by a chain in a way that it could be moved so that the wheel would run on it and thus stop the vehicle.

I don't know the particulars, and so I only speak in a general way. A patent was procured on a knife with an irregular or sawlike edge. It was recommended to cut bread, cake, etc.; could cut without much downward pressure, which made the bread, etc., soggy. Probably a good thing. A party patented an improvement, making his knife with a wave edge for the same purpose. Well, I would have compelled No. 2 to pay No. 1 a small royalty.

Have you ever seen the little tugboats doing their work, taking the big ships into dock? Do you know how they steer? They have a propeller close up to the stern; just beyond is the rudder. Both are in line with the centre. The turning of the propeller throws a strong current past both sides of the rudder and away from the tug. By turning the rudder so that the current strikes it the vessel is forced around; it acts as though pivoted in the centre, the ends going in opposite directions. In the early days they tried to move the vessel by blowing wind against the sails with a bellows stationed on the vessel. They overlooked the reaction, and were surprised that the vessel did not move.

Can you construct a box having a drawer so arranged that you could put an object in it, close and open it and have the object disappear?

I frequently meet the gentleman who got up the "Donkey Party." It certainly was amusing. The fifteen puzzle took the country by storm. Pigs in Clover was great, but too many imitations. The idea of printing animals on calico, so that they could be cut, sewed and stuffed at home was no doubt profitable.

It was clever to shape the crackers like the oysters. An Elephant or Teddy Bears brand of popcorn might take. The old sand box toys took well. They operated mechanical figures on the hour glass principle. Millions of little wire hooks have been sold to hang things on Christmas trees. A simple device to revolve the tree should sell well. A small generative battery could electric light the tree. It injures the showcase to drop the money on it, and at times it is difficult to pick up the change. The little porcupine-like rubber mat is handy. The cigar cutter is all right. A revolving needle might be used to improve the draft of the improperly made cigars; it would be more practical than the porous plasters frequently recommended on the back of the head for the same purpose.

I guess the hen, in her quill, has us all beat on toothpicks. A man who built a large stack at his mill to get a better draft for the fire had an eight-inch pipe leading from the fireplace. It met an obstruction and was divided into two four-inch pipes, one going on either side of the obstruction and thence to the stack. When the work was completed the fire did no better than before. The builder was much disappointed and puzzled. He could not understand it. Can you observe what was the matter? It should be apparent at a glance. He shut off half of the draft. An eight-inch pipe is equal to four four-inch pipes. To observe you must observe. Why do people read fiction? A lady was annoyed by her hair coming down. She finally bent the hairpin. Her husband patented the idea and they made a fortune. The idea of a paragon frame for umbrellas proved a mint. Rubber dress shields, lined, made thousands. It is said wooden shoepegs paid millions. "Truth is stranger than fiction."

Toy guns are pretty old, and mama had always been nervous over the arrows, caps, etc. I patented the harmless gun in 1883—had it fire a hollow rubber ball. I supplied the trade for twelve years, and then sold the patent for $1,200. The invention has paid in all probably $50,000, and the guns are for sale in the stores as usual. In fact, all that my patent covered was the idea of a string made fast to the rear of the plunger and extending back to the outside, on the bottom edge of the stock, so that the spring or plunger could be pulled back into position, instead of using a ramrod to push it back, as in other toy guns. Perfecting the details of this gun called for much more study than did taking out the patent. At first the end of the plunger rod would wedge in the barrel on striking the hollow ball. The end of the plunger was flat, a very small portion of the ball touched it, and hence would naturally dent and wedge. It was remedied by making the end of the plunger concave, so that in striking the ball it would come in contact with a greater surface and not dent. The point where the string, which was pulled to set the spring, came out of the stock, would split out, and we could not satisfactorily fasten on a brass plate with an eyeletted hole. This was overcome by boring the hole large and gluing in a round piece with a hole through the centre. It was then cut down in the sandpapering, and was quite unnoticeable. It worked like a charm. It was difficult to get the hollow rubber balls at a low cost: two cents each was quoted. They took a square piece of thin rubber, pinched it up with the fingers, put some water in, then put cement on the edges, placed it in an iron mold and put it in the furnace. The water turned to steam and forced the rubber in the shape of the mould; the vulcanizing would cause it to stay in position, but many would leak and not shape right. The process was improved by using tubing cut proper length and pieces punched out of a flat sheet to fit over the ends. It was a success, and few ever failed to properly shape. One gross was made at a time. They cost less than one cent each. For a while $15 per thousand was the best price quoted for the brass eagles used on the stock for ornament. These were finally secured at $6, and a number of hundred thousand were used. Seven small wood turnings were used in each gun. The first lot of one thousand of these turnings cost $7.50. They were made on a lathe by hand. Then they were secured at $2.50 per thousand, done by machine, and finally they were contracted at 70 cents per thousand. A paper tube, painted and silver bronzed, made a good barrel. I thought these details might interest. They are "all wool and a yard wide." "One fact is worth a book full of theories."

Toys present a good field for inventors. They pay well usually, and are easy to handle. You must hold your prices firmly; treat all jobbers alike, no matter whether they buy one or one hundred gross. If you favor one you offend all the rest. Be impartial. Cities are growing so large, rents are soaring so high and store space seems to be getting so crowded, possibly a fixture of store shelves could be arranged on the Ferris Wheel plan and put into position above the counter to help the situation.

Mucilage evaporates so fast. They have fountain pens. Can any of you get up a fountain mucilage pen or brush? I guess we are a little late for ink bottles and spittoons that won't spill the contents upon upsetting. A thought in mind seems to constantly annoy. Readers, no doubt, if they have the patience to read the whole of this pamphlet, will possibly wonder what it is all about. Well, they need not ponder. The student who is alive to the subject will understand; he will take the time and allow his thoughts to dwell on each little subject mentioned. I believe in as much original gray matter "horse sense" and facts as circumstances permit, that every time you bump up against it you find something out. "Sabe."

Have you ever studied the philosophy of trains going around curves. The wheels have a flange on one side and taper to the other side. They stand on the track with the flange on the inside. When they come to the curve, in which the outside rail is always set higher than the inside one, and is necessarily longer, the flange presses against it, and that wheel is running on its largest diameter while the opposite wheel is on its smallest diameter. This fact, together with the slipping, enables the outside wheel to