Popular Science Monthly 



431 



described. The second, which is more 

 accurate, is to put the papers into pile? 

 of about the same degree of excellence and 

 then to compare the specimens in each 

 pile with one another and with the stand- 

 ard. Still more trustworthy results may be 

 obtained by having three persons work 

 simultaneously by either of the above 

 methods; at least two should agree upon 

 the rating. 



The preparation of the scale involved 

 many difficulties. This was especially true 

 in getting equal gradations between the 

 eight divisions. Since writing is intended 

 to be read, legibility was made the basis; 

 it is a striking fact that as legibility 

 improves so does appearance. The legi- 

 bility was determined from the length of 

 time required to read the sample under 

 consideration. In all 15,789 accurately 

 timed readings by ten paid investigators 

 were made with 2,81'/ different samples. 



An analysis of samples of writing making 

 a good appearance, but having a low degree 

 of legibility as shown by the _^ 



tests disclosed the fact that " 



the most common short 

 coming is the crowd- 

 ing together of 

 words on a line; 

 next in importance 

 is too little space 

 between the lines. 

 Lifting the pen in 

 the middle of a 

 word so that the 

 word looks like two 

 is also a common 

 fault that leads to 

 illegibility. Failure 

 to dot the "i's" and 

 cross the "t's" also 

 tends to make read- 

 ing difficult. Some 

 writers insist upon 

 abbreviating the 

 simplest words. 



In using the scale 

 it may happen that 

 three judges will 

 rate the same 

 sample 60, 70, and 

 80. It is possible, however, to come 

 nearer to securing uniformity of grading 

 with the chart than without it; and so far 

 as is known no other equally effective and 

 time-saving means has yet been devised for 

 the purpose. 



A Pocket Revolver No Bigger Than 

 an Ordinary Watch 



A REVOLVER small enough to be 

 carried in the vest pocket and fired 

 when concealed within the hand has been 

 invented by a Frenchman, Turbiaux. It 

 differs completely from anything that has 

 hitherto been made. Moreover, it has 

 most of the refinements of the larger 

 weapons, such as a safety device, a ten- 

 cartridge magazine and a device which 

 secures a perfect registration of the cart- 

 ridge chamber with the barrel. 



Briefly described, the revolver consists of 

 a steel box, circular in form, within which 

 is the magazine, hammer, trigger and 

 safety mechanism. Lugs on each side of 

 the barrel serve as bearing points for the 

 fingers of the hand. The trigger is a pro- 

 jecting portion which fits against the base 

 of the thumb. Two rods connect it with 

 the internal mechanism. When the trigger 

 is pressed the lower rod operates the ham- 

 mer, causing it to strike the cartridge; the 

 upper rod moves the maga- 

 zine. To secure perfect 

 ^ registration of the chamber 

 I with the barrel 



the trigger is pro- 

 vided with a rod 



MAGAZINE ROD 



DEPRESSIONS 



1^ MAGAZINE 



-J. 



The component parts of the miniature 

 pocket revolver and the manner of using it. 



which engages notches on 

 the circumference of the 

 magazine. On top of the 

 weapon is a sliding safety- 

 bolt, which, when 

 pushed toward the 

 trigger, locks it and 

 thus prevents an ac- 

 cidental discharge. 



To load the revol- 

 ver, the safety-bolt 

 is pushed forward, 

 the entire cover is 

 taken off and the 

 weapon turned to 

 one side, whereupon 

 the magazine drops 

 into the hand. The 

 cartridges are intro- 

 duced from the cen- 

 ter, the magazine is 

 returned to its posi- 

 tion, the cover is re- 

 placed, and the revolver is ready to be 

 fired. Even when the ammunition is ex- 

 hausted, the little revolver will still serv^e 

 as a protection, for the barrel may be used 

 as a handle and the other part as a hammer 

 for delivering terrfic blows. 



