Boon For Housekeepers

1901

An ingenious inventor recently noticed that housekeepers frequently find it very difficult to keep their clotheslines in proper position, and, investigating further, he learned that all those who have occasion to use ropes or cords are often somewhat puzzled when they are called upon to tighten them or to maintain them in a strained position.

Consequently he set his brains to work and invented an instrument by means of which any rope or cord can be easily and securely tightened and held in position. The instrument consists of an iron rod, at one end of which are two other small, perpendicular rods, while at the other end is a wooden handle, similar to a crank, and which serves the same purpose. The slack portion of the cord is rolled around two perpendicular rods, and then by simply moving the crank the rope can be tightened to any extent desired. As soon as the crank begins to work the rope begins to wind itself around the rods, and when it is sufficiently tightened the free end can be securely fastened by means of a prop.

Blow-Line Fishing

1900

Advantages Not Possessed by "Invisible" Line Methods

"Some fishermen dislike a heavy line," says an old fisherman, "believing that it is more easily seen, and consequently alarming to the fish. I am convinced that this is an erroneous impression, however, as if a proper length of leader be used and the fly correctly handled it is impossible for the fish to see the line, not to mention the enormous advantage in accuracy and distance obtainable in the cast, particularly in a wind.

"A line which has never to my knowledge been used locally is known as the blow-line. I should have tried it long since for lake fishing were it not for the difficulty in obtaining one and my failing to remember this fact until too late each year. The line is constructed of very loosely woven silk, and is very light and porous. The fisherman proceeds to that shore of the lake from which the wind blows, armed with a very long, stiff pole (not rod), some live grasshoppers, willow or May flies and a small hook attached to a long gossamer leader. The bait is impaled on the hook and the pole given a quick jerk upward, throwing the line directly overhead, where the wind catches it and blows line, bait and all well out into the lake, where the bait struggles in an enticing manner. I believe the method to be a deadly one, and hope to try it some day, if my memory improves."


Dyed Birds

A resident of Presourg, Austria, after years of experimenting, has succeeded in coloring the plumage of birds by the administration of food mixed with aniline dyes. In this way he has produced red and blue pigeons, and has imparted to canaries all the tints of the rainbow.


Only Half?

Half the suicides in France are caused by losses at horse races.

Stout But Wanting To Look Thin? Work On Your Collar

1903

THE FACE AND THE COLLAR.

Easy Means by Which a Stout Man May Make Himself Look Thin.

Men who do not want to look any fatter in the face than they can help have an easy means of accomplishing their purpose. Not all of them are aware of the effect that may be created by the form of a collar or cravat.

"The stout man who wants to look as thin as he can," said the haberdasher's clerk, "ought to wear a tie of the kind known as the four-in-hand. Preferably it should be dark in color and drawn tight. That carries down the line of the face and lengthens it to a degree that tends to make the face look thinner.

"Another aid to making a man look thin is in the height of his collar. Stout men who want to look thin should wear high collars and close ones. Any collar that opens in front makes one look stout under nearly every circumstance. Such collars are becoming to the thin men.

"The fat man should avoid the kind of tie that has a horizontal effect. This will add pounds to his appearance — in his face, at least.

"On the contrary, this cross effect will make the thin man look stout. The broad plastron scarves, as they are called, have little effect on a man's looks one way or the other. When he wears them it is the collar that makes the difference.

"He should therefore see that he wears a high one that does not open if he wants to look as thin as possible, whereas, if he wants to seem stouter, an open collar will produce that effect for him. — New York Sun.

—Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Iowa, March 5, 1903, page 6.