,how8 ,illustration3 frontispiece ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,how8 ,,or ,spare ,hours ,made ,profitable ,for ,boys ,girls ,by ,kennedy ,holbrook4 ,illustrated4 ,illustration ,new ,york3 ,worthington ,co41 #gdg ,broadway4 #ahhg4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,copyright1 #ahhf1 ,by ,,worthington ,,co4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,preface4 ,although this book is ostensibly a 8boy's book10 many things which it contains are equally useful to girls2 and have been tried by the latter with entirely satisfactory results4 ,in fact1 it was to afford amusement and occupation1 on rainy ,saturdays and during the long vacation1 to the children of both sexes in my own family1 that the book was first written2 and it was only an afterthought which led me to give it to the public4 ,everything it contains has been deduced from my own experience or that of some trustworthy friend4 ,while it has been my aim to meet the wants of children of all ages and in every condition of life1 ,i have studiously avoided every subject which might be a source of anxiety to the most careful parent4 ,it is with the hope that this little work may fulfill its mission in other families where it may be received1 as happily as it has done in mine1 that ,i send it on its way4 ,,the ,,author4 ,,october1 #ahhf4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,index4 olian harp1 the1 #fh ,air1 earth1 or the sea81 #bdd ,alum1 crystals1 methods of coloring1 #be ,amusing experiment with tooth-picks1 #ag ,animated fire1 #bf ,annealing 7repouss71 #ahj ,antiques and horribles1 #bcj ,aquarium1 the1 #ahf2 the author's freshwater aquarium1 #ahi2 trouble of keeping a gold fish globe1 #aij2 plants for fresh-water aquarium1 ib42 artificial aeration1 #aia2 salt-water aquarium1 #aia2 preparing rock-work for1 #aib2 minnows1 #aia2 sticklebacks1 #aie2 nest of stickleback1 #aig2 hermit crabs1 #aih2 snails1 #aii2 medus1 sea-anemones1 #bjj2 serpul1 #bjc ,arithmetical curiosity1 an1 #bgd ,arithmetical trick1 an1 #cg ,baby1 a box-sled for1 #dd ,basket1 a hanging1 #aah ,balancing doll1 the1 #bj ,balancing pin1 the1 #dd ,ball1 a good1 #af ,bangle bracelet1 a1 #ahd ,barometer1 a boy's1 #ah ,barometer1 an infallible1 #ai ,battledore and ,shuttlecock1 #bea ,birds1 ,japanese paper1 #gh ,blow-pipe1 how to make a1 #bg ,boats1 paper1 #hc ,boats1 papier-mach1 #ij ,book1 how to make a1 #aa ,boomerang1 the1 #bj ,boot puzzle1 the1 #eg ,boston clapper1 the1 #ga ,bottles1 to cut the top from1 #ah ,bottle imp1 the1 #ajg ,bottle1 the obedient1 #bha ,boxes1 paper1 #aai ,box-sled for baby1 #dd ,boy's barometer1 a1 #ah ,boy's solar microscope1 a1 #baf ,bracelet1 a bangle1 #ahd ,brackets1 an idea for1 #aae ,brass1 hammered1 or repouss1 #age ,bridge1 the triple1 #bhc ,bubbles1 soap1 #ca ,bubbles1 resin1 #cb ,burning the center from a handkerchief1 #cjd ,button-hole1 to pull a string through a1 #cad ,camera obscura1 #add-aed2 principle of camera1 #ade2 camera with horizontal screen1 #adf2 a simpler form1 #adi2 the sketching camera1 #aej2 the darkened room1 #aeb ,camping-out cooking-stove1 a1 #cjh ,captain ,s's peg puzzle1 #bch ,cars1 a set of1 #dg ,cards1 the three magical1 #cc ,card-receiver1 papier-mach1 #ge ,card-receiver1 repouss1 #agi ,checkers1 #bef ,chickens1 the musical1 #bce ,chinese rope feat1 #cab ,christmas presents1 #aac1 #cah2 the ornamental egg1 #aac2 trinket-holder1 #aad2 an idea for brackets1 #aae2 cone and twig bracket1 #aaf2 pebble vase1 #aag2 cone and twig hanging-basket1 #aah2 shaving-case1 #abc2 puzzles1 #cah1 #cba ,circle1 how to make a1 #bfh ,circus1 the magnetic1 #bfi ,clapper1 the ,boston1 #ga ,coin1 how to palm a1 #bhg ,coin1 how to pass a1 #bhh ,compass1 a home-made1 #bfe ,cone and twig bracket1 #aaf ,cone and twig hanging-basket1 #aah ,cooking-stove1 a camping-out1 #cjh ,corn-stalk fiddle1 #fd ,counter puzzle1 the1 #ch ,countenance1 necessity of a sober1 #caa ,cross puzzle1 the1 #cbj ,crystallize grass1 seed-vessels1 etc41 how to1 #bd ,crystals1 how to color alum1 #be ,crystal vase1 the1 #cag ,curiosity1 an arithmetical1 #bgd ,dancer1 the pith1 #bhj ,danger of repetition1 #bia ,darkened room1 the1 #aeb ,dart1 the self-rectifying1 #dc ,days in a month1 number of1 one way to find1 #bgd ,dispatcher1 the magic1 #big ,divided square puzzle1 #ad ,doll1 the balancing1 #bj ,easy proof for sums in multiplication1 an1 #da ,egg1 the ornamental1 #aac ,egg1 the perambulating1 #bie ,egg1 the tumbling1 #hb ,egg1 to produce raised figures on1 #bgc ,electrical experiments1 #bge ,electrophorus1 the1 #bgf ,electrophorus1 a simple1 #bgg ,electrophorus ebonite1 #bgi ,experiment with electricity1 #bge ,experiment with flower-seeds1 #ada ,experiment with tooth-picks1 #ag ,experiment with two pieces of glass1 #ae ,face1 the grimacing1 #ae ,fan1 from ,nagasaki1 a1 #cbc ,feat1 ,chinese rope1 #cab ,fiddle1 corn-stalk1 #fd ,fire1 animated1 #bf ,fire1 a new way to kindle a1 #bfc ,flower-seeds1 experiment with1 #ada ,flying whirligig1 the1 #aj ,fountain1 a simple1 #cbb ,foxing1 #agi ,frame for impressions of plants1 #hg ,frame for a plaque1 #ahe ,freight train1 a1 #ea ,friction1 light produced by1 under water1 #ach ,game1 an optical1 #cg ,garden1 a winter1 #ed ,garden1 a mineral1 #caf ,glass1 experiment with two pieces of1 #ae ,glass1 how to blow1 #bg ,good ball1 a1 #af ,grimacing face1 the1 #ae ,grasses1 how to crystallize1 #bd ,half-dollar1 how to melt and re-coin1 #cja ,halos1 the three1 #hb ,hammered brass1 or repouss1 #age ,handkerchief1 burning center from1 #cjd ,hanging-basket1 a1 #aah ,harp1 olian1 #fh ,hat1 the inexhaustible1 #bia ,hat trick1 another1 #bid ,home-made compass1 a1 #bfe ,hour of the day1 how to tell the1 by the left hand1 #abh ,how to blow glass1 #bg ,how to break a string1 #fc ,how to crystallize grasses1 seed-vessels1 etc41 #bd ,how to cut the tops from glass bottles1 #ah ,how to make a book1 #aa ,how to make a blow-pipe1 #bg ,how to make a circle1 #bfh ,how to melt and re-coin a half-dollar1 #cja ,how to melt stones1 #ca ,how to palm a coin1 #bhg ,how to pass a coin1 #bhh ,how to pull a string through a button-hole1 #cbd ,how to rob ,peter and pay ,paul1 #bhi ,how to skeletonize leaves1 #ada ,how to take impressions of plants1 #hf ,how to take portraits1 #fj ,how to tell the hour of the day by the left hand1 #abh ,idea for brackets1 an1 #aae ,imp1 the bottle1 #ajg ,impressions of plants1 how to take1 #hf ,impressions of plants1 frame for1 #hg ,inertia1 illustration of1 #bhd ,inexhaustible hat1 the1 #bia ,infallible barometer1 an1 #ai ,japanese paper bird1 #gh ,jew's-harp1 the spirit1 #bfa ,leather work1 #abc-abh2 in ,russia1 #abd2 8,cuir ,bouilli10 #abe2 a panel of leather work1 #abf-abh ,leaves1 how to skeletonize1 #ada ,left hand1 to tell the hour of the day by1 #abh ,leyden jar1 a1 #bgi ,light produced by friction under water1 #ach ,locomotive1 the toy1 #dh ,lot of paper windmills1 a1 #eb ,magical cards1 the three1 #cc ,magic dispatcher1 the1 #big ,magic rope1 the1 #cjg ,magic telescope1 #bb ,magnetic circus1 the1 #bfi ,melt and re-coin a half-dollar1 how to1 #cja ,melt stones1 how to1 #ca ,method of coloring alum crystals1 #be ,microscope1 a boy's solar1 #baf ,mineral garden1 a1 #caf ,miniature yacht and how to rig her1 #cca ,month1 one way to find the number of days in a1 #bgd ,more elaborate panorama1 a1 #afe ,multiplication1 an easy proof for sums in1 #da ,musical chickens1 the1 #bce ,nagasaki1 a fan from1 #cbc ,necessity of a sober countenance1 #caa ,new way to kindle the fire1 a1 #bfc ,number thought of by a person1 to tell the1 #cg ,numbers1 two or more1 to tell1 #dj ,obedient bottle1 the1 #bha ,objects1 some1 for solar microscope1 #bbe ,octagon puzzle1 the1 #cah ,one way to find the number of days in a month1 #bgd ,optical game1 an1 #cg ,ornamental egg1 the1 #aac ,ornament for boys to make1 #bf ,palm a coin1 how to1 #bhg ,panel of leather work1 a1 #abf ,panorama1 the toy1 #afj-agb2 panorama of former generation1 #afa-afb2 simplest form of toy panorama1 #afc-afe2 a more elaborate panorama1 #afe-agb4 ,paper bird1 the ,japanese1 #gh-ha2 paper boats1 #hc-hf2 paper boxes1 #aai-abb2 a lot of paper windmills1 #eb-ed2 a fan from ,nagasaki1 #cbc ,papier-mach1 #gc2 materials for1 #gd2 process of working1 #gd-ge2 card-receiver1 #ge2 umbrella-holder1 #gf2 vase1 ib42 papier-mach flowers1 #gg2 papier-mach boats1 #ij-ib ,pass a coin1 how to1 #bhh ,pebble vase1 the1 #aag ,peg puzzle1 ,captain ,s's1 #bch ,perambulating egg1 the1 #bie ,photographic printing1 #aed ,pin1 the balancing1 #dd ,pith dancer1 the1 #bhj ,plaque1 frame for1 #ahe ,plants1 how to take impressions of1 #hf ,plants1 frames for impressions of1 #hg ,portraits1 how to take1 #fj ,presents1 ,christmas1 #aac1 #cah ,proof1 an easy1 for sums in multiplication1 #da ,puppet1 the windmill1 #g ,puzzle1 the boot1 #eg ,puzzle1 the counter1 #ch ,puzzle1 the cross1 #cbj ,puzzle1 the octagon1 #cah ,puzzle1 peg1 ,captain ,s's1 #bch ,puzzle1 the square1 #cba ,puzzle1 the divided square1 #ad ,raised figures on an egg1 to produce1 #bgc ,re-coin a half dollar1 how to1 #cja ,regatta windmill1 #bae ,repetition1 danger of1 #bia ,repouss work for boys1 #agb-ahd2 ,nubian bracelets1 #agb2 hammer for repouss work1 #age2 other tools for repouss work1 #agf2 marking the design1 ib42 plaque in hammered brass1 #agg2 composition for deep work1 #agh2 card receiver1 #agi2 foxing1 ib42 annealing1 #ahj2 a salver in repouss1 #aha2 a silver bangle for a bracelet1 #ahb2 a bangle bracelet1 #ahd ,resin bubbles1 #cb ,ring toss1 #bee ,ring trick1 the ,turkish1 #bii ,rob ,peter and pay ,paul1 how to1 #bhi ,room1 the darkened1 #aeb ,rope1 the magic1 #cjg ,rope feat1 the ,chinese1 #cab ,salver in repouss1 #aha ,schooner yacht1 a1 #cde ,screw-propeller windmill1 the1 #baj ,sea-mosses1 #bbf-bcj2 where found1 ib42 how1 #bbg2 how to arrange on paper1 #bbg-bbi2 more elaborate arrangements1 #bbi-bcj ,self-rectifying dart1 the1 #dc ,set of cars1 a1 #dg ,shaving-case1 a1 #abc ,side-wheeler windmill1 the1 #baa ,simple form of camera1 a1 #adi ,simple electrophorus1 a1 #bgg ,simple fountain1 a1 #cbb ,siphon1 a1 #bh ,skeletonize leaves1 how to1 #ada ,sketching camera1 the1 #aej ,slate games for children1 #bdc ,sloop yacht1 #ccf ,snake1 the1 #ac ,soap bubbles1 #ca ,sober countenance1 necessity of1 #caa ,solar microscope1 a boy's1 #baf ,solitaire1 #bdi ,some electrical experiments1 #bge ,spirit jew's-harp1 the1 #bfa ,square puzzle1 the divided1 #ad ,square puzzle1 the1 #cba ,steam-boat1 the toy1 #ic ,stencils1 #acj-acg2 method of making1 #acc2 collection of stencils in book-form1 #ace2 color decoration with stencils1 #acf-acg ,stones1 to melt1 #ca ,string1 how to break a1 #fc ,string1 how to put a string through a button-hole1 #cad ,string1 how to unite a parted1 #cad ,sums in multiplication1 an easy proof for1 #da ,telescope1 the magic1 #bb ,telescope1 a1 which a boy can make1 #aaj ,tit-tat-to1 #bdc ,thirty-one1 #bdf ,three halos1 the1 #hb ,tooth-picks1 an amusing experiment with1 #ag ,toy panorama1 the1 #afj ,toy steam-boat1 the1 #ic ,train1 a freight1 #ea ,trick1 an arithmetical1 #dg ,trick1 ,turkish ring1 #bii ,trick1 another hat1 #bid ,trinket-holder1 #aad ,tumbling egg1 the1 #hb ,turks and ,russians1 #bde ,twig and cone bracket1 #aaf ,two pieces of glass1 experiment with1 #ae ,vase1 the crystal1 #cag ,vase1 the pebble1 #aag ,vase1 a papier-mach1 #gf ,windmills1 #bjd-baf2 the wooden windmill1 #bjf-bji2 mode of mounting the windmill1 #baj2 the screw-propeller1 #baj-baa2 the side-wheeler1 #bab-bad2 the regatta windmill1 #bae ,winter garden1 a1 #ed ,whirligig1 the flying1 #aj ,xylophone1 the1 #fe ,yacht1 the miniature1 and how to rig her1 #cca-ceb2 miniature yacht regattas1 #ccd2 model of yacht1 #cce2 making the hull1 #ccf-ccg2 how to cast and attach a lead keel1 #ccg-cch2 the deck1 #cch2 bowsprit and rudder1 #cci2 mast and other spars1 #cdj2 standing rigging1 #cda-cdb2 sails1 #cdc2 running rigging1 #cdd-cde2 a schooner yacht1 #cde2 spars and stays for a schooner yacht1 #cdf-cdi2 belaying1 bolt ropes1 reef-points1 #cej2 painting the miniature yacht1 #cej-cea2 flags1 #ceb ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,how8 ,,or1 ,,spare ,,hours ,,made ,,profitable4 ,,the ,,windmill ,,puppet4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,this amusing little puppet is very easily constructed1 and1 like several other mechanical toys in this book1 furnishes much entertainment for the little folks4 ,even the baby will sit in her high chair1 half-hours together1 watching the little man turning his crank1 while she claps her tiny hands and crows at so delightful an exhibition of untiring energy4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,cut from cardboard a disc like ,fig4 #b1 which shall measure about six inches across2 then by means of a ruler draw the lines a b c d2 half-way between these points make four others1 corresponding to e f g h2 and lastly1 between all these1 still another set of lines4 ,make the circle1 m1 one-and-a-half inches in diameter1 and with a pair of sharp scissors cut through all these lines1 to the edge of the smaller ring4 ,bend one edge of each of these triangular pieces slightly upward1 as indicated by the shading1 and the opposite edge downward2 also bend a piece of wire a foot long1 so as to form the crank indicated in the illustration4 ,next make a frame-work for the figure to rest upon3 this should consist of a three-cornered piece of wood1 six inches long for the bottom1 a stick six or seven inches long for the upright1 and lastly1 the support for the upper part of the wire1 with a small hole in one end for the latter to pass through4 ,fasten these pieces together with small brad-nails1 and secure the upright to the bottom piece by a screw or nail passing up from below4 ,the wire1 having the crank already bent in the proper place1 may now be passed up through the hole1 and the other end sunk down into another1 bored a short distance into the bottom board1 directly below the upper one4 ,then the wire may be fastened to the windmill1 by passing it through a little one side1 then back again through on the other side of the center2 twisting the end once or twice about the main stem beneath the windmill2 it now turns with the windmill1 and it is needless to say that the friction in the holes should be as slight as possible4 ,the figure is to be cut from a piece of cardboard and is made in five pieces4 ,the lower half1 which comprises the box1 legs1 and body up to the dotted line1 is in one piece2 the head and body to the lower edge of the belt1 consists of two pieces1 cut precisely alike1 and lapping on either side of the lower part of the body over the dotted line1 to give strength to the image4 ,a pin passed through the belt1 and bent down on the other side1 will hold it in place1 and allow sufficient play to the figure4 ,there are two arms1 cut from the same pattern1 and pivoted at the shoulders with another pin4 ,the hands are finally brought together1 with the crank between them1 and lightly secured on either side with two or three stitches4 ,to impart life to this creation1 it is placed over a furnace register through which the hot air is briskly rising4 ,if the machine works easily1 the current of air above a stove may suffice4 ,,the ,,flying ,,whirligig4 ,illustration ,this amusing toy consists of an empty spool with two pins driven into its head1 as seen in the figure4 ,with a pair of pliers break off the heads of the pins before driving them in position1 then take a piece of soft wood and make a spindle1 like that represented in the figure at ,a1 and drive another headless pin into the small end4 ,lastly1 cut from a piece of cardboard a figure like the one marked ,b1 making three holes1 a a a1 with the point of a darning-needle1 corresponding to the two pins in the spool and the one in the spindle4 ,bend the edges marked x and y in opposite directions4 ,now place the spool on the spindle and wind a piece of twine around the spool2 then place the piece of pasteboard upon the top1 letting the pins pass up through the row of holes in its center4 ,holding the machine upright in the left hand1 with a quick movement of the right1 jerk the string from the spool1 and the cardboard will fly through the air with a very graceful motion4 ,if stripes of color are added to the ends1 as seen in the cut1 a much prettier effect is produced while the whirligig is in operation4 ,these stripes can be painted in red1 white1 and blue water colors1 or may be formed by pasting on narrow strips of bright-colored paper4 ,if the first trial does not succeed1 wind the string in the other direction1 or put on the 8card flyer10 with the other side next the spool4 ,the same causes which make it soar away in the one case will hold it yet more firmly to the spool in the other4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,a ,,book4 ,do any of my boy readers know how to make a book8 ,not the fine volumes turned out by the thousand in our great publishing houses1 but the little