FORTUNES FOR TRIFLES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 169, 18 July 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

FORTUNES FOR TRIFLES.

Many a fortune has been made out Of trifles. Probably the simplest of inventions on record is that of a gentleman named Dennison, who was the inventor of the cardboard ring which is found round tho tying-holo of parcel tags.

Mr. Dennison, desiring to send a parcel away, and knowing that speedy delivery was not usually inhanced by the loss of the tag, owing to the tearing of the tying hole, hit upon the idea of fixing pasteboard rings on each side of the hole.

The idea being a success, he applied far a patent, with the result that some thousands of pounds were made out of that lucky half a minute's thought.

The inventor of the universally known metal-capped shoes for children was an ingenious fanner whose children—not unlike other childrenwere constantly kicking holes in the toes of their boots. In order to prevent this the farmer cut out two strips of copper and fastened them over the toes and between the uppers, and thus saved the price of many a pair of boots. On the advice of a friend, he patented tho idea, and netted about £1.5.000.

Children's toys have presented a wide field for inventors, and a considerable sum was made out of tho now famous children's building blocks with dovetailed edges.

Upwards of £10,000 was made by the inventor of the returning ball ; while the "flying top," which had a rush of popularity, enabled the inventor to live in the lap of luxury for the remainder of his life.

Some time ago a puzzle appeared upon the market which took the country by storm." It consisted of a couple of hooks, which when put to gether in a particular way, defied all attempts to extricate them, unless the person had seen it done. The origin of this puzzle is peculiar. A painter, reaching for a pair of hooks got them so entangled that it wag some time before he could get them apart. Thinking that the hooks thus entangled were likely to puzzle Others as well as himself, he had drawings made, and a patent was taken out, with the result that by the merest chance, between £5,000 and £6,000 found its way into the pocket of that lucky painter.

Says an English tourist—" I was travelling by rail the other day, and at one of the stations we stopped at four farmers entered. They were all big burly men, and completely filled up the seat on "one side of the compartment. At the next station on the route the carriage door opened to admit a tall, cadaverous individual with a girth something like a lamp-post. He endeavoured to wedge himself in between two of the farmers, but finding it a difficult operation he said to one of them—" Excuse me , sir, you must sit up a bit. Each seat is intended to accomodate five persons, and according to Act ol Parliament you are only entitled ta oighteen inches of space." " Aye, aye, my freend," replied the farmer, " that's a' very quid for you that's been built that wye ; but ye canna blame mc it I ha'ena been conatruckit according £q Act o' Parlia-