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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 9, 1919)
SOM ETHING TO T H IN K ABOUT An interesting feature of an exhibit in Washing ton to demonstrate the value of American dyes was a contrast between cloth colored with American and Ger man dyes; in every case the result showed the super iority of the American product. “ American dye-mak ers are now making dyes equal in every respect to those of German manufacture,” declared Dr. Louis Matos, of the National Aniline and Chemical Co., who is in charge of the exhibit. It costs $2000 to train a man for a second lieuten ancy, said Gen. P. C. Harris in a speech before rep resentatives of the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States in session at Wash ington recently. Upon the military schools of the country depends in a large measure the future Ameri can army, Gen. Harris said. Gen William Verbeck, of the Manlius, N. Y., military training school, was elected president of the association. Secretary Lane proposes to use these replies in pre senting to congress a request lor an initial appropria tion of $100,000,000 on which to begin the work to gether with other improvement projects. The time is not far distant when flights by airplane from New York to London will be accomplished in 24 hours, in the opinion of Col. W. A. Bishop, a Can adian aviator who has 72 German planes to his credit. “ I foresee the formation of an aerial merchant marine in America,” he said. “ I foresee the time when air ships will cross each other’s paths by night or by day in that vast expanse between the sky and the Atlantic. I foresee a time when the airplane industry in America will not be confined to making planes to shoot down Huns, but for passengers to travel to distant parts. I foresee the time, and soon, too, when it will take not more than 12 hours to reach London from New foundland by airplane. American aviators are en dowed with incomparable fortitude. The country adapts itself to flying because of its wonderful climate. Word that all civil service employes who gave up The distances are long and enhance the probability of their jobs to enter the army or navy will be reinstated superabundant interest in future flights.” in their old positions as soon as they are dischaiged was given out by the civil service commission. In TH E TH IM BLE recognition of the services rendered by Uncle Sam’s employees who entered the military or naval service The thimble which is worn on one of the fingers in during the present war, the commission stated, special sewing and used for pushing the needle through the effort will be made “ to assist these men in securing cloth is quite an ancient invention, though no-one suitable positions in the government service rather knows just when or by whom the idea was first con than leave upon them the entire burden of finding ceived. It is said that such a device was found in the suitable vacancies.” ruins of Herculaneum and it is known that the Chi The Periodical Cicada, commonly known as the 17- nese made and used it long ago. According to tradition, the thimble was invented in year locust, will appear in laige numbers in parts of the United States during the year 1919, the depart Europe by Nicholas van Benschoten, a resident of ment of agriculture warns. The states particular Amsterdam, in the 17th century. In 1693 John Loft ly affected will be Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Illi ing, a Dutchman who had established himself in Lon nois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachu don some years previously, obtained a patent on a setts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Car thimble-making machine. He set up an establish olina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennes ment near London and with his machine turned out see, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wiscon thimbles on a commercial scale, making them from sin and District of Columbia. The department pre various metals. His business in time came to be quite dicts that the coming year will be one of the worst lo a profitable one. Thimbles are usually made by machines from brass, cust vears on record. The department of the interior, with the co-operation steel, aluminum, gold, silver or some other metal. of the war and navy departments, is conducting a gen Ordinarily they are simply caps that fit over the end eral investigation of the attitude of men in the service of the finger, with depressions stamped into the outer toward the plan of providing them with work and surface to engage the eye end of the needle and pre homes on reclaimed lands after their discharge. vent its slipping. The more expensive ones of gold Booklets containing questions and answers which give and silver, are often beautifully engraved and chased. The English at first called the instrument a “ thumb- a complete and concise description of the plan are being sent to the various camps of the army, navy bell” because it was worn on the thumb as sail and marine corps throughout the country. Post-card ors still wear the thimbles they use in sewing sails. questionnaires are attached which men who are inter Gradually the name was changed to “ thumble,” then ested are asked to fill out and mail to the department. it became “ thummle” and finally “ thimble.”