individual books made by boys and girls1 and needing for their construction only an old used-up ledger1 a small tin pan of paste1 and scraps cut from newspapers or books4 ,these bits may consist simply of poems1 or they may be 8a little of all sorts40 ,i recently saw a very nice book of this kind made by a boy of twelve1 which was composed entirely of humorous pictures and jokes1 culled from several illustrated and daily papers1 one or two almanacs1 and various other chance publications1 which he had collected during the year4 ,whenever he found any bright or witty thing1 he would carefully preserve the clipping by putting it in a large paper box he kept in a convenient place for that purpose4 ,he reserved the pasting for rainy days and winter evenings1 and as he took much pains with the arrangement and neat appearance of his book1 this operation was necessarily slow1 and formed a pleasant occupation for many hours which would otherwise have been wasted4 ,in making such a book1 do not try to complete it in a week or even a month1 but let it1 like my boy friend's1 furnish amusement for a year4 ,get your father and mother interested1 and ask them to save any scraps they may see1 and think appropriate for the purpose4 ,a handsomely bound scrap-book1 specially designed for this use1 would certainly be the most desirable thing to have2 but if such a book cannot be obtained1 an old ledger does very nicely in its place1 and if1 after it is completed1 you cover it carefully with a piece of smooth brown paper and print its title neatly on the back1 it will look very well on any table where you may wish to keep it4 ,if the latter is used1 cut from it every other two leaves1 reserving the third1 through the book4 ,next be careful to trim all your clippings neatly1 leaving no extra paper beyond the edges4 ,fit the different slips nicely on the pages1 filling the little spaces left from the longer articles with any little jokes or bits of poetry you may have4 ,frequently a whole piece of newspaper poetry is hardly worth preserving1 but some one of its stanzas may be very pretty and just the thing to fill up a place you may have left4 ,it is well to collect all these little things you can find1 for they always come in nicely when pasting1 and your book looks much better when finished if the original surface is entirely covered4 ,,the ,,snake4 ,illustration3 ,a ,cut from a piece of ,bristol board1 or stiff paper1 a circle measuring four inches in diameter2 then with a pencil mark it like ,fig4 ,a4 ,with your paints and pencil make its head as nearly like a snake's as possible2 and mark the body with stripes or checks1 as your fancy may dictate4 ,cut through the deep black line1 put a pin through the dot on the tail1 and drive it into a slender stick of wood1 which must be held or caught over the stove or register4 ,the rising current of heated air causes the snake to revolve and apparently writhe1 in a very natural manner4 ,this little toy1 so simple in its construction1 affords an endless amount of entertainment to the little folks of the family1 and is well worth the trouble and time you may spend in making it4 ,illustration ,the hot air from a lamp or gas jet will also impart activity to this mimic reptile4 ,,the ,,divided ,,square ,,puzzle4 ,illustration ,take a square of paper or cardboard1 and cut it into four pieces1 as shown in the engraving4 ,now try to put them back in the form of a square4 ,this seemingly simple puzzle1 has kept our young people busy a whole evening1 and was only accomplished at last by marking each piece before it was cut apart4 ,,experiment ,,with ,,two ,,pieces ,,of ,,glass4 ,procure two pieces of glass about six inches square1 join any two of their sides1 and separate the opposite sides with a piece of wax1 so that their surfaces may be at a slight angle2 immerse this apparatus about an inch in a basin of water1 and the water will rise between the plates and form a beautiful geometrical figure called a hyperbola4 ,,the ,,grimacing ,,face4 ,illustration3 ,a ,illustration3 ,b ,illustration3 ,c ,take a card one-and-one-half inches wide1 and fold around it a piece of unruled note paper1 so that the card can easily slide up and down2 then paste this case on the under side4 ,now cut three holes in the paper for the eyes and mouth1 as seen in ,a2 place the strip of card within this and mark the points for the eyes and root of tongue2 then slipping it out once more1 the eyes can be carefully finished1 and the tongue cut to fit in the mouth1 and to extend some distance down on the chin1 see ,fig4 ,b4 ,then by putting the two pieces together1 pulling the tongue in its place through the opening1 very amusing expressions can be produced1 by simply moving the pasteboard up and down in the paper4 ,fig4 ,c represents the two parts put together4 ,a ,,good ,,ball4 ,take a round1 well shaped orange2 cut it evenly into quarters1 numbering them at one end to aid in putting the parts together again4 ,next cut out of kid four pieces exactly like the four pieces of orange peel2 then1 with strong linen thread1 sew over and over three seams1 thus joining the four pieces1 but leaving one seam open4 ,in putting together be careful to place #a next to #b1 and so on1 just as they were in the orange4 ,ravel out an old yarn stocking1 or cut into narrow strips an old cashmere one1 and after making a little round ball of any soft woolen material1 commence winding it evenly with the raveled yarn1 trying occasionally if it is near the size of the kid covering4 ,when nearly large enough wind it in such a way that it shall just fit the cavity1 and then carefully sew up the remaining side4 ,great care should be exercised in forming the inner ball1 and in cutting the kid4 ,the wrists of old kid gloves make capital coverings4 ,an old rubber overshoe cut in very fine strips and wound carefully1 forms a nice center1 but it is better to use the soft wool yarn next the cover1 as it is more pliable and makes a better shaped ball4 ,prepare this ball during your leisure moments in the long winter evenings2 and it will then be ready for the first game1 when the bright spring sunshine reminds you of summer sports once more4 ,,amusing ,,experiment ,,with ,,tooth-,,picks4 ,illustration ,take five tooth-picks1 weave them together1 as seen in the illustration1 which perhaps is easiest done by holding the three diverging ones between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand at the point a1 and insert the other two successively1 first b1 then c4 ,now lay the figure upon any flat surface1 letting the end c extend a short distance beyond the edge4 ,if you touch a lighted match to c1 in a moment each stick will leap into the air as if suddenly endowed with life and animation1 quite unusual in such inert objects4 ,,how ,,to ,,cut ,,tops ,,from ,,glass ,,bottles4 ,a glass bottle when freed from its top can be utilized in many ways1 and most boys will be glad to know how to get rid of this troublesome portion without smashing the whole thing into fragments4 ,a red-hot poker with a pointed end is the instrument used4 ,first make a mark with a file to begin the cut2 then apply the hot iron1 and a crack will start1 which will follow the iron wherever it is carried4 ,this is1 on the whole1 simple1 and better than the use of strings wet with turpentine1 etc4 ,a ,,boy',s ,,barometer4 ,take a common vial1 or small bottle1 cut off the rim by using the hot poker as directed above4 ,let the vial now be nearly filled with common rain water1 and applying the finger to its mouth1 turn it quickly upside down3 on removing the finger it will be found that only a few drops will escape4 ,without a cork or stopper of any kind1 the water will be retained within the bottle by the pressure of the external air1 the weight of the air without the vial being so much greater than the small quantity within it4 ,now let a bit of tape be tied round the middle of the bottle1 to which the two ends of a string may be attached1 so as to form a loop to hang on a nail2 let it be thus suspended in a perpendicular manner1 with the mouth downward3 and this is the barometer4 ,when the weather is fair1 or inclined to be so1 the water will be level at its lower surface1 or perhaps concave1 like an individual butter plate turned upside down2 but when disposed to be stormy1 a drop will appear at the mouth1 which will enlarge till it falls1 and then another drop1 so long as the humidity of the atmosphere continues4 ,,an ,,infallible ,,barometer4 ,with a few cents any boy can buy the chemicals required for this barometer1 and obtain an instrument much more reliable than many of the cheaper grades for sale in the stores4 ,put two drams of pure nitrate of potash1 and half a dram of chloride of ammonium reduced to a powder1 into two ounces of pure alcohol1 and place this mixture in a clear glass bottle1 covering the top with a piece of rubber or thin kid pierced with small holes4 ,if the weather is to be fine1 the solid matters remain at the bottom of the bottle1 and the alcohol is as transparent as usual4 ,if rain is to fall in a short time1 some of the solid particles rise and fall in the alcohol1 which becomes somewhat thick and troubled4 ,when a storm1 tempest1 or even a squall is about to come on1 all the solid matter rises from the bottom of the bottle and forms a crust on the surface of the alcohol which appears to be in a state of fermentation4 ,these appearances take place twenty-four hours before the tempest ensues1 and the point of the horizon from which it is to blow is indicated by the particles gathering most on the side of the tube opposite to that part whence the wind is to come4 ,the longer the diameter of the bottle the better for this kind of barometer4 ,,the ,,balancing ,,doll4 ,illustration ,from a piece of soft wood whittle out a head and body like that in the illustration1 making slits on either side for the insertion of the wings4 ,these oar-shaped appendages are generally made from a shingle1 and are affixed to the body by pressing them firmly into the slits4 ,the whole thing can be painted to suit the fancy2 water colors spread on rather thickly answer quite as well for small objects of this class1 if protected by a good coating of varnish1 made by dissolving a few cents' worth of white shellac in a small quantity of alcohol4 ,it is important that the oars are of the same weight and placed at equal angles with the body for this plaything to be successful4 ,,the ,,boomerang4 ,the boomerang is a weapon which has long been known as peculiar to the ,australian savages1 who are wonderfully skilled in its use4 ,illustration ,illustration ,it consists of an irregular shaped piece of hard wood1 so constructed that by its aid1 the unsuspecting game can be killed at an angle widely diverging from the line of direction in which it was thrown4 ,instances have been cited in which the boomerang1 in the hands of these untutored savages1 has accomplished wonderful feats4 ,one of the favorite ways of throwing consists in sending the weapon in such a manner that it shall skim along just above the ground for about a hundred feet1 then1 rising in the air1 double back upon its course1 and hit a mark only a few feet in front of the thrower4 ,of course we do not expect to equal the savages in its use1 when recent investigations show that it has taken the experience of generations upon generations of men and hundreds of years1 to bring it to its present degree of excellence2 but every boy may derive much fun from practicing with the little cardboard boomerang cut of stiff pasteboard in either of the forms given in the preceding page4 ,to throw this1 place it upon a book1 one end extending beyond the edge2 then1 with a ruler or small stick1 strike it forcibly upon the edge1 and it will fly through the air and back again1 in an amusing1 lively manner1 quite unlike any other missile in a boy's collection4 ,it may be sent on its way by simply snapping it with the forefinger of the right hand while it is held on the book in your left4 ,if you should try making one of wood to use out-of-doors1 try it in the middle of a large open lot1 for there is no telling what mischief it might do if it only had the chance4 ,,the ,,magic ,,telescope4 ,illustration ,the following1 although requiring considerable skill in joining1 can readily be made by any boy of fifteen1 if he is at all skillful in the use of carpenter's tools1 and has a fair endowment of those two excellent qualities1 patience and perseverance1 so absolutely indispensable to success in almost any undertaking4 ,this telescope consists of a series of square wooden tubes1 with an inside diameter of about five inches1 so carefully joined together that no ray of light can find its way in through the crevices4 ,the oblique lines are pieces of looking-glass1 with their faces turned toward each other4 ,now1 by placing the eye at ,e1 of course it would seem that anything at ,h could be seen directly through the tubes ,a ,b1 while if a book or other opaque object be interposed1 as shown in ,fig4 #b1 it would seem equally a matter of course that the view would be obstructed2 this1 however1 is not the case1 as the mirrors reflect the object through the tube and it appears as plainly as when the book is removed4 ,to those unfamiliar with its construction this magic telescope1 by which you apparently see through a solid substance1 is an unfailing source of wonder4 ,illustration ,the object at ,h should be quite brilliantly lighted1 as some of the rays are absorbed in the passage of the reflection through the tube2 especial care should also be taken to place the mirrors at a slant1 exactly midway between the horizontal and the upright1 or1 to speak more scientifically1 at an angle of #de degrees to the line of the tubes4 ,the tubes ,a and ,b should not be so far apart at the place where the book is inserted as to permit the backs of the mirrors to be easily seen4 ,,to ,,crystallize ,,grasses1 ,,seed-,,vessels1 ,,etc4 ,take a large-sized piece of alum1 and pour over it a pint of boiling water1 letting it stand until the water has taken up or dissolved all the alum it will4 ,if at the end of a few hours any alum remains undissolved1 you may be sure the water contains all the alum it can hold in a liquid state1 and the solution is called a 8saturated solution of alum40 ,during the summer1 while the grasses are in their most perfect state1 select such as you think will look well crystallized1 and put them into a vase or wide-mouthed bottle to dry1 being careful to spread them well apart1 so that they may retain their perfect shape in drying4 ,if the season of grasses should pass before you have a chance to collect them1 the season of weeds is always at hand4 ,any boy1 in his wanderings over marsh or mountain1 through woods or our quiet village street1 during even the coldest winter months1 could not fail to see some beautiful sprays of seed-pods crowning many of our most common weeds1 which if crystallized1 would make a very pretty and acceptable present to mother for the corner bracket1 or the shelf which seemed just a little bare before4 ,having secured your grasses or weeds1 both together if you like1 and having your saturated solution of alum at hand1 lay as many tops of the grasses in a flat dish as will fill it without crowding1 then pour the liquid over them1 being careful that the parts you wish crystallized are under the surface4 ,let them lie in this position until well coated with the alum4 ,when finished remove them and put in others4 ,continue in this manner until all are treated4 ,if only a few crystals are desired they may be obtained by dipping the heads one at a time in the solution and slightly shaking them after each immersion4 ,when all have been dipped1 commence with the first and repeat the process4 ,do this until the crystals formed are as large as you wish them to be4 ,,method ,,of ,,coloring ,,alum ,,crystals4 ,in making these crystals the coloring should be added to the solution of alum in proportion to the shade which it is desired to produce4 ,coke1 with a piece of lead attached to it in order to make it sink in the solution1 is a good substance for a nucleus1 if a cluster of crystals are to be formed4 ,any form1 if wound around with knitting cotton1 can be used1 or the grasses above described can be dipped in these colored solutions1 and very pretty results obtained4 ,yellow3 muriate of iron4 ,blue3 solution of indigo in sulphuric acid4 ,pale blue3 equal parts of alum and blue vitriol4 ,crimson3 infusion of madder and cochineal4 ,black3 ,japan ink thickened with gum4 ,green3 equal parts of alum and blue vitriol1 with a few drops of sulphate of iron4 ,milk white3 a crystal of alum held over a glass containing ammonia will become a milky white color upon its surface4 ,,note4--,to make an infusion of a substance you simply pour boiling water over it4 ,the madder and cochineal are in the dry form1 and only a little water should be