter a chemical
resin.
In the business mans Office the
telephone and dictaphone both re-
mind us of the hundreds of chem
lists constantly experimenting to
improve those materials.
The very Office building itself.
put up in record time, owes its
rapid completion to the fact that
dynamite has increased greatly the
amount and availability Of metals
and minerals, as compared with
hand labor production in mines.
TINE fountain pen we sign our
L letters with is a chemical prod
uct, just being made of a plastic
called pyralin. The shoe paste,
which the shine boy is using on our
shoes contains a chemical dye and
other elements; the box toe Of the
shoe is Dumfold, a chemical product
which preserves the shape Of the
shoe.
At dinner the various tropical and
western fruits, vegetables, the game
and meats are available because Of
the refrigerated cars used in ship
ping.
Even the matches or lighter we
use afterward on our cigarets,
cigars or pipes, are chemical prod
ucts If we pick up magazine, we
remember that the colored photo
graphs are the triumph of a chem
| list.
If we go to the movies instead
If staying at home, we are treated
|, a thousand chemical productions
which make the talking and the
moving picture possible