Littell's Living Age/Volume 129/Issue 1665/Miscellany
A Machine for Darning Stockings. — We have had sewing and knitting machines for some time, but the latest addition to our stock is that of a darning-machine, which is described by the Scientific American as follows: — "Two small plates, one stationary and the other movable, are placed one above the other. The plates are corrugated, and between them the 'holy' portion of the stocking is laid. Twelve long-eyed pointed needles are arranged side by side in a frame, which last is carried forward so that the needles penetrate opposite edges of the hole, passing in the corrugations between the plates. Hinged just in front of the plates is an upright bar, and on this is a cross-piece carrying twelve knobs. The yarn is secured to an end-knob, and then, with a bit of flat wire, pushed through the needle-eyes. Then the loop between each two needles is caught by the hand and hooked over the opposite knob, so that each needle carries really two threads. Now the needles are carried back to their first position, and, in so doing, they draw the threads, which slip off the knobs through the edges of the fabric. A little push forward again brings the sharp rear edges of the needle-eye against the threads, cutting them all at once. This is repeated until the darn is finished, and beautifully finished it is. The cost of the machine is but ten dollars."
Climate of Southern Brazil. — Information as to the meteorology of South America is always precious, so that we are glad to see a paper on the above subject from Herr Beschoren in the Austrian Journal for February 15. The author gives a general account of the striking contrast between the climate of the upper country, the cima da serra, and that of the lowlands; but as his thermometers were soon broken he gives no observations. He notes a fall of five inches of snow at Passo P. Nuevo on June 13, a previously unheard-of amount in that locality. The tables are for three stations: Santa Cruz, Porto Allegro (30° 6m. S, lat.), and Pelotas (31° 47m. S. lat.).