used1 as too much will make the color less brilliant4 ,,animated ,,fire4 ,when small pieces of camphor are placed in a basin of pure water1 a very peculiar motion commences2 some of the pieces turn as if on an axis1 others go steadily round the vessel1 some seem to be pursuing others1 and thus they continue forming a very curious and pleasing appearance2 but if a single drop of sulphuric acid be put into the water1 the motion of the camphor instantly stops4 ,if a piece of camphor be lighted1 and then carefully placed on the water1 it burns with a bright flame1 moving about with great rapidity1 as if in search of something1 but is instantly stopped by a drop of sulphuric acid4 ,a ,,pretty ,,ornament ,,for ,a ,,boy ,,to ,,make4 ,dissolve in seven different tumblers containing warm water1 half ounces of sulphates of iron1 copper1 zinc1 soda1 alumina1 magnesia1 and potash4 ,pour them all1 when completely dissolved1 into a large flat dish1 and stir the whole with a glass rod or bit of broken glass for a while4 ,place the dish in a warm place where it will be free from dust and will not be shaken4 ,after due evaporation has taken place1 the whole will begin to shoot out into crystals4 ,these will be of various colors and forms1 some little ones being gathered together in small groups1 and other larger ones scattered throughout the whole fluid4 ,by a little careful study you will soon be able to distinguish each crystal separately1 from its peculiar form and color1 thus learning an interesting lesson in chemistry1 while making a beautiful ornament for your room4 ,be sure and preserve it carefully from the dust4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,a ,,blowpipe4 ,procure two common clay pipes2 break off the stem of one about three inches from the little end4 ,take a cork that exactly fits into the bowl of the other pipe1 cut a hole through it large enough to insert the mouth-piece already broken off1 and draw this through the opening till its larger end is even with the surface of the cork4 ,insert the cork in the bowl1 and fill the end of the stem which touches the flame with a tiny ball of clay or chalk4 ,through this clay make a hole with a needle1 and a blowpipe is the result1 which answers very well for any experiment a boy may be likely to try4 ,,how ,,to ,,blow ,,glass4 ,although it is impossible to give any detailed account of glass blowing which would be practicable for small boys1 yet a child can amuse himself for hours1 by simply melting bits of glass and joining them together2 or by melting small glass tubes and drawing them out to mere threads2 or again1 blowing them up into tiny balloons until their surface is as thin as a soap bubble and almost as fragile4 ,these little tubes are smaller than the end of a pipe-stem1 about four inches long1 and made of very thin glass4 ,a dozen can be procured for ten or twelve cents at any place where chemical supplies are to be found4 ,a short tallow candle1 held in a cheap tin candlestick1 answers for the flame2 and the tobacco-pipe1 converted into the blowpipe just described1 can be used in any of the experiments here given4 ,take a piece of a broken window pane1 hold it in the left hand very near the candle flame1 then holding the blowpipe so that the shorter end nearly touches the flame1 blow steadily through the pipe-stem a current of air into the flame1 which sends it upon the glass and soon reduces the part in contact with it to a red-hot melting mass2 this can be worked into various shapes by forming it with the aid of pincers2 or it can easily be joined to pieces of different colors1 by holding the two together and turning the full force of the blaze upon them4 ,the little tubes may be heated in the same manner1 and one end be closed air tight1 by pinching it tightly while still hot2 then1 after heating the portion near the end to a red heat1 lay the blowpipe aside1 and1 taking the tube away from the flame1 blow into the open end with the mouth4 ,if this is done quickly1 before the glass has had time to cool1 a pretty bubble or balloon is the result4 ,a ,,siphon4 ,a simple glass siphon can be made by taking one of the above tubes and heating it at a point about one-third of its length from the end1 till the surface appears a rosy red2 then carefully bending it over the round part of a clothes-pin1 till the two ends form parallel lines4 ,illustration ,a simple experiment with the siphon affords considerable amusement to the little folks1 and is well worth trying4 ,take two tumblers1 place them side by side1 and fill one with water4 ,now fill the siphon with water and place the longer end in the empty tumbler1 and the shorter one well down in the water of the other4 ,immediately the laborer will begin to work1 pumping water into the empty vessel1 and will not stop until he has reduced the water in the full tumbler to a level with the end of the tube4 ,,to ,,melt ,,stones4 ,many kinds of stones containing more or less metallic ores1 can be readily melted by means of the blowpipe4 ,when the specimens are small they can be placed upon a piece of mica1 and then presented to the flame2 or a clay receptacle can be made for the purpose1 by simply hollowing out a small cavity in one side of a lump of clay4 ,large ones can be held in the hand or with the pincers as in the case of the glass melting4 ,a ,,soap ,,bubble4 ,within the past few years soap-bubble parties have been quite the style among our young people1 and not a few of the older members of society have joined in the frolic with as much zest as their younger competitors4 ,usually at such gatherings1 after the guests have all arrived1 the hostess1 having previously secured two or three boxes of bonbons1 or other equally inexpensive trifles for prizes1 presents each of her guests with an ordinary clay pipe1 and leading the way to the room in which the bowls of soap-suds are already prepared1 shows her prizes1 and challenges all to the contest4 ,if fine1 large iridescent bubbles are desired1 it is well to add a small quantity of glycerine to the water used4 ,it is said that if the mixture of glycerine and water is allowed to stand some hours before it is used the effect is much better4 ,hot water and soap can be added just before the party enter1 and only two bowls of the soap mixture are necessary for quite a large party4 ,these should be placed upon small side tables or stands at opposite ends of the room4 ,two or three reliable persons should be chosen for judges to decide the contest4 ,the parents or some older members of the family1 at whose house the party is held1 usually perform this duty4 ,i should have added1 when speaking of the soap mixture1 that the common yellow soap intended for laundry use1 is much better for this purpose than the finer toilet varieties most commonly used by amateur soap-bubble blowers4 ,,resin ,,bubbles4 ,if the end of a tobacco-pipe be dipped in melted resin1 at a temperature a little above that of boiling water1 taken out1 and held nearly in a vertical position and blown through1 bubbles will be formed of all possible sizes1 from that of a hen's egg1 down to sizes which can hardly be discerned by the naked eye1 and from their silvery luster1 and reflection of the different rays of light1 they have a pleasing appearance4 ,some that have been formed these eight months1 are as perfect as when first made4 ,they generally assume the form of a string of beads1 many of them perfectly regular1 and connected by a very fine fiber1 but the production is never twice alike4 ,if expanded over a gas jet by means of a small rubber tube1 they would probably float around the upper part of the room4 ,,the ,,three ,,magical ,,cards4 ,illustration ,take three cards of the same size1 and thick enough to prevent the black surface from showing through2 ink or paint over the whole of one side of c1 having the other side perfectly white1 and the others1 a and b1 in the parts shown in ,fig4 #a2 they are now ready for use4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,fig4 #b shows the first arrangement of them1 a and b lapping over each other so that when c is placed in the position shown by dotted lines the whole face presents a perfectly white surface4 ,show this to your audience2 then1 still holding them in sight1 inform them in a neat little speech1 that by aid of some magic power you possess1 you can readily change these same cards to black1 or back again1 at will4 ,now holding them with their backs away from you1 in such a manner that the card c cannot be seen by the other boys1 turn them upside down and spread out what were the lower parts of a and b4 ,you have them now in the position indicated by ,fig4 #c1 and after carefully turning c you will find them presenting a uniformly black surface4 ,should any bit of white show at the lower corner1 cover it with your thumb4 ,when they are arranged to your satisfaction1 hold them up in front of you1 and while saying over some cabalistic words1 such as1 for instance1 8,presto1 agramento1 calafesto--change60 blow upon their faces and turn them around to your audience1 which will probably be greatly surprised at this undeniable evidence of your magic skill4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,instead of white1 the ordinary playing cards may be used1 blacking the back of one to represent c4 ,these are much more showy than the plain white ones1 and the trick is not so easily discovered if slight bits of black are seen1 as those having black spots are generally taken for the purpose4 ,illustration ,one day a little fellow who had been repeatedly mystified by this trick1 saw the cards which his brother had prepared lying on the table4 ,he took them up1 examined them carefully for a moment1 then1 with his little face all aglow at the revelation1 he exclaimed1 8,ha6 ,i've found out how you do it now1 you just blow charcoal on the other part40 ,how he got rid of the part already black1 he did not explain1 nor did we think to ask him1 but he had at last solved the puzzle of their turning black1 and that was all he cared to do at the time4 ,,an ,,optical ,,game4 ,hold a ring between thumb and forefinger at some distance from the boy addressed1 and giving him a crooked stick1 ask him to close one eye and try to catch the ring on the stick4 ,this game looks so very simple1 that any boy is certain he can do it at one thrust1 and is only made aware of its difficulties after several unsuccessful attempts4 ,,to ,,tell ,,the ,,number ,,thought ,,of ,,by ,a ,,person4 ,desire the person who has thought of a number to triple it1 and to take the exact half of that2 triple that half if the number was even1 or if odd multiply the larger half by #c2 and ask him how many times that answer contains nine3 for the answer will contain the double of that number of nines1 and one more if it be odd4 ,thus if the number thought of is #e1 its triple will be #ae1 which cannot be divided by #b without a remainder4 ,the greater half of #ae is #h4 ,if we multiply this by #c we have #bd1 which contains #i twice4 ,so we shall have #b #b #a #e1 the number first thought of4 ,,the ,,counter ,,puzzle4 ,in an old book published over half a century ago1 ,i came across this puzzle2 and finding it gave an evening's entertainment to our young folks1 ,i introduce it here for the benefit of those boys who take especial delight in games of an arithmetical nature4 ,illustration3 ,figs4 #a1 #b1 #c1 #d1 #e ,out of thin cardboard--old business cards answer this purpose nicely--make thirty-two blank counters1 the size of a dime4 ,then upon a piece of note-paper mark off a figure just three inches square1 and divide it by lines into nine compartments1 each containing one square inch4 ,the puzzle is1 to arrange the counters in the external cells of the square four different times1 and each time to have nine in a row1 yet to have the sum of the counters different1 and varying from twenty to thirty-two4 ,if you will inspect the following figures you will see how this is possible3 the first represents the original disposition of the counters in the cells of the square2 the second1 that of the same counters when four are taken away2 the third1 the manner in which they must be disposed when these four are brought back with four others2 and the fourth with the addition of four more4 ,there are always nine in each external row1 and yet in the first case the whole number is twenty-four1 in the second it is twenty1 in the third twenty-eight1 and in the fourth thirty-two4 ,the numbers are substituted in the place of the counters in the above figures for convenience1 but ,fig4 #e represents the disposition of the counters1 as indicated in ,fig4 #b4 ,,another ,,arithmetical ,,trick4 ,by knowing the last figure of the product of any two numbers1 to tell the other figures4 ,if the number seventy-three be multiplied by each of the numbers in the following arithmetical progression1 #c1 #f1 #i1 #ab1 #ae1 #ah1 #ba1 #bd1 #bg1 the products will terminate with the nine digits1 in this order1 #i1 #h1 #g1 #f1 #e1 #d1 #c1 #b1 #a2 the numbers themselves being as follows3 #bai1 #dch1 #feg1 #hgf1 #ajie1 #acad1 #aecc1 #ageb1 and #aiga4 ,let1 therefore1 a little bag be provided1 consisting of two partitions1 into one of which put several tickets1 marked with the number #gc1 and into the other put as many tickets1 #c1 #f1 #i1 etc41 up to #bg4 ,then open that part of the bag containing the number #gc1 and ask a person to take out one ticket only2 after which1 dexterously change the opening1 and desire another person to take a ticket from the other part4 ,let them now multiply their two numbers together1 and tell you the last figure of the product1 by which you will readily determine from the foregoing series what the remaining figures must be4 ,suppose1 for example1 the numbers taken out of the bag were #gc and #ab1 then as the product of these two numbers1 which is #hgf1 has #f for its last figure1 you will readily know it is the fourth of the series and the other two figures must be #h and #g4 ,,to ,,tell ,,two ,,or ,,more ,,numbers ,,which ,a ,,person ,,has ,,thought ,,of4 ,these numbers must not exceed #i4 ,let him think of two or three numbers1 double the first and add #a to the product1 multiply the whole by #e1 and add to that product the second number4 ,if there be a third1 make him double the first sum and add #a to it2 then desire him to multiple the new sum by #e1 and to add to it the third number4 ,if there should be a fourth number1 you must proceed in the same manner1 desiring him to double the preceding sum1 to add #a to it1 to multiply by #e1 and then to add the fourth number1 and so on4 ,then ask the number arising from the addition of the last number thought of1 and if there were two numbers subtract #e from it3 if three1 #ee2 if four1 #eee1 and so on1 for the remainder will be composed of figures1 of which the first on the left will be the first number thought of1 the next the second1 and so of the rest4 ,suppose the numbers thought of to be #c1 #d1 #f2 by adding #a to #f1 the double of the first1 we have #g1 which being multiplied by #e gives #ce2 if #d1 the second number thought of1 be then added1 we shall have #ci1 which doubled gives #gh1 and if we add #a1 and multiply #gi by #e1 the result will be #cie4 ,lastly1 if we add #f1 the third number thought of1 the sum will be #dja1 and if #ee be deducted from it we shall have for the remainder #cdf1 the figures of which #c1 #d1 and #f1 indicate in order the three numbers thought of4 ,,an ,,easy ,,proof ,,for ,,sums ,,in ,,multiplication4 ,as boys are always interested in short cuts in arithmetical processes1 it may be well to insert for the benefit of those who are studying multiplication1 a method of proving their examples which ,i learned a short time ago from an old banker of ,new ,york4 ,this rule is simply to add the digits of both multiplicand and multiplier1 divide both answers by #i1 and multiply the remainders2 divide this product by #i and the remainder will be1 if the example is correct1 the same as that obtained by adding the digits of the product and dividing that answer by #i4 ,for instance1 suppose after multiplying #dcei by #bghf we have #abaddagd for the answer2 now instead of performing this operation over a second time to make sure our answer is correct1 we simply add the digits in #dcei and divide the sum #ba by #i1 we find we have #c left4 ,as it is the only remainder we have to deal with1 we need not keep the other figures4 ,by adding the digits in the multiplier we obtain #bc1 which divided by #i gives #b and #e remainder4 ,now1 multiplying the first remainder by the second we have #ae3 this product divided by #i gives #a and #f remainder4 ,if the product #abaddagd is correct1 the sum of its digits divided by #i will leave #f for a remainder4 ,performing the operation1 we find the sum of its digits is #bd1 divided by #i equals #b and #f remainder4 ,as both the remainders correspond1 the answer was correct4 ,after a little