the sectional or
division plates met with in other spiral car springs. A greater
and easier movement is therefore obtained. These springs can, it
is claimed, compete in price with any spring in market, and are
guaranteed by the manufacturers. Patented through the Scientific
American Patent Agency, December 27, 1870, by Albert Potts, whom
address for further information, No. 490 North Third street,
Philadelphia, Pa.

* * * * *

PORTABLE WRITING AND COPYING CASE.

This device is the invention of A. G. Buzby, of Philadelphia, Pa. It
is a combined writing and copying case. Besides the usual recesses
or chambers for pen, ink, paper, etc., it is provided with a book of
copying paper, in which copies of important letters may be made, by
damping the letters in the usual way, and pressing them between the
leaves of the copying book; or the transfer paper may be used, so that
the letter will be copied as it is written, if preferred.

[Illustration]

* * * * *

HOW WALKING STICKS ARE MADE.

Sticks are manufactured both from large timber of from two to six
feet girth, and from small underwood of about the thickness of a man's
thumb. The timber, which is chiefly beech, is first sawed into battens
of about three feet in length and as many inches in width; and
from each of these battens two square sticks, with square heads are
afterwards cut in opposite directions, so that the middle portion
is waste wood. The corners of each are afterwards rounded off by a
planing process called "trapping," and the square head is reduced, by
a small saw, to a curve or rectangular bend, so as to form a handle.
When the sticks are brought in this way to the exact size and pattern,
they are polished with great care, are finely varnished, and packed
in boxes or bundles for the market. Many sawn sticks, however, are
supplied with bone and horn handles, which are fastened on with glue;
and then of course there is less wood waste, as a larger number of
them may be cut from one batten.

A very different process takes place in the manufacture of sticks
from small underwood, in which there is no sawing required. The rough
unfashioned sticks, which are generally of hazel, ash, oak and thorn,
are cut with a bill in the same way as kidney bean sticks, and are
brought to the factory in large bavins or bundles, piled on a timber
tug. There must of course, be some little care in thei