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REMARKS. 23 



have heretofore been commonly made of metal, tin, earthen, or 

 pasteboard, almost the whole range of those wares might have 

 been given with equal propriety, at least for specific uses. It is 

 not, however, asserted that these articles, when made of gum- 

 elastic, are to be preferred to the same articles made of other 

 materials, except in particular cases. Neither is it supposed that 

 they will become generally substituted for articles made of glass, 

 earthen, or metal, or lessen the consumption of articles of that 

 kind ; but it is maintained, and the articles that are made prove, 

 that for special uses and occasions, they have a peculiar merit. 



Notwithstanding the novelty or apparent absurdity of apply- 

 ing gum-elastic to such uses, objections are usually removed 

 when the articles or specimens of them are examined. 



Although a large number of articles are classed under the 

 different heads to which they are commonly considered to be- 

 long, a great many articles may yet be added to most of these 

 classes, and particularly to the following : House, Ship, and 

 Camp Utensils ; Miscellaneous Articles ; Toys and Trifles ; and 

 Springs. For this reason the chapters are left open. 



As a general rule, where few articles of a class are noticed, 

 those are described which were thought most defective in some 

 particulars, as they have heretofore been made of other materials, 

 or of such things as might be most improved by some peculiar 

 property of the new fabric or compound recommended for them. 



For instance, ewers are noticed among the chamber ware, 

 because when made of crockery they are so liable to be broken, 

 and to be cracked when water is left to freeze in them. Coal- 

 hods among kitchen ware, because sheet iron hods are noisy, 

 and soon rust out. Dolls, quadrupeds, and birds among toys, 

 because they are so easily made to imitate the different noises 

 natural to each. Others again are noticed for the reason that 

 they can be made more portable of gum-elastic than of other 

 materials. A variety of uses of this substance are perhaps as 

 deserving of notice as those which have been mentioned, and 

 many uses of it will undoubtedly be suggested by different in- 

 dividuals in connection with the different occupations and pro- 