practice you will find you can prove your examples very quickly by this method1 and where a number of sums are given without the answers it will be of invaluable assistance1 besides saving you a great amount of labor4 ,,the ,,self-,,rectifying ,,dart4 ,illustration ,the dart1 and its larger brother the javelin1 were among the earliest weapons used in warfare1 and were very skilfully thrown1 not only by the ,roman soldiers1 but by the ,goths and other savage tribes who lived in the regions north of them4 ,these javelins were large affairs1 measuring some six or seven feet in length2 the handle1 a tough piece of wood1 was generally four and one-half feet in length1 and an inch in diameter1 while the rest of the length was taken up by the barbed triangular-shaped head4 ,ever since those days children of all nations and climes have made toy implements1 resembling those in general appearance1 but varying much in size and materials used4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,the little dart described below is perhaps the tiniest and least formidable of them all2 but even this should not be carelessly tossed about the room in which others are playing2 when1 however1 thrown in the open air1 and away from others who might be hurt1 there is considerable amusement derived from the airy bit of flying wood1 which always comes down with such unerring certainty upon its spear-like head4 ,to make this dart1 take half a sheet of note-paper1 double it diagonally across1 so that its top edge may fall evenly upon that of one side 7see ,fig4 #a71 and cut off the surplus piece of paper which remains uncovered at the bottom of the page4 ,open your square1 and fold it again in the other diagonal line c1 d 7the first is represented on ,fig4 #b1 as a1 b74 ,now1 opening again1 fold upon the line e1 f1 then1 after opening1 upon g1 h4 ,crease all the folds as you make them4 ,now1 having prepared your handle1 which consists of a piece of wood about #h inches long and the size of a lead pencil1 cut across one end at right angles1 with slits nearly or quite an inch in depth2 take your paper and open it flat once more4 ,fold the diagonals so that the four points1 a1 b1 c1 d1 shall all meet together above x1 and the lines ax1 bx1 cx1 and dx shall meet at the central line of the figure1 and the four shorter lines1 ex1 fx1 etc41 form the outside edges of the figure4 ,insert a tiny wedge or knife-blade at the bottom of the slits1 and press the paper down in the opening1 bringing the folded edges through each of the four slits2 remove the wedge1 and the paper will be firmly held in its place4 ,insert a needle or headless pin in the other end of the wood1 and the dart is ready for use4 ,,the ,,balancing ,,pin4 ,this amusing feat ,i first saw performed in our little district school-house1 many years ago4 ,illustration ,one morning1 while the teacher was busy with his class at the blackboard1 one of the boys drew an old clay pipe-stem from his pocket1 and producing a small green gooseberry and a pin from some other part of his clothing1 gave us boys to understand that he was about to perform some wonderful trick with them4 ,we were of course all attention1 and as the teacher's back remained turned toward us1 he proceeded to astonish us with his remarkable feat4 ,he first stuck the pin through the gooseberry1 and then let it fall1 point downward1 into one end of the pipe-stem2 then1 placing the other end to his mouth1 and holding his head thrown well over backward1 he blew into the opening1 and the gooseberry and pin arose quite clear of the tube1 and began dancing and balancing above it in a very funny way4 ,how long it would have continued its gyrations ,i cannot tell1 probably until his breath gave out1 but just then a little boy in the front row made some exclamation1 and straightway the teacher's head came around1 the pipe-stem1 pin1 and gooseberry went on a voyage of discovery out of the school-house window1 and the boy got a thrashing for his pains4 ,but the feat was often performed by us all after that1 and some years later1 when a second generation of boys were having over again the tricks and sports their older brothers had outgrown1 ,i saw the same principle applied under more favorable conditions4 ,instead of the straight pipe-stem1 which necessitated throwing the head over backward1 to insure its perpendicular position1 a tube bent at a right angle near one end was used1 and the balancing of the pin could be much more easily watched by the performer4 ,instead of the gooseberry1 a currant1 pea1 or any light1 round fruit can be substituted1 and a small glass tube may take the place of the pipe-stem4 ,a ,,box-,,sled ,,for ,,baby4 ,procure a deep1 smooth soap-box1 and decide how high you wish the back and front to be2 then take a piece of brown paper1 the exact size of the sides of the box1 and mark on it a curve1 which shall unite the high back with the low front4 ,after this has assumed a perfectly satisfactory form1 cut it out and tack it on one side of the box4 ,mark the outline carefully on both side-pieces1 and saw the boards as indicated by the line2 cut the front straight across1 and rasp and sand-paper the edges till they are very smooth and well rounded4 ,next paint the box inside and out1 excepting the bottom1 which is to be fastened to the sled1 with a thick coat of burnt umber1 and give it a good drying4 ,then with light-blue paint1 make a narrow band1 one-fourth of an inch wide1 entirely around each side1 the back1 and the front1 about half an inch from the edge4 ,stencil a pretty design on the back1 and the name of the little owner on each side2 let this thoroughly dry1 and finish with two coats of varnish4 ,a little seat can be fitted in the back part if desired1 but a pillow answers the purpose much better4 ,a ,,set ,,of ,,cars4 ,procure a stick of wood of any length1 and an inch and a half square at the ends4 ,saw it into pieces six inches in length1 being careful to cut it evenly1 that the blocks may be rectangular in form4 ,round off the tops slightly at the edges and paint them brown1 then give the sides and ends a good coating of yellow4 ,illustration ,if you have no oil paints1 it would be a good investment to get a few tubes1 as they are not expensive1 and are of invaluable assistance in adding beauty and naturalness to many things a boy can make4 ,for the cars1 a tube of chrome yellow1 one of ,indian-red1 and one of black would be needed1 but as those are not over seven or eight cents apiece the whole cost would be small4 ,the windows can perhaps be most conveniently put on by 8stencilling40 ,to do this1 cut a piece of stout paper or thin cardboard the exact size of the side of the car1 and mark the windows on it in their proper places 7see ,fig4 #b74 ,then cut out the windows thus drawn with the point of a sharp penknife4 ,catch the card firmly upon the surface by driving two or three fine pins through it into the wood4 ,finally1 with your brush moderately filled with the black paint1 cover all the yellow surface exposed through the openings2 then remove the card very carefully and one side of your car will be complete4 ,after painting the whole set1 another long time will be needed for drying4 ,during the meantime obtain a few screw-eyes and hooks1 and1 when perfectly dry1 screw a hook into the left and an eye into the right end of each car1 join them into a train1 and you will find you have a strong set of cars with which your little brother can play to his satisfaction1 without a fear of breaking4 ,the locomotive is more difficult to make1 but with a little care any boy of ten can be quite certain of success4 ,,the ,,toy ,,locomotive4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,the thin ends of a common soap-box afford very good material for the base of this locomotive1 while the end of a curtain-roller makes a capital boiler4 ,the cab can be cut from a cigar-box1 and a button-mold will do for the boiler-head4 ,first cut from the thicker wood a base in shape like ,fig4 #a1 and seven inches long by one and a half wide2 with a jackknife bevel it on either side of the pointed end to correspond to the shape of the pilot1 as shown in the cut4 ,saw the roller even at either end just four inches in length4 ,next cut from a solid block of wood a smoke-stack three inches high and an inch in diameter across the top4 ,the cab is cut from the cigar-box wood1 and consists of a front like a1 two side-pieces like b1 and a top like that seen in ,fig4 #a2 round off the edges of the top to give it a slightly convex surface like the tops of the cars4 ,now1 with brads1 fasten these three parts together4 ,then with a long1 slender brass screw fasten the button-mold and smoke-stack on front of the boiler4 ,the screw should have as large a head as it is possible to find1 and should be long enough to extend half an inch or more into the round section of wood or boiler4 ,cover the whole1 excepting the cab1 with two thick coats of black paint1 being careful that the first is perfectly dry before the second is put on4 ,after the blackened surface is thoroughly dry and hard1 put the red stripes on the pilot1 as seen in the cut3 and for the brass bands around the boiler use chrome yellow4 ,the cab is painted ,indian-red1 and after this is perfectly dry1 the windows are painted on with black1 as in the cars4 ,illustration3 #a ,illustration ,illustration ,the little ornamental lines on the cab are made with the yellow paint4 ,a large round-headed brass screw driven through a low flat spool 7such as is used for button-hole twist71 into the top of the boiler in front of the cab1 makes a good steam-chest and whistle1 and adds the finishing touch to this indestructible little toy4 ,if you anticipate making this train of cars for a ,christmas present1 begin it in time1 as paint dries much more slowly in winter than in summer1 and it is absolutely necessary that each coat be perfectly dry before the next is applied4 ,varnishing greatly improves the durability and appearance of the painted surface4 ,shellac dissolved in alcohol makes the best varnish for this kind of work4 ,it should be made moderately thick1 and if intended for light-colored work1 white shellac should be used1 as the dark leaves a slight stain upon the surface4 ,i forgot to add in its proper place that a brass button1 caught in on top by a stiff wire1 is made to represent a bell4 ,the wire should be first bent into the shape seen in the illustration2 the button then hung in position1 and the wire finally driven into the holes made to receive it4 ,the tender consists of a piece of wood the same width but only half the length of one of the cars1 and one inch high4 ,this is painted black with a narrow band of yellow running around the sides near the top1 and is fastened to the locomotive and car by means of the screw-eye and hook4 ,a ,,freight ,,train4 ,the locomotive for this train can be made like the one already described1 and the cars are cut from a rectangular stick1 in the same manner as the passenger cars4 ,these should receive a thick coat of ,indian-red paint1 and if this does not cover well1 that is1 if any of the wood shows through1 another coat should be given4 ,after the paint is perfectly dry1 put on one edge of the side1 near the top1 a number in white1 and two or three letters in the same color1 to represent the sides of the freight cars on different lines4 ,if desired1 the cars can be painted different colors1 and the side decorations copied from the car you mean to represent4 ,give the whole a good varnishing with the shellac dissolved in alcohol1 and allow plenty of time to elapse before the toy is used1 for it to become perfectly dry and hard4 ,a ,,lot ,,of ,,paper ,,windmills4 ,illustration ,take a thin stick of wood a foot and a half or two feet long1 and nail to it four cross-pieces1 graduated in length and six or seven inches apart4 ,the shorter1 at the top1 should measure about six inches4 ,cut out of stiff1 colored paper 7the greater the variety the prettier the effect7 fifteen pieces1 each three inches square1 and slit each piece as indicated by the diagonal lines in the figure4 ,out of pretty tissue-paper cut three round pieces for each mill1 about the size of a silver dollar1 and with a dull knife scrape their edges1 that they may slightly curl like the petals of a rose2 crinkle them at the center if intended for a rose1 or from the edge toward the center if for asters or marigolds1 and thrust a large1 strong pin through the middle of each disk1 drawing the flower well down over the head2 then1 bending the opposite corners of each square of paper so that they shall all rest over the central dot marked on each 7,fig4 #a71 force the pin with the flower on its head1 down through the five thicknesses of paper1 driving it well into the wood of the frame4 ,in doing this care should be taken to avoid creasing the curved edges of the windmills4 ,they are placed upon the frame-work as indicated in the cut4 ,illustration ,very pretty windmills are often made of only two shades1 common note-paper being used for the wheels1 and a bright1 rosy pink tissue-paper for the flowers4 ,indeed1 those made of common brown wrapping-paper without any flowers at all give more satisfaction in a light wind than the more elaborate ones described above4 ,a ,,winter ,,garden4 ,most boys love flowers2 and many families1 especially in the country1 would keep more through the winter than they do1 if they had the space and time to devote to them1 necessary for their preservation4 ,a number of pots1 sufficiently large to hold good-sized plants1 take up considerable room2 and no little time is required each day1 to keep the pots clean and the plants well watered4 ,now1 boys1 ,i have a suggestion to make1 which ,i intend for your ears alone4 ,why can't you make a winter garden1 and1 if necessary1 take care of it through the season8 ,it will amply repay you for your labor1 and do much toward brightening the home life through the long dreary months1 when everything without is covered with ice and snow4 ,first procure a soap-box1 the best and tightest you can find3 if any cracks are too wide to be easily closed with putty1 nail laths over them on the inside1 line their edges1 and1 in fact1 stop every seam and crevice with good thick layers of putty4 ,next paint over the entire inside with any colored pigment you may have1 as it does not show when the box is filled with earth1 but simply aids in making it water-tight4 ,now take four strong pieces of wood1 about two and a half feet long2 smooth them well and sand-paper2 be sure both ends are cut off evenly1 and that each leg is the same length as the other three1 and1 finally1 nail them firmly to the four corners of the box1 letting the tops come in line with its upper edge1 and give the whole thing two good coats of ,indian-red4 ,a very pretty stand is made by substituting the straight trunks of young forest trees with their bark left on in place of the smooth1 painted legs2 bore holes in the bottom of the legs and insert casters1 and finish by giving the entire outer surface a thick coating of varnish4 ,then get a good wheelbarrow-load of fine leaf-mold1 about half that quantity of sand1 and some common garden soil4 ,stir these well together1 and fill the box half full with the mixture1 first covering the bottom with pebbles1 to secure drainage4 ,before this1 however1 bore a hole with a good-sized gimlet in the bottom of the box1 and fit a soft pine peg to close it from the under side4 ,when the plants are watered this peg can be removed1 and a dish placed beneath the opening to catch the surplus water4 ,you are now ready for the plants4 ,i find almost any garden plants thrive well in this box1 so any favorites you may have will soon make themselves at home in these new quarters4 ,it is well to put vines around the edge1 as they fall over1 and their glossy green leaves and stems form an agreeable contrast to the dark-red background of the box itself4 ,in my present winter garden ,i have ,german and ,cenilworth ivy1 partridge-berry1 and the common inch-plant for vines4 ,in the center is a large salvia1 taken up so carefully that the great ball of dirt was not shaken from its roots4 ,on one side is a calla lily1 and on the other a feverfew of the large double variety4 ,at the ends are fuchsias and heliotrope1 and scattered over the other available spots are verbenas and petunias1 sweet peas and lobelia2 one or two fish-geraniums of bright colors also found a place1 and a little wood-violet nestled in one corner has bloomed since early spring4 ,a beautiful large purple pansy1 too1 has been blooming all winter in another corner of the box4 ,over this garden are two hanging-pots1 one filled with pink oxalis1 and the other with a ,chinese pink2 both have contributed their full share of blossoms during the entire season1 and neither seems to tire of well-doing4 ,i must now tell you how to care for these beautiful pets1 for they must