Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, November 18, 1900, Page 17

L4 . \ i ’ | . | November 18, 1000, THE Modern Inventions To Of all the admirable comforts and con veniences evolved in this day of progress for the special benefit of invali nothing quite equals the pivoted bed that enables even the most handicapped individual to lic flat on his or her back and enjoy all th effect of a change of position. This new invention is just an ordinary, lightly-built metal bed with a springy wire mattress that, by a touch of the nurse's hand be raised or lowered, tipped this way or that, giving the invalid prisoner all the delightful sense of movement and change witbout really altering the position in th least. This is a blessing to persons with broken limbs and injured backs, who are for an over-long holiday in bed and dare not move as they hope to grow well and strong. This delightful bed is fitted with special springs and castors so artfually adjusted that it can be pushed about a room without ever so slightly jarring the can booked wh occupant, and yet affording a constant variety in location. Even the relief ot occupying different rooms from time to time is now possible, a relief which means 80 much in cheerfulness and strength to sick folks who have to endure a long siege of invalidism. While the pivoted bed been made especially for those who are forced to a prolonged rest on their backs, there have been many improvements put forth lately in behalf of the invalid, who need suffer no such test of endurance and patience, but can sit up a little, for meals Comforts for the B qa The method in giving a patient an ercet position in bed was the liberal use of pillows to form a back-rest, else a hard board, with an casel support, was placed behind the sick person, a pillow put on this and the body was propped into just the posture that threw all the strain on the base of the oid spine. Now an excellent appliance has been brought out that does away with pillows entirely. The new back-rest, for uge in bed, is cushioned, built high enough to afford a head supporter, has tufted projecting ears, like the cosy granny chair, to cut off any draughts, and well cushioned arms extend on both sides to give the patient comfort for her elbows. Better still, this back-rest is so arranged that the invalid can sit or partially recline at ang angle and govern the position herself by merely working a small lever at one side, which throws the broad supporting board backwards or forwards as the need may be. These details in mechanism may not seem important to the strong and sturdy, but they mean everything in the comfort of a sick person, who will also find the greatest con- tentment in the use of the four-legged smartly ornamented meal tray that is now perfected for invalid use. There have been meal trays in use before this time, but none g0 cleverly provided with conveniences nor 80 cheerfully and artistically ornamented as those now purchasable. Really charming ones are made of mahogany inlaid with lighter woods in Chippendale patterns, others are treated with decoration done with hot irons and the design then colored, and excellent ones there are for use both as meal trays, card, chess, backgammon and chiceker boards Exceedingly pretty dinner stands are now being made of wicker, stained green, brown or o cheerful cherry red with pockets at the corners and along the sides into which the salt, pepper boxes, etc., will fit and prevent that irritating restlessness with which in- animate objects are sometimes possessed, For the bed-ridden invalid, who creeps out to the comparative freedom of sofa life, there are possibilities of great relief in the new tufted spring couch, the long seat and headrest of which is artfully hinged to admit of many changes in the sick person's position. It can be adjusted to support a weak back, to raise or lower the head and the whole cushioned top of the sofa can be also lifteo off to slip into a wheeled spinal chair that the patient occupies while stretched at full length, Fresh Adr for Invalids, Excellent as these contrivances are they pale, however, almost into insignificance beside the value and virtue of the invalid's motor carriage. These were first built in England, but are now being made in this country. The carriage itself is built very nearly on the lines of an ample easy bath chair, or yet more nearly on the model of an exceeding small low-swung phaeton, There is a hood to pull up protectingly above and about the invalid chauffeur, a large wool apron draws up and buttons smoothly over the knees and the motive power and steering gear are stored for- ward under the gracefully curving dash- board, Enough gas or electric power can be stored In one of these little carriages to last for ten or twelve miles, and what with specially tempered springs, rubber tires and care- fully considered cushions the occupant of such a vehicle is free to come and go at will about a garden or park roads without the least jolting or discomfort from the weather, Women as “Signal Men” When the suburban, through and freight 'rains which run out of the Union station, Chicago, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railway fly past certain of the “ateh towers of “signal blocks” scattered along the way the levers controlling the Semaphores which direct the train engl- neers how to proceed are operated by Aid Sick Folk women. Miss Angie B Galnes s the day and Miss ‘Teresa prew the mght operator at Berwyn, 1L, with Miss Lizzie Allen as alternate, or Uextra Miss Alice Fur niss 18 “block operator’ at Grossdale, being Heien MeKirhan and the sig Miss Adel block, which nignt. Miss looks after the key nals at Western Springs, ana Wurz keeps guard at the N I8 near Aurora, ‘the “block operator,” whether man or wotan, must