Dec 30 2008
Inventions in the Past
Can you imagine the frustration of the person who invented the bow and arrow? Finding just the right string, the best wood and the right lengths for sending an arrow into space. Now there is a blooper reel I would like to see. How many Workman’s comp claims did that create?
Not only did that industrious person have to invent the thing, but also learn to use it and hit what was aimed at. William Tell was a few years off yet….
I’ll bet the first time the string hit his wrist was exiting to no end. How big was the scrap pile of broken bows? The pile of discarded arrows? The bow strings itself would have been a monumental challenge to make from all natural fibers that did not snap under pressure.
I’m sure his friends and neighbors were glad that he finally did learn to hit the target and they had an improved chance of not walking with a limp. At least not until he decided to try moving targets….
How many times did he hear his mother say, “Careful with that thing or you’ll put an eye out!” or “Don’t shoot that thing in the cave, or you’ll break something!”
Ans what about the wife? I’m sure she had a few choice words to add as well. “You wanna quit playing with your little sticks and take out the trash now?” or “You burn the ends of sticks for hours on end, but do you ever bring me flowers?”
Ah the trials and tribulations of the inventor….
Thomas H. Forthe