receive some attention1 which1 however1 is very small when compared with that required by their sisters in pots4 ,first1 always water them with warm water 7almost as hot as you can bear your hand in71 pour this around the roots in sufficient quantities to thoroughly moisten the soil4 ,a good rule to be observed in watering your plants is to pour on the water until it begins to run out of the hole in the bottom of the box4 ,with such thorough wetting down they will not need water oftener than twice a week1 except when the sun is very hot1 and the moisture evaporates quickly4 ,a little carbonate of ammonia added to the water greatly improves their growth1 and half-a-dozen grains of permanganate of potash added once a fortnight to the warm bath turns their foliage a rich dark green4 ,with a whisk broom1 sprinkle them once or twice a week with water which is also warm1 but not as hot as that used on their roots2 this operation takes but little time1 scarcely five minutes1 and as the stand is on casters it can be easily moved to the middle of the room1 and each side can then receive its full share of the washing4 ,it is safe to predict that if any boy would make the stand1 and supply it with rich soil1 his mother or some one of his sisters would only be too happy to plant and care for the flowers it might hold4 ,,the ,,boot ,,puzzle4 ,first take a piece of paper1 double it1 and cut from it a pair of boots1 the fold in the paper coming at the top of the boots1 and consequently joining them together4 ,then take another piece1 fold it and cut it in the form of ,fig4 #b1 a being the folded end4 ,fold still another piece and cut it like ,fig4 #c1 b representing the folding side4 ,now open the smaller piece1 as in ,fig4 #d1 and push the point a through the opening in its center 7,fig4 #e74 ,then put one boot through the loop of the long arm1 c1 between a and the smaller piece1 which has been pushed forward as far as it will go 7,fig4 #f74 ,now pull the smaller piece down over a1 and open the largest piece1 and the boots are fastened on to the larger paper in such a way that it is rather hard for the uninitiated to extricate them4 ,illustration3 ,figs4 #a1 #b1 #c1 #d1 #e1 #f ,after they are fastened in place1 with your finger-nail smooth out the creases made at a1 ,fig4 #e1 as their appearance might furnish a clue toward solving the mystery4 ,it is best when cutting ,fig4 #b to avoid the creasing if possible4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g ,when you pass them to your friends to take off1 explain that they are not to bend the boots4 ,it is an excellent plan to make the last-named articles of cardboard1 while the other parts are simply of note-paper4 ,,how ,,to ,,take ,,portraits4 ,illustration ,the person whose portrait is to be taken must sit so that his shadow is thrown upon a sheet of cardboard or thick white paper placed against the wall4 ,to obtain a sharp outline there should be a fixed distance between the lamp1 wall1 and sitter1 which can easily be found by experiment4 ,the sitter must keep perfectly still while the outline of the shadow is quickly traced upon the paper4 ,a tumbler or roll of paper may be placed between the head of the sitter and the wall1 to aid in holding the head quiet4 ,the tracing is then cut out with a pair of scissors or a sharp penknife1 and placed upon a dark cloth or paper4 ,this is a very pleasing amusement for a cold winter's evening1 and the results are often profile likenesses not only very striking but often wonderfully accurate4 ,,how ,,to ,,break ,a ,,string4 ,illustration ,no boy feels himself perfectly at home if he has not one pocket at least full of strings1 and a good sharp jackknife at his command4 ,although the jackknife often gets lost1 the string is usually at hand1 and most boys will probably be glad to learn how a good strong cord can be broken without injury to the hands4 ,take the cord and pass it around the left hand1 as shown in ,fig4 ,a1 so as to form a cross or double loop over the palm4 ,one end is then wound round the fingers1 and the other seized in the right hand4 ,then1 by closing both hands1 and giving a very sharp1 quick pull1 the string will be broken at the cross in the left hand4 ,illustration ,for those boys living in the country who have a musical turn1 but have never seen this little instrument1 ,i write the following description of ,a ,,corn-,,stalk ,,fiddle4 ,illustration ,find a good straight corn-stalk1 and with your jackknife cut four slits from joint to joint1 as seen in the upper figure4 ,then from a bit of wood cut a bridge1 as shown just below4 ,with the point of the knife lift the three strings and insert the bridge4 ,then carefully raise the bridge to its upright position1 spread the strings until they rest in the grooves cut in the bridge for that purpose1 and put a similar bridge at the other end4 ,make the bow in the same manner1 of a smaller section of a stalk1 and the instrument is complete4 ,i have never heard a very decided tune played on this fiddle1 but perhaps some of my readers may be able to get music from this simple little instrument4 ,illustration ,,the ,,xylophone4 ,the xylophone is an instrument of great antiquity1 having been used in a slightly different form by both ,greeks and ,hebrews4 ,it is now sometimes used in connection with other instruments in our larger orchestras1 in which case1 however1 the bars are usually made of metal4 ,its construction is very simple1 and any boy having a good ear for music can readily make one4 ,the instrument is composed of strips of wood of various sizes1 and thick enough to allow the passage of a stout piece of twine or fish-line1 as seen in the illustration4 ,the largest strips give the lowest notes4 ,the first note of the scale may be a strip of any convenient size1 and the succeeding strips are tuned by carefully cutting away from the under side until the desired tone is produced4 ,they are strung upon cords1 in the manner shown in ,fig4 #b1 a knot being made on each side to keep the strip in place2 and finally1 across the upper part of a box1 in order to give sufficient resonance of sound4 ,in putting these strips together1 it is necessary to have the holes through which they are strung at a slight angle1 or in the direction of the slant which the strings take when fastened to the frame4 ,illustration3 ,figs4 #b1 #c ,the arrangement seen in ,fig4 #c is perhaps best adapted to the usual form of a box1 and affords a greater range of notes4 ,it would be well to letter the upper part of the bars with the name of the note they are intended to produce1 and the wood should be thoroughly seasoned from which these bars are made4 ,it is well to have the lowest note not the first of the scale but a fifth below1 and the highest three or four notes above the octave4 ,this will give sufficient compass for any air you may care to play4 ,a good ear for music is of the greatest importance to insure success in constructing an instrument of this description1 and it would simply be a waste of time and patience for any boy not so blessed1 to venture upon the undertaking4 ,little wooden mallets are sometimes used to play upon this xylophone1 but the little drumsticks belonging to the common toy drum are better for the purpose4 ,illustration ,among the tribes of southern ,africa an instrument of this class holds the chief place in their festivals1 and is played upon with considerable skill by many of their native musicians4 ,this piano1 called by them 8marimba10 consists of two bars of wood placed side by side2 in the most southern portions quite straight1 but farther north1 bent round so as to resemble half the tire of a carriage-wheel2 across these are placed about fifteen wooden keys1 each of which is two or three inches broad1 and fifteen or eighteen inches long1 and their thickness1 as in the case of the xylophone1 is regulated according to the deepness of the note required4 ,each of the keys has a calabash beneath it2 from the upper part of each a portion is cut off to enable them to embrace the bars1 and form hollow sounding-boards to the keys1 which also are of different sizes1 according to the note required2 and little drumsticks1 like those spoken of above1 elicit the music4 ,rapidity of execution seems much admired among them1 and the music is pleasant to the ear4 ,in ,angola1 the ,portuguese use the marimba in their dances4 ,,the ,,olian ,,harp4 ,this simple little musical instrument derives its name from olus1 god of the winds1 who is said to have lived at ,stromboli1 then called ,strongyle1 while he reigned over the olian islands1 just north of ,sicily4 ,his island was entirely surrounded by a wall of brass1 and by perfectly smooth precipitous rocks4 ,here he dwelt in continual joy and festivity with his wife and children2 the latter1 six sons and as many daughters1 are said to be a poetic type of the twelve months of the year4 ,and here he kept the winds1 tied up in bags1 in perfect subjection1 only letting them out when called upon to do so by ,neptune1 god of the sea4 ,as the winds served olus on his little isle1 so we force them to serve us in our far-away western homes1 by operating upon our instrument and making music to soothe and calm us when we are too tired or indolent to make it for ourselves4 ,the simplest form this instrument can have is a single string of strong waxed silk1 stretched between two bits of wood1 inserted under the lower window-sash1 sufficient space being allowed between the window-sill and the sash for the vibration of the string4 ,illustration ,the other and more satisfactory harp is made like that in the engraving1 and is not so difficult an undertaking1 that any boy who can handle carpenter's tools need fear to try it4 ,take two long strips of thin1 soft pine wood1 four and five inches wide respectively1 and a little shorter than the sash is wide1 to allow for the length of the pegs at one end2 then from common seven-eighths of an inch board make two other pieces in shape like b1 six inches wide1 six high1 on the narrower1 and seven on the back or longer side4 ,with a small gimlet make in both ends a row of eight or nine holes1 at equal distances from each other1 and half an inch from the edge of the slanting top1 for the strings to pass through2 then with a larger gimlet bore in one end only1 the second row of holes1 h i1 to hold the pegs upon which the ends of the strings are to be wound4 ,nail the parts together as in the cut1 making the lower edges of the pieces meet at the bottom2 then from the outside of d e draw through as many pieces of violin string 7the smallest or ,e string7 as you have holes in your wood4 ,hold these by knots on the outside1 and having brought them across the box pass them through the corresponding holes in the other end1 and twist them around the pegs below1 in the same manner that the strings are fastened in the violin itself4 ,unlike the violin1 however1 these should not be drawn too tight1 simply stretched evenly across1 and must all be tuned in unison4 ,that is1 having drawn one as tight as you think best1 draw the others1 one at a time1 till they give forth the same musical note when snapped with the finger4 ,now put another thin piece of board across the top which shall just cover it like the lid of a desk4 ,this was purposely left out in the illustration1 that the arrangement of the strings might be more fully seen1 but is necessary in the complete instrument4 ,if catgut cannot be readily obtained1 strong pieces of sadlers' silk1 well waxed1 may be used in its place1 although the tones resulting are not as musical1 or the strains as soft and lulling in character1 as those produced by the former4 ,after the instrument is properly tuned1 place it upon the ledge of an open window1 and let the sash down upon it1 when1 if there is any breeze stirring1 it will pour forth strains of sweet1 drowsy music1 beautifully described by the poet ,thomson1 as supplying the most suitable harmonies for the ,castle of ,indolence4 ,,the ,,boston ,,clapper4 ,take a piece of soft wood1 five or six inches long1 and whittle out of one end a hollow box1 open at the top and outer end1 like that represented in the illustration4 ,cut a groove around the inside1 near the top1 for the cover to slide in4 ,make this cover of a very thin piece of tough wood1 and one-third as long as the opening1 pushing it1 when completed1 well up against the inner end of the box2 see b1 in the figure1 for size and position of cover4 ,the handle1 f1 is simply for convenience in holding the instrument4 ,pass a piece of strong string or fish-line twice around the box at the point d1 and after drawing it as tightly as possible1 tie it firmly on the under side4 ,illustration ,out of hard1 tough wood make a thin1 slender tongue1 c1 and place this between the two strings at e4 ,now twist this tongue over and over1 each time drawing out the longer end1 to allow of the other sliding by the edge of the cover4 ,at each revolution of c the string is twisted tighter around the box1 and if the end of c is touched1 the other end strikes with more force upon the cover b4 ,when sufficiently tight1 grasp the handle with your left hand1 and having the point well over the cover1 commence with the third finger of your right hand and strike down on the end c with the fingers in their order1 giving quick and repeated blows1 like the successive taps of a drum4 ,the music produced1 if not strictly melodious1 is quite enchanting to the average ,american school-boy4 ,,papier-,,mach4 ,i have now come to one of the most fascinating and at the same time useful employments a boy can have2 one which not only affords amusement for the time being1 but1 if properly executed1 furnishes home with much which is useful or ornamental1 at scarcely any expense beyond the mere time and labor consumed in the work4 ,how many of my readers know how to make things of papier-mach8 ,none who are old enough to read these directions are too young to make really useful objects or pretty playthings of this inexpensive medium2 indeed1 many of the children of ,india1 ,persia1 and many other ,asiatic countries support themselves1 and in some instances whole families1 by making ornaments of papier-mach4 ,in ,germany this art is carried to a great extent1 and a large proportion of the ,german toys so common in our stores1 as well as the jointed bodies of the expensive ,french and ,german dolls1 are made of this material4 ,papier-mach means 8softened paper10 and is simply any old soft paper converted into pulp by water2 the poorer the paper the better4 ,cheap newspapers1 such as tear with a mere touch1 thin handbills and posters1 are all particularly suited for this purpose4 ,for a first trial it would be well to take some simple object1 and a cup would perhaps make as good a beginning as any4 ,first have some good flour-paste made1 by pouring into boiling water enough flour1 which has previously been moistened with cold water1 to make a substance rather thicker than boiled starch2 this should be stirred only enough to unite the flour with the water1 and to prevent burning4 ,add to this one or two old newspapers and a dish of water1 a broad brush for the paste1 and any prettily shaped tea-cup conveniently at hand1 and you have all the materials required4 ,a bag filled with sand or stuffed hard with cotton is a great help in molding1 although not indispensable to the operation4 ,take the cup1 which should be well smeared over with sweet-oil or lard1 and cutting out a piece of paper sufficiently large1 wet it1 and press it down on the cup1 using the fingers1 or the sand bag1 if you have it1 for the purpose2 then with the brush spread the paste over the paper1 and lay on this another piece2 press this down as before and continue the process until twenty or thirty paper coverings have been used4 ,after the first two or three layers1 it is not necessary to use pieces which entirely cover the surface2 any sized scraps will do if they are so placed that the same thickness is preserved throughout4 ,the outer surface should be as smooth and even as possible4 ,when this is completed1 let it dry for a day or two in any moderately warm place1 as it is not well to dry it too quickly4 ,when it seems sufficiently hard1 remove the mold1 and you will have a pasteboard cup with an uneven edge which must be trimmed with a sharp knife and smoothed with sand-paper4 ,it might be well to trim off the top before removing the mold1 as you would be more certain of getting it even by so doing4 ,after this the cup can be painted in any manner desired4 ,a plaque can readily be molded upon the inside of a plate or saucer1 and a pretty work-basket can be made upon a shallow bowl4 ,toy boats are made in the same manner as the cup1 upon wooden molds cut out for the purpose4 ,,card ,,receivers4--,these are generally flat dishes or shallow cups1 made to hold visiting-cards1 or the varied collections from ,christmas1 ,easter1 and ,new-year's4 ,they