The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's WorkPenny, Virginia
General
The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's Work
Penny, Virginia
Women -- Employment
=40. Aquaria Makers.= One of the most innocent and pleasing amusements
that has attracted attention for some time is the making of aquaria. The
cases are formed of plate glass, square, oblong, circular, or any shape
to please the fancy of the owner. The glass is tightly sealed when
joined. The aquaria are of two kinds: one is formed of salt water, and
contains marine plants and animals; the other contains fresh water, and
such plants and animals as are found in rivers and smaller streams. They
form a beautiful addition to a garden, conservatory, or drawing room.
Rocks form the foundation, and the soil on them furnishes subsistence to
the plants. Zoophytes, mollusca, and fish form the inhabitants of the
aquarium. Insects also find a place in this miniature "ocean or river
garden." The size for parlors is from one foot to three in length. The
largest aquaria in this country are now on exhibition at Barnum's
Museum, New York. "They comprise over one thousand specimens of living
animals and vegetation. In these tanks the water is seldom changed, the
natural operations of the plants and animals keeping it always pure."
They are made to order in New York, and we think might afford a pleasant
pastime to some, and pecuniary profit to others. A work giving
directions for making them has been published in New York. The author is
a Mr. Butler, who has got up the mammoth aquaria in Barnum's Museum.
There are two establishments in New York where they may be ordered, and
specimens seen. "Before we leave the margin of the sea, we must just
glance at the smaller occupations pursued there by women. The most
considerable of these was once the gathering and burning of kelp; but
chemical science has nearly put an end to that. There is still a great
deal of raking and collecting going on. In some countries half the
fields are manured with small fish and the offal of larger, and sea
weeds and sand. Then there is the gathering of jet and amber, and
various pebbles, and the polishing and working of them. The present rage
for studies of marine creatures must afford employment to many women who
have the shrewdness to avail themselves of it."
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