be, above all, an expert tele graph operator I'hen a rather severe and carching medical examination must be un the apphicant ftor rail cmployment is aliowed to “post up’ the “extra hist Women are employea ratiroad whenever this scems feasi because the salaries they command ar a little smaller than these paid to men for the services. ‘Lhe new operator al ways begins with nignt ducy, the day jobs, talling by right to the ch of (he young women mentioned he pi many a long night in the lonely signal box, nigh above the tracks and the world of sleeping men and womien. None will admit having been at all scared, nervous, or timid when in that situation Although each girl operator works twelve hours a day and seven days in the week the year round, with the ex ception of a two weeks' vacation, the block operators like their work. There is little to fear, they contend, since they can and do lock themselves safely in their towers au will, and ther re many advantages. Above all, they are, in a great degree, their own on duty at telegrapn dergone before new Wiy o Ly the bie, sulle desirabie, as most older employes., sed superintendents, and there is no one at hand to “boss.” “We are alone and comparatively inde- pendent in our own little oflices,”” says Mis Gaines, who has been a ‘“block operator for over eight years, “thus being able to find a great many spare moments for read- ing, writing and even fancy work. We also have the opportunity of making our sur- roundings neat and homelike we as as please, There are musical instruments and piles of music in several of the “block towers' over which girl operators reign; growing plants flourish in the windows of nearly all, The girl operators, in the intervals of keep- ing a record of all trains passing in eithe direction, watching and changing the signals, making notes of the numbers of all engines, “clearing’ their particular section of track and pertorming all the other light but important and multifarious duties which fall to their share, take great pride in keep- ing their quarters neat. The Northwestern railroad at one tlme employed women in a similar capacity, but the six women on the Aurora branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railway are the only ones now doing this work in or about Chicago. Boston's Busiest Woman Boston has among its citizens the busiest woman in this country, if her wealth and freedom from the necessity of doing the work in which she takes so much satistac- tion be considered. She is worth a quarter of a million of dollars and made the money recognizing the direction that business in a certain part of the city was going to take, Boylston street was a residential thor- oughfare when she first became acquainted with 1t. After a while the idea took pos- session of her that business was coming in that direction, She had acquired money enough to become the owner of a house aud she decided to convert it into a shop. She went to see the carpenters and builders and bought every piece of woodwork and glass that was required in making the change from an old-fashioned home to a new-fashioned shop. She inspected the work us it proceeded and paid off the men every Saturday night as they filed through her kitchen, When this undertaking had turned out cording to her wishes after some delay and trying waiting, she got another house and had that turned into smart shops with plate glass windows and every other feature to attract the merchant who wanted the best quarters and could afford to pay for them, She got a long lease on a third hous fter a while and altered that just she had the others, ving the same close attention to the practical side of the work. When all the changes were made she did not hire a janitor to look after her buildings, nor did she hand over the man- agement of them firm of 1 estate dealers. She remained in charge so prac- tically that to this day nobody can control them but herself. She scrubs the stairways as to a herself, she washes the windows and she has carried the bricks from the wagon to the sidewalk they were to repair. She lives in an uncecupied basement of one of the houses and through her kitchen and dining room passes everybody who comes to the upper rooms of the house, through the basement, ery detail of the management of the property comes under her personal control She began to take this close personal charge of her property when her first house was altered into a business building and economy was at first her object. Later she continued the work in the wiuy because found it interesting now that her property is valued at quarter of a milllon of dollars result of this industry, she same and nearly a , chiefly as a finds nothing she ILLUSTRATED BEE. BLOUSE JACKET OF FFUR extraordinary in the fact that she should continue to work so hard. There is no trace of the miser in her con- duct and there are many instances of her generosity, which is especially likely to show itself toward her own sex. So there is no question of her parsimony, in spite of the way in which she lives. Sometimes her generosity to women in business has proved an expense to her, although she is proud of the fact that since the day she first went into the real estate business no- body has lost a cent through her. Southern Ventures The perusal of the following furnish information to those persons in Venezuela who smile when American cap- ital and cnterprises are spoken of, says the Venezuelan Herald. Let them then know that the Mcniteur Officiel du Comme Francais says that of the 13,200 kilometers of Iroad 11,400 are American; that of the 1,930 mines in exploitation, 1,500 are worked lines will with capital of the same nation; that of the 0 employes of the American rail roads, only 1,030 are the sons of Uncle Sam, and the others are natives the country; that