may be molded on plates1 saucers1 or small bowls1 or receiving their concave shape from a plaque or saucer1 they can be cut into any fantastic form your fancy may dictate4 ,a large1 well-shaped grape-leaf1 or the catalpa1 would furnish pretty designs to those who have no confidence in their own skill in that direction4 ,,umbrella ,,holders4--,take any cylinder with a smooth surface1 about two feet in length1 and six to ten inches in diameter1 for the mold2 make upon it a coating of papier-mach about half an inch in thickness4 ,it is made much stronger by rolling it during the pasting4 ,the bottom may be of the same material1 or a wooden disk made to perfectly fit into the cylinder4 ,the whole surface should be thoroughly sand-papered and given two or three good coats of paint4 ,a simple band of gold paint around top and bottom forms a pretty finish1 but a large bunch of peonies or poppies1 freely painted upon one side1 greatly improves its appearance4 ,by reducing a quantity of paper and paste into a pulp1 and allowing that to become a little dried--still moist1 but not liquid--a number of objects can be molded1 such as animals1 boats1 marbles1 etc41 by simply forming them with the hands and allowing them to dry4 ,paper pulp is sometimes mixed with common blue clay and glue1 instead of flour-paste1 used as a binding material4 ,a beautiful vase can easily be made of papier-mach by forming a frame-work of pasteboard1 and joining it together with a few stitches or with narrow strips of strong paper pasted across the edges4 ,make this frame-work as near the form and size of your vase as it is possible for you to get2 then with your thin paper line it inside and out1 until it seems as thick as you desire4 ,trim and sand-paper off the upper edge1 and cover with one or two extra layers to insure a rounded edge common in earthenware vases4 ,stand it on a smooth1 even table or board to make it flat on the bottom1 and let it have plenty of time to dry4 ,next make from the paper pulp and fine clay preparation spoken of above a rose1 poppy1 or other flower1 with its leaves and buds1 resembling as nearly as possible those on the bisque vases so fashionable just now4 ,this may seem at first a very difficult undertaking1 but by molding one petal at a time1 and placing each in position with glue as it is finished1 the work is comparatively simple4 ,do not undertake a difficult flower at first4 ,if in summer1 you may take any from the garden1 and after enlarging every part in the same proportions1 make it your model4 ,when the flowers1 stems1 and leaves are all in place1 let them become thoroughly dry1 then after painting the body of your vase with shades of blue1 red1 or olive1 so applied that they give a clouded effect to the whole1 color your flowers as nearly as you can like the natural ones of the same species1 and the stems and leaves the proper shades of brown or green4 ,let this paint thoroughly dry1 and then varnish with the white shellac dissolved in alcohol spoken of elsewhere in this book1 if a very light surface is to be covered1 or with the dark shellac or common varnish if the surface is intended to be dark4 ,the floral decorations are not absolutely necessary1 and a very pretty vase is made by simply painting the smooth surface with any graceful or pretty design1 and varnishing it subsequently to give it the desired polish4 ,,the ,,japanese ,,paper ,,bird4 ,illustration ,in the skillful management of paper1 the ,japanese are acknowledged to take the lead1 as their balloons and kites1 lanterns and fire-screens1 now so commonly seen in this country1 will testify4 ,many of the grotesque and hideous monsters1 which nevertheless are artistic in form and decorative in effect1 are made of paper pulp1 with the necessary materials added to give it the proper degree of hardness2 and in articles made of folded or crinkled paper they have no equals1 while in some instances they apparently infuse life itself into their airy creations4 ,by simply folding a square piece of paper in the manner here described1 they produce a bird-like figure1 which will move its wings in quite a natural and amusing manner4 ,illustration3 #a ,illustration3 #b ,illustration3 #c ,illustration3 #d ,illustration3 #e ,illustration3 #f ,illustration3 #g ,illustration3 #h ,illustration3 #i ,illustration3 #aj ,a leaf of paper--letter-paper is good for the purpose--is cut into an exact square2 fold this cornerwise1 and then through the middle each way1 as indicated in ,fig4 #a4 ,this done1 turn over each corner in succession1 so that the edge of the square will be along one of the cornerwise folds1 as in ,fig4 #b1 and fold sharply the portion from a to b4 ,do this eight times1 twice with each corner1 first turning it one way and then the other1 till it has the folds shown in ,fig4 #c4 ,turn inward two of these portions1 indicated by the shading1 as in ,fig4 #d2 this will draw together the other two sides2 fold it closely across the middle1 a b1 as in ,fig4 #e2 then repeat the same in the other direction1 folding on the line c d4 ,this is done to mark the folds1 which may be made more completely by pressing them with the finger-nail4 ,now it will be easy to bring the corners of the square up together1 making a figure like ,no4 #e or like ,no4 #f1 when looking down on the meeting of the points at a4 ,then bring the points #a and #b together1 also #c and #d1 and your figure will be like ,no4 #g4 ,take the two outside points at a and turn them down1 folding at the dotted line1 and you have ,fig4 #h4 ,now turn down the other two points1 #c and #d1 one forward1 the other backward1 making ,fig4 #i1 with two broad points inside and two narrow ones outside4 ,turn and fold these narrow points to the right and left1 and turn down the end of one point to form the head1 and you have the bird1 ,fig4 #aj4 ,take it by the head and tail1 as shown in the final view1 and move them to and from each other4 ,after a little careful working1 when the folds become flexible in the proper places1 you will make the bird flap its wings4 ,it can be done after a few trials1 if not on the first1 and is sure to afford amusement to all4 ,,the ,,tumbling ,,egg4 ,fill a quill with quicksilver1 seal it at both ends with good hard wax2 then have an egg boiled1 take a tiny piece of shell off the small end1 and thrust in the quill with the quicksilver2 lay it on the floor1 and it will not cease tumbling so long as any heat remains in it2 or if you put quicksilver into a small bladder1 and then blow it up1 upon warming the bladder it will skip about as long as heat remains in it4 ,,the ,,three ,,halos4 ,take a saturated solution of alum1 and1 having spread a few drops of it over a plate of glass1 it will rapidly crystallize4 ,when this plate is held between the observer and the sun or a lamp-flame1 with the eye very close to the smooth side of the glass plate1 there will be seen three beautiful halos of light at different distances from the luminous body4 ,the smallest1 which is the innermost circle1 is the whitest1 the second is larger and more colored1 with its blue rays extending outward1 and the third is very large and highly colored4 ,,paper ,,boats4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h ,illustration3 ,fig4 #i ,take a piece of paper measuring about four by three inches2 fold it across the middle1 as shown by dotted line in ,fig4 #a2 then turn down the corners of the folded side 7a b1 ,fig4 #b74 ,you now have ,fig4 #c2 turn up the edge c d toward you1 and fold it2 turn up the other edge away from you1 and fold it against the other side1 which gives you ,fig4 #d4 ,bend over the points c d in either direction1 also the other two corresponding points1 so that the outline of the triangle is continuous4 ,you can cut off these little corners if you like2 but the boat is somewhat stronger1 however1 by letting them remain1 and after a little experience1 you will find no difficulty in disposing of them4 ,this little hat-shaped form you now open 7,fig4 #e7 and press together1 with the points e f meeting each other1 which gives you ,fig4 #f4 ,bend the point f up toward you till it meets the point g1 folding on the dotted line4 ,turn the point e up likewise on the other side4 ,now you have another hat1 but smaller1 and with a triple crown4 ,treat this as before 7,figs4 #e and #f74 ,your last shape will have two points meeting at the bottom and three at the top4 ,pull the two outside points at the top apart sideways 7,fig4 #g71 and continue this till you have drawn it out to a flat shape1 as in ,fig4 #h4 ,press this closely together1 then open it slightly1 and the boat is complete--like ,fig4 #i4 ,,note4--,to avoid taking up unnecessary space1 the first two figures are drawn smaller than their actual proportion to the rest4 ,,how ,,to ,,take ,,impressions ,,of ,,plants4 ,take fine paper and oil it well with lard or sweet oil2 let it stand a few moments to soak through1 then remove the superfluous oil with a piece of paper1 and hang it in the air to dry4 ,when the oil is well dried in1 take a lighted candle and move the paper slowly over it in a horizontal direction so as to touch the flame1 till it is perfectly black4 ,when you wish to take impressions of plants1 lay your plant carefully on the oiled paper1 and a piece of clean paper over it1 and rub it with your finger equally in all parts for about half a minute2 then take up your plant1 being careful not to disturb the order of the leaves1 and place it on the paper on which you wish to have the impression2 cover it with a piece of blotting-paper and rub it with your finger for a short time1 and you will have an impression equal to a fine engraving4 ,the same piece of black paper will serve to take off a great number of impressions1 so that when you have once gone through the process of blacking it1 you may make several impressions in a very short time4 ,it is well for beginners to try with single leaves before attempting whole plants4 ,after you have gained some experience you will find little difficulty in making a beautiful bouquet of leaves1 which will be a very acceptable ,christmas or birthday gift for mother or an older sister or friend4 ,a ,,nice ,,frame ,,for ,,the ,,above4 ,procure a strip of board1 half an inch thick and three inches wide2 take the dimensions of your drawing or impression picture1 and subtracting half an inch from both length and width1 make the remainder the inner dimensions of your frame4 ,for instance1 suppose your picture was twelve inches wide and fourteen inches long1 the inner dimensions of your frame would be eleven and one-half by thirteen and one-half inches4 ,the two upright strips would be cut just thirteen and one-half inches long1 but the top and bottom would be eleven and one-half inches plus six inches1 the width of the two sides1 which is seventeen and one-half inches4 ,so the two sides would be thirteen and one-half inches and the top and bottom seventeen and one-half inches each4 ,great care must be taken to cut the pieces so that their ends will be at exact right angles to their sides4 ,if you are not expert in such work1 it would be well to get a carpenter to cut the pieces for you4 ,in selecting your stock for this frame1 procure a board with a rough1 unplaned surface1 if possible1 as the result is much better than with a perfectly smooth satin finish4 ,next take a lath and cut from it two strips three inches longer than the side-pieces1 in this instance sixteen and one-half inches1 and two other strips one-half inch longer than the inner dimensions of top and bottom1 being twelve inches for the frame we are making4 ,with good hot glue join the parts of the frame1 and tie it with a cord to keep its form till the glue is dry2 then lay the laths upon the back of the frame1 one-fourth of an inch from the inner edge1 and with small brads nail them in place4 ,at this stage it is well to have your glass fitted1 as it saves marring the frame when finished4 ,after it is fitted--any glazier will do that for you--lay the glass carefully away till needed4 ,find some prettily shaped larch twigs with their little cones attached1 or if they are not to be had1 pine twigs will do1 and with the hot glue and two or three slender brads1 place them in graceful bunches over the points of joining4 ,with a bottle of gold paint and a soft brush you can very soon change this rough1 unpretending affair into a very artistic frame1 one of which1 if every step of the process of construction has been carefully taken1 you may justly be proud4 ,the glass is next put in place1 then the picture carefully laid upon that1 face downward1 and a piece of cardboard--an old paper-box cover will do--cut the exact size of the glass1 laid upon both2 these are caught in place by brad-nails driven into the edges of the laths1 and extending over the edges of the cardboard4 ,when the picture is firmly fixed in its place1 paste a piece of strong brown paper over the whole back of the picture and frame1 covering the laths as well4 ,this will exclude all dust and dampness and make the whole thing neater in appearance4 ,last of all1 put in two screw-eyes a little above the middle line of the frame and attach a wire or cord for hanging it in its place upon the wall4 ,,note4--,before pasting on the brown paper1 dampen it well to avoid its wrinkling4 ,,papier-,,mach ,,boats4 ,in a preceding article1 ,i alluded to boats as being good subjects for papier-mach1 and remembering how much pleasure every boy takes in constructing a boat1 ,i will give a few more explicit directions for the benefit of those of my readers who have ponds and brooks within easy access of their homes4 ,having cut from soft wood a good model for the hull1 smear it well over with sweet-oil or lard1 and rub it well into the wood2 then cut your paper into strips an inch or so wide1 and paste them longitudinally around the model from stem to stern1 in very much the same manner that the boards are put on a real boat1 but not so evenly1 as the arrangement will not show when the boat is completed4 ,continue this process until the coating of paper is as thick as very heavy pasteboard1 and let it remain until perfectly dry2 then with a sharp knife cut off the edge evenly at the top1 and sand-paper the whole surface till it is smooth and hard4 ,cover both inside and out with two good coats of oil paint1 making sure that every point is protected by this medium from the invasion of the water1 which would soon ruin it if allowed to reach the paper surface4 ,now cut two supports or braces out of #g_/h-;inch board1 which will just fit into the body of the boat1 across it from side to side4 ,these are to give proper strength and1 at the same time1 form supports for the masts2 while into a post at the stern two small iron sockets can be driven from the outside through the paper1 for holding the rudder in place4 ,the others are placed1 one fore and the other aft1 in the position the masts are finally to occupy4 ,as these boats are necessarily very light1 some ballast or a keel is indispensable for their sailing well4 ,if a ballast is used1 it must be fastened in place by wires on the inside2 but as a keel is most satisfactory in the end1 ,i should strongly advise its use4 ,as it is molded from lead1 you will be obliged to construct your own mold1 which can be done by digging out a piece of wood in the proper shape1 or1 what is easier1 by nailing on a flat piece of board two narrow strips at a suitable distance from each other1 and closing the form by nailing other and shorter strips across the ends of the first4 ,a little trough1 as you will see1 will be the result1 and if after passing into this your melted lead you place two sharp nails with their heads imbedded in the mass1 at the same distance from each other1 and in the same relative positions as your wooden supports1 your keel will1 when hard1 require only a few blows with the hammer to fix it in place4 ,care must be taken to place the nails so that they will enter the supports after passing through the paper bottom2 as the keel would not otherwise hold in place4 ,next cut from the cigar-box wood a deck for your craft2 this is easiest done by simply laying the model upon the wood bottom upward1 and marking around the edge with a sharp-pointed lead-pencil4 ,this deck must necessarily fit in your boat if your lines are followed in the cutting4 ,mark upon the deck the positions of the supports1 and bore holes through it and into them1 for the accommodation of the masts1 which should be two in number for a schooner1 or three for a full-rigged ship2 fasten a bowsprit in its place1 and arrange your sails and stays to suit the style of your boat4 ,after the keel1 deck1 and bowsprit are in place1 it would be well to give her another good coat of paint1 and when that is perfectly dry1 to varnish her thoroughly with the shellac spoken of before in this book4 ,this boat is a great improvement on the ordinary dug-out hulls most boys are in the