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      THE COMB-MAKER.
  A COMiB is an instrument made of ivory,
tortoise-shell, horn, &c. and is used in se-
parating and adjusting the hair. Combs are
made both for ornament and use, and are
sometimes set with a variety of precious
stones. The common sort of Combs are
made of bullock's horns, prepared in the
following manner:-The tips are firstsawed
off, they are then held in the flame of a
wood fire till they are nearly as soft as
leather; they are then split open on one
side, and pressed in a machine between two
iron plates, then put into a tub of water,
from which they come out hard and flat;
they are then cut with a saw according to
the size required. In cutting the teeth, the
piece is fixed into a claw. The maker, sit-
ting on a stool to his work, has placed under
him the claw that holds the horn, ivory, &c.
that is to be formed into the comb, the teeth
are cut with a fine saw, and finished with a
file; a rasp is used in reducing the horn to
aproper thickness; and when completely
made, they are first polished with charcoal
and water, and lastly, with powder of rotten
stone. A journeyman comb-maker usually
earns from twenty-five to thirty shillings
per week.