USE ARTIST IN CORK AFRENCHMAN, coming from one of the southern provinces of the republic, has recently attracted much attention in the famous "Latin Quarter" of Paris by his very ingenious, and indeed remarkable carvings in cork. On account of the peculiar texture of the material in which he works, not only must he possess artistic cunning but an unusual patience and care as well. If you have ever attempted to trim down a piece of cork to serve as a stopper for a bottle you will have some realization of the significance of this statement. He is very versatile in the character of his work-the sea, the jungle, the great monuments of civilization being equally well represented. Whether carving ship, elephant, or Pantheon, he is invariably successful in his results. As a patriotic Frenchman he is especially proud of his reproduction of the Pantheon, the structure in which the great of the nation find their final resting place. Among the most celebrated men buried here is the realist, Zola, as famous for his championship of the unfortunate. Captain Dreyfus, as for his writings. The artist first lays out his pattern very accurately, giving to this part of the work the utmost skill and attention, as, of course, all subsequent results depend absolutely upon these initial steps in the work. BOILING EGGS IN A HOT SPRING IN MEXICO. REPRODUCING THE PANTHEON OF PARIS IN CORK. IN LIVING CLOSE TO NATURE N an isolated part of the upper Rio Grande border region of Mexico is located a remarkable group of thermal springs, the waters of which are said to contain wonderful medicinal properties. Although the springs are visited by many health-seekers annually there is an entire absence of hotel and living accommodations at the place or within a distance of fifty miles of it. The nearest railroad point is fifty miles away. The visitors must provide their own tents unless they sleep upon the bare ground with the canopy of heaven for a covering, as most of them do. They must all shift for themselves when it comes to cooking and eating. The cooking is done almost exclusively in the hot water that comes from the springs. There are hundreds of the little streams of water trickling from the rock formation and forming pools in the arroyo. The temperature of the water ranges from 75 to 188 degrees Fahrenheit. In the absence of modern bathing accommodations the water is utilized for that purpose by shoveling out a hollow in the earth and using it for a bath tub. The efficacy of MACHINE-MADE MAN THAT TALKS, SINGS. WHISTLES AND LAUGHS. AND HIS CREATOR. these thermal springs was known to the Indians as far back as there is any historical record of the upper border region. In the early days many of the tribes of the Southwest used the hot water as a remedy for various kinds of physical ills. The nearest town to the springs is Candelaria, six miles distant, on the Texas side of the Rio Grande. The illustration shows three of these health seekers dipping eggs for breakfast into the pot always kept boiling by Nature's hand. The free spirit of the open air seems to possess them. MACHINE-MADE MAN TALKS ABERLIN inventor has, after many years, succeeded in making an artificial man, "Occultus," who can walk and make other human movements, such as speaking, singing, whistling, laughing, etc. Any person in public can give this artificial person orders and Occultus will follow them out. He obeys every word such as "go," "stop," etc. Some other person tells him to turn his eyes toward right and he so does. Another tells him to turn around and he does so. Occultus can also speak and answer questions, and is able to sing, laugh, and whistle. Occultus is not an illusion or a hokuspokus trick. He can be placed in a throng and wherever he stands, on wood, stone or carpets, he can always act. The secret of Occultus is with the inventor alone, a Mr. Whitman. POWER IN JELLY FORM THE photo shows a piece of solidified petroleum which is described as a perfectly transparent product possessing the same colors as the petrols used for its manufacture. It is made in the form of a jelly of sufficient consistency to be carried and handled like any other solid body. It can easily be cut into pieces and may be conveyed in cardboard boxes without danger. The physical properties are the same as in liquid petrol, evaporation is very easy and with the same heating power its inflammability and heating power is very intense as also is its carburetting power. When ignited it does not melt but burns like wood or coal. hardly do justice to the charming effect of the fountain shown in the illustration when used as a centerpiece upon a dinner table. The endless variety of colored flashes emanating from the glass rock in the center set innumerable liquid rubies, sapphires, and PSYCHE IN AN ELECTRIC FOUNTAIN FOR TABLE DECORATION. diamonds dancing in every direction and streams of glistening spray pour over the figure of Psyche as she stoops to catch the reflection of her face in the water below. All this is done by simply turning a switch for the fountain is operated by electricity being connected with the lighting fixtures by means of a cord. A centrifugal pump driven by a small electric motor supplies the water from the basin within to a multiplicity of nozzles surrounding the figure in the center. After the streams have spent their force the water returns to the basin to be pumped up again as before. No plumbing is required as all the water used is contained within the basin of the fountain. Electric lights within the glass rock cause it to throw out many colored lights through its variegated sides. As an artistic decoration for a reception room, hall or library the fountain is most attractive and the scenting of the SWIMMING POOL ON THE POCANTICO HILLS. ESTATE OF JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, NEAR TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK. Steps lead down under the water at one end. Beneath the coping stones a pipe, pierced at intervals by fan-shaped outlets, is run. This serves to spread the water and throw it toward the center of the pool in a perfect mist, so that when the sun is shining the pool is filled with a myriad of rainbows. INTERIOR OF THE PERGOLA ON THE ROCKEFELLER When this photo was taken the vines intended to cover it nights of summer. water adds another rare and entertaining feature seldom found in a house decoration of this character but which modern luxury now seems to demand. As a means of entertainment for a sick person the fountain fulfills a happy mission, while the addition of a mild antiseptic to the water renders the air of the room sterile. It also cools the atmosphere and collects the dust from the air, depositing it in a strainer from which it can easily be removed from time to time as required. The fountain shown in the illustration is 26 inches high with a base 12 by 16 inches. The basin is constructed of bent art glass with a base and figure of bronze with appropriate finishing touches to round out the design. The whole presents a most pleasing and artistic effect to the eye. NO MORE CRANKING WHEN one is cranking an auto en gine, if the compressed charge in one of the cylinders happens to be ignited before the piston of that cylinder is ready to begin its downward stroke, the result is known as a "back-fire," or in other words the explosion in the cylinder turns the engine for a part of a revolution in the reverse direction. If the man at the crank has a good grip on its handle he is likely to be jerked violently downward and there is danger of his being injured in several ways as a result. There are numberless cases of sprained and broken wrists resulting from backfiring and not a few of injury to the face from violent collision with the car's radiator. There is not sufficient space to describe all the devices that have recently been placed upon the market for this purpose, but one is worthy of consideration because of its ingenuity and the near approach to the principle upon which the automobile engine normally operates. As will be seen by reference to the THE MOST POWERFUL MAGNET IN THE WORLD SUPPORTING A GLASS BOWL BY MEANS OF This magnet is at the United States Government Bureau of Standards. Washington. |