habit of making2 for aside from taking less time in making1 and sailing more rapidly1 it has the advantage of being duplicated2 that is1 of having a dozen if you wish1 made just like it on the same model1 while it would be almost impossible to make two alike by the old1 laborious method4 ,in forming your model be careful to make it largest at the top1 so that it can be removed without trouble from its papier-mach covering4 ,,the ,,toy ,,steam-,,boat4 ,illustration ,among the many mechanical toys a boy of ordinary ability can make1 the steam-boat is perhaps one of the most satisfactory of them all4 ,as a scroll-saw takes an important part in its making1 some knowledge of one1 or friendship with the owner of it1 is desirable1 if not absolutely necessary1 for complete success4 ,illustration3 ,figs4 #a1 #b1 #c1 #d1 #e ,this toy is composed principally of five pieces of board1 of different degrees of thickness1 which are first cut out as follows3 ,the first piece1 or hull1 is eighteen inches long by three and one-half inches wide1 with a shape like that indicated by ,fig4 #a1 and made of wood seven-eighths of an inch thick4 ,to insure making both sides of these pieces alike1 it would be well to first draw1 on thick brown paper1 a straight line from the bow to the middle point of the stern1 and carefully mark out one-half the piece on the right side of this line2 then1 folding the paper on the line1 cut through the outline1 and the pattern is ready for use on your wood4 ,do this with all the parts1 and you will find less difficulty in putting them together4 ,the second piece is made of a half-inch board1 and is nineteen inches long1 by five and one-half inches wide opposite the slits for the wheels4 ,the dotted line d e across this is just nine and one-half inches from the bow1 and is placed there to show where the slits a a are to begin4 ,these slits are for the wheels1 and are four and one-quarter inches long1 five-eighths of an inch wide1 and three-eighths of an inch from the edge4 ,the sides opposite these slits must be straight1 or parallel to a line drawn from bow to middle of stern4 ,the hole in the middle is three inches long by two inches wide1 with an extension two inches long by one wide on the forward end4 ,the middle of the main hole forms a line with the middle point of the paddle-wheel slits4 ,remember and mark out one-half of this on paper1 double1 and cut both sides at once2 do #c1 #d1 and #e the same way4 ,the third piece is made of seven-eighths-inch wood1 fourteen inches long1 and corresponds in shape to the second board from the dotted line b c1 ,fig4 #b1 to just aft of the slits for the paddle-wheels4 ,here the edge forms a line parallel to that of the second board1 but one inch from it all the distance around1 as indicated by the dotted lines on ,fig4 #b4 ,its shape is given in ,fig4 #c1 and the point d is intended to fall over e in ,fig4 #a4 ,the rear1 f1 in the second board1 indicated in ,fig4 #b1 extends an inch beyond1 and forms the base for the flag-staff to stand upon1 and a hole is made at g for another flag-staff to rest in 7see engraving74 ,the slits and central hole are the same size as in second board1 and correspond to them in shape and position4 7,the position which three occupies in connection with two is indicated on ,fig4 #b by the dotted lines47 ,fourth piece3 ,cut it like ,fig4 #d in shape1 and out of a board one inch in thickness4 ,its position is indicated by the inner set of dotted lines on ,fig4 #c4 ,this piece is ten inches long and two and three-quarter inches wide1 with a central hole the same size and shape as in the other pieces4 ,at three-quarters of an inch forward from the slits for paddle-wheels1 cut in three-quarters of an inch and finish in a semicircular shape at each end4 ,the fifth piece is made of half-inch wood1 in shape like ,fig4 #e1 and fifteen inches long by two and three-quarter inches wide1 with the middle opening corresponding in length to the other three1 but only three-quarters of an inch wide4 ,its position is indicated on ,fig4 #c by the outer set of dotted lines4 ,when referring to these pieces hereafter1 ,i will call them ,numbers #a1 #b1 etc41 as indicated by the figures4 ,the smoke-stack next claims our attention3 this is six inches long1 and seven-eighths of an inch in diameter across the top2 its position is indicated at g on ,fig4 #e4 ,the pilot-house is cylindrical1 and cut to correspond in form to that in the illustration4 ,it is one and one-half inches in diameter and two inches high from base line to tip of point on the top4 ,the walking-beam is rather less than one-quarter of an inch thick1 and is two and three-quarter inches long by one and one-quarter inches wide4 ,it should be cut in the shape represented in ,fig4 #f1 and a small hole bored in either end4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f ,the supports for the walking-beam are two in number1 made of quarter-inch wood1 cut in the shape of d1 e1 f1 ,fig4 #f2 the base line1 d f1 is one and one-half inches1 and the height of the support just two inches4 ,the wheels are made from three-eighths-of-an-inch wood and are circular in form1 with a diameter of three and three-quarter inches4 ,at this stage of the work it would be well to bore in each of these two holes to allow the passage of a good-sized wire2 one hole through the center1 and the other a quarter of an inch one side of it4 ,this is so arranged that the wire can be brought through the center of one wheel and allowed to project a few inches4 ,then bend the projecting end twice1 in such a manner that it may enter the second hole in the wheel when that is pushed back upon it4 ,this arrangement is seen at ,b1 ,fig4 #c1 in which the dotted lines show the final position of the wheel4 ,the pieces for the paddle-boxes1 four in number1 are semicircular1 with a base line or diameter of four and one-quarter inches4 ,the form is seen in ,fig4 #h1 which also is intended to assist in the decoration4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g ,fig4 #g represents a front view of the walking-beam and its supports2 the line a b is a short piece of strong wire1 which passes through the hole made in the center of the walking-beam1 and rests in two holes made in the sides of the supports near the top1 and extending nearly1 but not quite through to the outer side4 ,this is plainly seen in the figure1 the black line indicating the length of these holes4 ,c in the same figure is a small piece cut from a quarter-inch wood and intended to hold the supports in place1 and to keep them a sufficient distance apart to allow free motion of the walking-beam4 ,the forward and aft flag-staffs are of large wire1 and the two masts are of tough wood nearly as large round as a lead-pencil4 ,having all the parts now cut out in the proper form and size1 take each piece and bore holes for the screws which hold them together4 ,the position of these is indicated in each figure by the heads of the screws placed at precisely the best points2 these screws should be of different lengths1 as those passing through ,no4 #d require a length of one and one-half to one and three-quarter inches1 while those for ,no4 #b need not be more than an inch in length4 ,in ,no4 #c make four small holes1 indicated by a in ,fig4 #c1 for slender screws which are to hold the outer paddle-box pieces in place4 ,in ,fig4 #c1 the lines b c1 b c1 indicate grooves1 cut down in the sides five-eighths of an inch deep1 and reaching across in a straight line from the middle of one slit to the middle of the other2 these should be large enough to admit an easy play of the wire which is to form the axle of the wheels4 ,holes should also be made at a and b1 in ,fig4 #e1 for the wire forming the flag-staffs to pass up through1 and for the screws at c and g1 which are to hold the pilot-house and smoke-stack in place4 ,having smoothed off all these pieces and sand-papered those parts needing it1 we now proceed to the painting1 as it is much more convenient to paint each piece separately1 and then put them together1 than to leave it till the last1 as is generally the custom4 ,no4 #a simply needs a thick coat of white paint4 ,no4 #b is also painted white4 ,it seems unnecessary to add that those parts not seen when the steam-boat is put together1 need no paint4 ,no4 #c is first painted white1 then the windows are stenciled on in the same manner as given in the directions for making toy cars1 in another part of this book4 ,these should be black1 while the name should be either dark red or brown4 ,no4 #d is also white1 with windows stenciled on in black1 as in ,no4 #c1 while ,no4 #e is painted a buff color1 both on the top and under-side4 ,the smoke-stack is black1 while the base is a deep yellow2 and the pilot-house is white1 with windows stenciled around its sides1 while its pagoda-shaped top is a bright1 light green4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h ,in ,fig4 #h1 the two outside pieces of the paddle-box are given2 and the manner in which they are to be painted is indicated2 these four pieces need be painted only on one side1 with a thick coat of white2 two of these may now be laid aside1 but the other two1 after drying1 should be decorated with radiating lines of red extending from the central semicircle1 to the dark-red line running around the top at a short distance from the edge4 ,these radiating lines should be alternated with light blue ones near the circumference2 and the small semicircle at the bottom is a rich dark blue1 with a star cut from gilt paper pasted on to give it the desired brilliant effect4 ,the walking-beam1 ,fig4 #f1 should next be treated2 this is first covered with a bright green1 and when dry marked with black1 as indicated in the cut4 ,the supports are first painted buff1 the same color as the top1 and afterward striped with black1 as seen in ,fig4 #f4 ,the wheels must not be forgotten1 for although showing but slightly1 they would give the whole boat an unfinished appearance if left unpainted4 ,these may be dark1 or ,indian red1 with lines of black radiating from the center to the edge4 ,after all the parts are perfectly dry1 fasten ,no4 #b and ,no4 #a in position1 then having a sufficient length of wire1 about the size of a large knitting-needle1 fasten it in the first wheel1 as indicated at ,b1 ,fig4 #c4 ,then bend it into a crank1 as shown by dotted lines in the middle opening of ,fig4 #c4 ,this crank should be one and one-half inches wide and three-quarters of an inch deep2 make the points1 where it bends1 as near right angles as possible2 then pass the end through the other wheel1 and with pliers bend it in place2 next fasten the end of the wire1 as in the first wheel1 taking especial care meanwhile that the wheels are fixed the proper distance apart1 and that the center of the crank comes in the middle of the opening4 ,it is a matter of some difficulty to adjust these wheels1 as they should not be crowded against either side of the slit1 but turn easily when the boat is drawn over the floor4 ,after the crank is bent in shape1 wind around it the end of a piece of smaller wire about six inches long1 as shown in ,fig4 #c4 ,this wire is to connect the crank to the walking-beam1 but it is not to be fastened to the latter until the boat is put together4 ,the outside of the paddle-boxes should next be attached to ,no4 #c by the small screws already spoken of1 which are to pass up from the under-side through the holes a a1 a a1 ,fig4 #c1 into their lower edge4 ,the extremities of these boxes should form a line with the ends of the slits1 and the outside of these and the edge of ,no4 #c1 which contains the name1 should form a continuous flat surface4 ,the other two sides of these paddle-boxes are to be secured against the sides of ,no4 #d1 their bottom line forming a continuation of the bottom of the piece1 and their position determined by placing the part on top of ,no4 #c1 as indicated in ,fig4 #c1 and making their ends form a straight line with those of the outside pieces and the slits2 this is also indicated by the dotted lines on the outside of ,fig4 #d4 ,having fastened ,no4 #c in its position over ,no4 #b 7see ,fig4 #b1 dotted lines71 place the wheels in their slits and let the wires rest in the bottom of the grooves2 they will then extend a fraction of an inch below the bottom of the boat4 ,this arrangement is intentional1 as the toy is intended to be drawn over a floor or carpet1 and it is the friction these wheels encounter that moves the walking-beam1 and thus gives it the natural appearance of a boat moving through the water4 ,after these wires are pushed to the bottom of the grooves1 insert wedges of wood above1 deep enough to nearly touch them2 make these of tough hard wood1 so that there shall be no danger of the wheels riding up out of their proper places4 ,place ,no4 #d in position1 first drawing the wire attached to the crank through the opening1 and screw it firmly down upon ,no4 #c4 ,there is now no danger of the axle of the wheels getting out of order1 if the wedges were firmly fixed1 and deep enough to keep the wire in place4 ,the smoke-stack should now be fastened with a strong and very long screw from the under-side of ,no4 #e1 at g4 ,it should be very firmly attached in its place1 as little children frequently use this as a handle to take the boat from the floor4 ,fasten on the pilot-house in the same manner at c1 on ,fig4 #e4 ,having the walking-beam and its supports perfectly dry--and it would have been well to have given both a good coating of shellac dissolved in alcohol--take a wire or piece of knitting-needle nine-sixteenths of an inch long1 and having fixed one end in the hole made near the top of the support to hold it1 pass it through the central hole in the walking-beam1 and insert the other end in the second support1 then screw the piece marked c1 in ,fig4 #g1 in its place1 which will of course hold the walking-beam firmly fixed4 ,now glue the supports inside the slit of ,no4 #e1 and in such a position that when the walking-beam is extended in a horizontal direction1 the hole in the end toward the stern shall be exactly above the line of the axle of the wheels--that is1 a line running across the boat from the center of one wheel to that of the other4 ,these supports should also be caught underneath with nails1 that there may be no danger of their falling through into the opening in the center4 ,having fixed these in place1 fasten the loose end of the wire connected with the crank through the small hole in the end of the walking-beam1 so that when the crank is in a horizontal position1 the walking-beam will also be in the same position4 ,attach a piece of wire four or five inches long to the other end of the walking-beam1 and let the loose end fall through the opening in the top4 ,now cover the open spaces at the top of the paddle-boxes with pieces of tin just wide enough to reach their edges1 and catch it in place with tacks4 ,paint them with the light buff used for the deck4 ,fasten the two wire flag-staffs to bow and stern1 and pass a wooden one seven inches long through a1 ,fig4 #e1 down into a hole in ,no4 #b1 as shown in ,fig4 #b1 at g4 ,with fine wire attach a topmast five inches in length to this1 allowing them to lap about an inch4 ,sink a mast four inches in length into a hole bored through #e and well into #d1 so that its top will be about three inches above the deck1 and fasten the stays in their positions1 as seen in the cut4 ,on a piece of blue cambric paint white stars1 cut it in the shape of a flag1 and attach it to the forward pole4 ,a small 8one cent flag0 will do for the stern1 while the name of the boat painted in red or vermilion upon a white ground1 should float from the tall staff in front of the pilot-house4 ,before the flags are placed1 the whole surface of the boat should be washed1 if she has become soiled while being put together1 and after the flag-staffs and stays are painted and have dried1 the whole should be covered with the shellac dissolved in alcohol4 ,be sure and use white shellac1 as the other would stain the white to a light brown and spoil the whole effect4 ,a hole is bored horizontally through the bow three-quarters of an inch from the extreme end1 of sufficient size to admit a piece of large fish-line1 the ends of which after it is inserted can be tied together to give a better hold for the hand4 ,this boat is modeled after the ordinary bay and river excursion boats common to the northern and middle ,atlantic sea-coast1 but if any boy residing in the ,west should care to make one resembling those he is accustomed to see1 he will find little difficulty in modifying these directions to suit his own particular taste in naval architecture4 ,,the ,,bottle ,,imp4 ,illustration ,take one or more small bottles1 such as are generally used by homeopathic physicians for their pellets2 cover them with a bit of closely-woven white cloth1 and fasten it with a string around the