Life — April 2, 1908 — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

LIFE Some Clever Toys 'HESE illustrations are from a cata- logue of implements for use in section. ‘There are many pages, richly illustrated. These pages con- tradict the familiar statement that the animals are anesthetized and suffer no pain. If the victims are un- conscious, why all these elaborate devices? Are human beings, when under ether, clamped to the board with iron bands? ‘This first cut is mentioned in the catalogue as Operating Board “with necessary head and leg holders.” There is a promise of comfort in this board that must be quite re- assuring to the dog of average in- telligence as he is securely clamped. This New Muzzle Gag is also diverting. Your pet dog might ex- perience many delectable hours with this clever invention in his mouth. The fact of his jaws being separated to their furthest extent for a few hours—or even minutes, for that matter—would be sufficient agony in itself. To quote from the catalogue, in explaining the merits of this thing: In moving C, K upward, the mouth of the animal may be open- ed toany extent. In certain opera- tions—i.e., in the cavity of the throat, or at the base of the brain, or at the vocal chords—or when i is desired to take the photographs thereof, the tongue of the animal is seized and drawn out with the forceps Z, which is provided with a snap-spring. ‘The forceps is jammed fast by the holder H which is fastened to the guiding-pole V by means of the perforated block M. If the throat- flap (epiglottis) is to be stretched (for in- spection of the vocal chords), then an cpiglot pincers is introduced with a Pean’s forceps, and after seizing and drawing the epiglottis, is made fast with a string. The existence of this elaborate catalogue with its many cuts throws fresh light on the world-wide popula gentle sport. HERE is the shopping district. in New York now?” “Sorry I can’t tell you, sir, but I’ve been away on a two weeks’ vacation.” 20 28 35 A New Race Problem ‘CENTLY a tunnel has been bored under the River, thus bringing all that region known as Brooklyn within eight minutes of New York. This momentous fact deserves to be considered in its true light. The Brooklynites, when this remote region was first settled, composed a fierce and warlike race, nomadic in its habits, and unused to luxury in any form; but years of travelling over the Union Ferry boats gradually sapped its energies and reduced it to a condition of servitude. E plorers from Man- hattan, who succeeded from time to time in penetrating the far recesses of this benighted region, have brought back thrill- ing tales of the occasional ferocity of the natives. A Brooklyn poct, straying one day from his den, was captured only after a fierce struggle, in which several were severely wounded. A Flatbush Avenue father, whecling his baby carriage one Sunday morning, showed unexpected courage in defending his young; but, generally speaking, the Brooklynites have gradually become a peaceful and harmless folk, depending upon the simple arts of husbandry and carrying on an ex- tensive trade with the Metropolis. In the morning they have descended upon us in great hordes, some of them, overcome by curiosity and cupidity, so far forgetting their natural tim idity as to venture as far north as Twenty-third Street. They are easily attracted by gewgaws, and their women are some- times seen in the early evening with strings of pearls around their necks hurrying to prayer meetings or sewing circles. * "THE origin of the Brooklynites is lost in obscurity. Tt is supposed that the region was first occupied by the Go- wanus tribes; somewhat later the Flatbush people entered; a fierce battle ensued; the territory was then divided and the limits perpetually defined. Since then there have been occa- sional uprisings among the more ferocious real estate dealers, fighting over boundary lines, but the character of the people as a whole has made continuous war impossible. The amusements of the Brooklynites are characteristic of their ingenuousness. Once a year, di ing the warm summer season, they gather to witness a ball game, and once during the winter solstice they have their national festival, consisting of an afternoon tea given for the benefit of the Long Island Historical Society. At this sacred festival hymns are sung, some of the principal chiefs make addresses, and an epic of Will Carleton, the national poet, is read. ‘The meeting then adjourns, and by nine o'clock all are at rest. This brief sketch of the Brooklynites would not be com- plete without mention of their numerous sacred rites, which are described at length by almost every traveller. On Sabbath mornings these simple folk gather together temples, the number and extent of which i ‘Their religion is polythei ing from the Hard Shell Baptist (its origin apparently in a settle- ment called Oyster Bay) to high church ‘opal. As to whether they believe in a future life or not * * comicbooks.com