532 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



Club was pleased with it, as likely to rid us of an everlasting 

 plague in lifting or lowering our window sashes. The operation 

 is concealed within the wood of the window frames. 



Mr. Breisach, introduced by Mr. Secretary Leonard, exhibited 

 and explained a model of an apparatus for making gas from wood. 



Mr. G. W. Albaugh exhibited and explained his model of a 

 new corn planter, to be drawn by a horse, drilling, dropping the 

 corn as desired, covering, and finally passing a small roller over 

 the whole to compress the soil over the grain. 



The Chairman called up the regular subject " Locks." 



Mr. Butler read the following paper on locks. 



" There is no doubt that locks or fastenings of some kinds have 

 been in use from the earliest ages, as it is reasonable to suppose 

 that all who lived in doors would require some kind of fastening 

 more or less secure. There may have been some exceptions in 

 ancient times as there is said to be now, and perhaps some nations 

 found no use for security against the covetousness or curiosity of 

 their neighbors.. This might have been the effect of rigid laws 

 or of ceremonial customs, as it is well known that the entrance 

 of a house was approached with a great deal of ceremony, such 

 for instance as the changing of dress, cleansing of the body, etc., 

 and perhaps the idea was more general at that time that the 

 threshold of a man's door should not be passed for the purpose of 

 injuring him or his property. 



There are some nations who protect their property, both in 

 doors and out by performing certain ceremonies over it which is 

 then considered safe, while other things not under the influence 

 of the charm may disappear. It might perhaps be well for 

 others if similar influences could be brought to bear on the minds 

 of men, as we have no tahoo sufficiently strong to protect property 

 even in very refined society. 



Among other nations we find that a sign or mark placed on the 

 door or near it is sufficient, or as we might say, a simple notice of 

 not at home, will keep out intruders, as for instance the applica- 

 tion of a seal of gum or clay, or a stick placed Against the door. 

 This may answer, from the fact that they have a high moral 