one bank in every thr is American; that the commerce, which used to be monopolized by the French, Spanish and Germans, is now being fought for by the Americi ns M. Signoret of foreign trade: “French, English, Germans and Amer- icans, we shall all find ourselves competing harder than ever, “We have on our side past successes, ac- quired strength; the Germans cially the English, have at their disposal enormous capital and great audacity, to the Americans, in addition to these ele- ments, they have in their the prox The following are the words of councilor of the French board ind espe- favor —— imity of their country—five days the facil ities offered by their low tariff, their enter spirt and the which the commercial and industrial American peo ple shower on their pioneers abroad. They have another enormous advantag namely, that in the United States Mexi business is for; this they under stand, quickly investigate and exceute. In I'rance months, and sometimes year elapse before a hearing or investigation can be obtained for a Mexican affair, prising resources also sought “In a word, Mexico has been made known and developed by the Americans, who, thanks to their 11,400 kilometers of rail- road, have cnabled the wealth of the coun try to be exploited. The day General Por firio Diaz and his minister, Pacheco, gave them 120 concessions, of which only 107 have seen the light, he served his country, for he encouraged a practical people, who have sgowed the land freely with gold What Porfirio Diaz did for the Americans he has tried to do on many occasions for the Krench, but they have turned a deat car to him and have preferred the Trans vaal, but they have time yet to show a little initiative."” Coming from a Frenchman, clothed with an oflicial character, these words should cavse reflection in certain government of- ficers who believe that up to the present time the United States have not gone cut of themselves nor invested their capital abroad. May these lines reproduced in the interests of their country not allow them to remain any longer in ignorance Living Fashion Models Blouse juckets of fur will be a distinguish- ing feature of this winter's The one pictured is of superb chinchilla, with a gray chine sash and ribbon wraps crepe de atin \FORTICULT URE. BUILDING e HORTICULTURE BUILDING AT PANAME RICAN XPOSITION, BUFFALO JARRIAGE AND EVENING WRAP to mwatch run through big silk rings that encirele both wrists and neck A sensible and handsome carriage and evening wrap of long-haired brown fur, cut after the newest cape pattern and lined with yellow brocade, is shown in the ac- companying Rode picture, in a kreight Car The crew ol @ tusl Ircigll rain on lbe Ledigu valiey Tauivad, Tedes (ue Lulia Uuipula Ledgel, vl @ yuulg wuldan ol WP UL @& bux Cal @ bUUKL ulslalice west ol Lallcuoulyg, N, J LU WOl was Ubabie L0 Bee, baviug beed biluucd by Cluders Loat Lew 1Pl e sUck 0L Lhe 10CUoLUIVe ulaw- g e Uala. Cloucued close Lo Lbe tp Ol Lbe cal, sbe Was Chugiug W Lbe toul buald, dUe Was ldhed Lo (he J0ComuUve aud DIVUEUL L0 lds 0l WLCH 8O el by (bat CIly pelective MUIer, an wicel iu Lue eid- PIUY 0L We Falloaa Cuinpany, peaced lae WOLLML ULAEr altest, ol Lhe chalge Ul llegal rding. aciled trom ber eiilbie eapericuce ou (He 1asl-lioVILg Wrall, e Prisoucl was LIOUBLUL W0 be delucuted, AL Was waluly on LUl accoulit that she Was laken W the lockup, AL the staddon bouse, alier sbhe bad Deel periilied o rest abd wash tue dirt Lol ber lace and eyes, Lbe Youlg woluan BaVe @l account oL ber wp. Alieutown and Sle bad Sle sald her houme that ber natue Wis Lot Wius Malue dleel, been Lo New Yok alid bad Ured ol tbe big CIly., Lougiug o ol bacs Lolue and uot LAVILE ouey Lo pay ber lale, sbhe decided Lo sleal & ride ou @ freight train, as she bad olten read of wen and boys dulng. Walking W Newark, she chimbed on a wreight car. she barely bad tiwe o tie her bat tast to [ sacque she wore when the train began o wove. lu a wowent or Lwo wmore ILowus travellug at a high rate ot speed. Lhe wind chilled ber and pearly swepl her frow her perch, but she clung to the toot- board, Aller Toad her short having learned the story the rall- ollicials withdrew the charge agalnst and she received a ticket o her howe. White House is Rickety “In the plan for building a new house for the president elsewhere than on the pres- ent site it has been proposed to utilize the preseuat wansion for oflices,"” writes Colonel Theodare A, Bingham, U, 8. A., in the Ladic Home Journal, “One plea therefor lias been that the historie building should be left as it is, This is certainly to be in sted on But it s sald the mansion is too pure a plece of architecture to be marred by additions. This, however, is a specious argument, since the original design con- templated side additions, and if the build g in its present state were used as otlices It would be wrecked in five or six years Those hiave no experience with public buildivgs or with this building in particular have no conception of the i president's oflice It who wear and tear on surpasses that on any other office in the country The pres ent oexccutive mansion was lightly built, and s already expensive to keep in proper repair Its floor beams are not strong enough to endure office use. Great difhi- culty has arisen in the past with the few rooms now used the president’'s execu- tive oflices, and great watchfulness has to be constantly excrcised, Several times the floors have threatened to break thr ugh Ihe stairs have already broken down, «ne flight being now supported by @& chain Still, to remodel for office use only, the whole interior of our historic executive mansion would be not only a very expen sive matter, but would fail to meet the re- quirements of the case, and also, it is be- lieved, the approval of the country at large,"