middle4 ,with oil paint make a grotesque face upon the upper part1 and draw stripes or figures to represent a clown's dress upon the lower and loose portion of the covering of each4 ,varnish this with the shellac1 dissolved in alcohol1 and when perfectly dry they are ready for use4 ,have a large-mouthed1 perfectly clear glass jar nearly filled with water2 then1 after filling the little bottles about one-third full of the liquid1 place the finger over the opening and immerse them1 one at a time1 bottom upward1 into the jar4 ,be sure and keep the finger over the tiny mouth till they are well under the surface of the water4 ,should they sink in the jar1 you have too much water in them4 ,the quantity of water they contain should be such that they will barely float1 that is1 the bottom of the little inverted vials should just touch the surface4 ,this adjusting of the equilibrium is a matter of some delicacy2 a single drop will make a difference3 but by half-filling the bottle1 placing the finger over the mouth1 and removing it an instant to allow a drop or two to escape1 the proper degree of buoyancy may be attained4 ,three or four of these bottles1 in masquerade1 should be introduced into the jar1 and if they are1 as they doubtless will be1 of slightly differing degrees of buoyancy1 the amusing effect will be enhanced4 ,now stretch a piece of thin rubber1 such as toy balloons are made of1 across the mouth of the jar1 and tie it down1 as seen in the illustration4 ,to make the imps dance1 one has only to press upon the rubber top1 as the air1 in the top of the jar1 is thus forced downward1 the water is driven up into the small bottles1 compressing the tiny quantity of air they contain1 and they1 in consequence1 fall lower in the jar2 but when the pressure is removed1 the air in them expands1 and they instantly rise to their normal position again4 ,illustration ,quite a pleasant evening's entertainment can be derived from this simple toy4 ,you may first adjust your imps and make sure they are in good working order2 then prepare a slight introductory speech1 in which you can pretend to mesmerize the little images1 not letting it be known they are bottles1 and by some wonderful power you are supposed to possess1 can make them obey your slightest wish4 ,this will be very simple1 as they will naturally descend when you press upon the top4 ,this pressure should be exerted in such a manner that it is not noticed by the others in the room4 ,you might stand with your left hand resting upon the top of the jar as if by accident1 but in such a manner that you can easily press down upon the rubber with one or more fingers1 and while telling of the wonderful things these little fellows can do1 you can make graceful gestures with your right hand1 and motion with it what you require them to do2 it will thus seem that they are obeying the motions of that hand1 and will serve to mystify more than ever those of your audience who are unacquainted with the secret4 ,,telescope ,,which ,a ,,boy ,,can ,,make4 ,first1 obtain two lenses2 the larger having a long and the smaller a short focus4 ,a powerful telescope1 having a large field of vision1 requires a lens at least two inches in diameter1 with a focus of from two to three feet for the larger glass2 and another lens of from one-half to one inch in diameter1 and with a focus of one inch1 for the smaller end4 ,having your lenses1 the next important step is to make your tubes2 this is done by bending a piece of pasteboard a foot long by seven inches wide in the shape of a tube1 whose diameter shall be about one-sixteenth of an inch larger than that of your lens4 ,glue the edges firmly together1 and tie a piece of tape around to insure their keeping in place4 ,make two tubes of this size and one rather smaller1 that its ends may fit in the other two4 ,lap these ends together1 and paste or glue them in place 7see cut74 ,joining these sections together is simply to insure a proper length of tube4 ,if a piece of pasteboard can be found large enough to make a tube three feet long1 it will look much neater than the one described above4 ,take a narrow strip of pasteboard and glue it around the inside of the tube1 half an inch from one end2 put the large lens in its place1 and press it against the edge of this band4 ,now take another strip1 three-eighths of an inch wide1 and paste around the inside between the lens and the end of the tube4 ,by this means the glass is kept in place1 it being held by the edges of the pasteboard on either side4 ,illustration ,another and smaller tube1 five or six inches in length1 and of a size just sufficient to slide easily in the other end of the long tube should now be made4 ,around the inside of one end paste a band of pasteboard1 as in the larger section1 but much nearer the edge4 ,when this is dry1 paste still another strip inside this one1 making a wide edge for the lens to rest against4 ,as this tube is of much greater diameter than the glass1 inclose the latter between two disks of cardboard of the same size as the opening in the tube1 and each having a round hole cut in its center for the eye to look through4 ,cover the inner side with paste1 and press it against the edges of the strips4 ,finally1 cover the whole thing with some dark-colored paper1 pasting it carefully over the surface1 and your telescope is completed4 ,this instrument will present everything in an inverted position1 but if the lenses are carefully adjusted1 objects at a long distance can be very plainly seen1 and a boy can derive a great amount of solid comfort1 not only while constructing1 but from its subsequent use4 ,to find the focal distance of a lens1 if for any reason the optician does not give it1 hold it in the sun1 and observe at what distance from itself it makes the smallest point of light4 ,that1 if measured1 will be its focal distance4 ,the long tube should be from two to three inches shorter than the focal distance of the larger lens4 ,,christmas ,,presents4 8,what shall we make for ,christmas80 is the cry that arises from the children all over this land and abroad1 wherever the ,christmas season is known and observed2 and many a boy would be glad to contribute his share of labor toward making the others of his household happy1 if he only could think of something to make4 ,in the following pages1 ,i purpose to give a few directions for some simple things1 which boys of ordinary ability can easily execute4 ,,the ,,ornamental ,,egg4 ,procure a large1 perfectly white1 hen's egg1 and after making a hole slightly larger than a pea in either end1 blow the contents into a bowl placed to receive it4 ,paint some little thing on both sides of the shell--a bunch of forget-me-nots or pansies are very good subjects--or1 if well acquainted with the brush1 a small landscape1 inclosed in an oval1 is still prettier4 ,after the painting is perfectly dry1 varnish it with a brush filled with 8retouching varnish10 and1 with a long hair-pin1 draw a piece of blue or pink ribbon through the holes1 and get some lady friend1 who can keep the secret1 to tie the ends in a pretty bow4 ,a yard of ribbon about an inch wide is required to complete this pretty ornament4 ,,trinket-,,holder4 ,during your summer journeyings1 collect any fine large shells you may see2 the large well-formed quahaug-shells 7the common hard-shell clam71 or those of the beautiful sea clam1 with their wonderful opalescent linings4 ,scrape off all the outside you can possibly remove2 then sketch on the inside some pleasing marine view1 or1 if that is beyond your powers1 take any simple subject you are confident of doing well1 remembering that a very unpretending thing1 well painted1 is much more pleasing1 and indeed ornamental1 than the most ornate subject imaginable1 if poorly executed or badly drawn4 ,in painting on egg or sea shell1 or1 in fact1 on any hard substance of a similar nature1 use the paint as dry as is consistent with its flowing freely1 and allow plenty of time for it to dry4 ,after the painting seems firm and hard1 give it a good coat of varnish1 taking care to avoid touching all the unpainted surface of the shell4 ,this little trinket-holder is easily made1 costs nothing if one has a supply of paints at command1 and makes one of the most acceptable presents you can offer to either an older sister or brother1 as it is intended to stand on the dressing-table1 and hold rings1 collar-studs1 or sleeve-buttons1 when taken off for the night4 ,,an ,,idea ,,for ,,brackets4 ,in making a corner bracket1 which1 on the whole1 is the most satisfactory to make1 let one side be as large as the other1 with the thickness of the wood in addition1 and let the front of the shelf form the arc of a circle4 ,if no curtain or fringe is to be tacked on the shelf to cover the uprights1 some simple ornamentation on these is desirable4 ,if a scroll-saw is conveniently at hand1 this is easily accomplished4 ,a design should first be drawn upon paper the exact shape and size of the bracket desired4 ,this should then be transferred to the wood and the surplus portions carefully cut away4 ,after the pattern is sawed out1 the edges should be rubbed down with sand-paper1 or if left very rough1 a rasp would reduce this unevenness more readily2 the sand-paper should be used in that case1 to give the final finish4 ,after the surface is as smooth as it is possible to make it1 oil the whole1 and when dry put the three parts together with brads and glue4 ,then oil the entire surface again1 and when dry varnish if you like4 ,,another ,,bracket4 ,if no scroll-saw is to be had1 a pretty pair of uprights are made by gouging a narrow stripe around the entire form1 at equal distances from the edge1 and painting with gold paint a small stenciled form on the middle of each1 also filling the stripe with the same material4 ,for the stencil use a simple one of your own design1 made according to directions given in another place in this book4 ,should you and an older sister desire to unite in making the present1 she making the curtain1 and you the woodwork1 no fancy design would be required4 ,a simple bracket1 with well-proportioned supports nicely curving in front1 and well sand-papered1 oiled1 and varnished1 would be all required1 as the curtain would hide the entire form4 ,,the ,,cone ,,and ,,twig ,,bracket4 ,one of the prettiest home-made brackets the writer ever saw was in an old-fashioned country house1 in a thinly settled region of ,massachusetts4 ,the maker1 a quiet1 gentlemanly boy of fifteen1 was a cripple1 and being obliged to remain much of his time within-doors1 had utilized these spare moments1 and surrounded himself with many beautiful things1 made from materials which nature with so lavish a hand bestows upon us all4 ,this poor crippled boy loved the fields and meadows1 lakes and woods1 with an intensity of feeling utterly inconceivable to his more robust brothers and sisters2 but his gentle1 kindly manner won their hearts1 and the brightest and best the farm afforded1 whether fruit or flowers1 minerals or young animals1 found its way into 8,ned's sanctum10 as his little room was called4 ,even the young calves and colts1 were brought around to his window1 that he might admire their rather doubtful beauty1 and nearly every brood of newly-hatched chickens spent several hours of their early life in a basket on the table at his side4 ,one day1 the children brought home some beautiful spruce and larch cones1 and the little sufferer began1 with the true artist's sentiment1 to revolve in his mind how he could put them in a form1 which should always be in sight from his place by the window4 ,at last he thought of the bracket1 and immediately set to work drawing designs for the foundation4 ,when these were quite satisfactory1 he asked his brother to saw the different pieces from old cigar-box wood1 and nail them together4 ,the bracket was very simple in outline1 but the arrangement of the cones1 half nut-shells1 and tiny twigs1 was extremely artistic and pretty4 ,they covered the two supports and the under-side of the shelf1 forming little pendants1 like stalactites in some hidden cave4 ,these were glued firmly in place and afterward carefully varnished4 ,,the ,,pebble ,,vase4 ,on this bracket was a little vase1 made by the same deft fingers4 ,a broken wine-glass held the water1 and the vase was formed around this1 of that inexhaustible material1 papier-mach1 studded all over with bits of colored glass and bright pebbles gathered from the sea-shore4 ,from earliest spring till the frost claimed the last lingering blossom1 this vase was filled with the fairest flowers of the seasons1 and1 with the unique little bracket1 seemed like a bit of the delightful out-door world transferred to the pleasant corner of the sunny little room4 ,,the ,,cone ,,and ,,twig ,,hanging-,,basket4 ,the fall after his experiment with the bracket1 ,ned made a hanging-basket with the same materials1 using a wooden bowl for the foundation4 ,this was also a success1 but not as uncommon as the bracket4 ,the cocoanut-shell1 cut evenly around near one end1 forms a good material to build upon4 ,in either this or the bowl1 be sure to bore three holes near the top1 at equal distances from each other1 to attach the chains or strings to the basket4 ,this must be done before the cones are glued in place4 ,if a fourth hole is made near the bottom1 and filled with a round-headed peg which can be removed at will1 but which forms a part of the design1 and receives its share of the final varnishing1 the plants growing in the basket will present a much more flourishing condition1 as the surplus water can be readily drawn off from their roots4 ,,paper ,,boxes4 ,many years ago1 when our mothers were little girls and ready-made playthings were not as common as at the present day1 during the long winter evenings they were obliged to invent their own amusements1 and it was not uncommon in a large family where there were several girls and boys1 for them to take turns in providing games for certain evenings in the week4 ,even the little ones contributed their share to the general amusement1 and it was from one of these little girls1 now grown to be an old gray-haired lady1 that ,i first learned to make these simple boxes4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g ,take a square of ordinary note-paper1 fold it as in ,fig4 #a1 and crease it across2 now open it and bring the two corners to the central point of the crease1 and making them just touch each other at that point1 and crease the folds1 as in ,fig4 #b4 ,next fold between these folds and between the last made1 and the corners1 as in ,fig4 #c1 always remembering to crease the folds when made4 ,now turn the paper and crease it seven times across the other way1 and you will find your paper is folded in little squares4 ,then take your scissors and cut the little half squares left out in ,fig4 #d4 ,then with your penknife or the sharp points of the scissors cut the little slits #a and #b2 next1 cut #c and #d1 #e and #f to the first creases2 last1 #g and #h1 #i and #aj to the dots1 but no further4 ,now fold the joint marked #i1 #aj1 so that it will go through the slit #b1 and when you have passed it through1 straighten it out and press the paper in the shape of ,fig4 #f4 ,now pass the last point through the remaining slit and your box is complete4 ,occasionally1 we used to make 8nests0 of these boxes1 by commencing with very tiny ones1 and gradually increasing the size1 making one over another until our paper gave out1 or we became tired of the amusement4 ,a ,,shaving-,,case4 ,although generally considered girls' work1 many little boys delight in working upon perforated paper1 and they can put this pleasure to good account in making a shaving-case for papa4 ,procure a piece of silver or gold gilt perforated cardboard1 of the coarsest variety1 and cut it into two similar pieces1 five by seven inches in size4 ,with double zephyr1 work an initial or some simple design on one of the pieces only1 as the other will form the back of the case4 ,then get half-a-dozen sheets of different colored tissue-paper1 and cut them up into pieces the exact size of the case4 ,when all are fitted1 place them between the two covers1 and ask some lady in the family to sew them together at the top2 fasten a ribbon of the same color as the worsted to each top corner for a handle1 and cover the points of juncture with tiny bows4 ,a little boy in the writer's family made one of these for a dear uncle1 and it lasted him a year without replenishing1 forming one of the most useful presents he received4 ,,leather ,,work4 ,how many of my young readers have seen the beautiful shoes1 boxes1 and saddle-cloths1 made of leather or velvet1 and appliqud with thinner leather1 in graceful traceries1 which are occasionally brought over to this country from ,russia8 ,these are mostly the work of the women and children of the smaller ,russian villages1 and in many instances their only means of support4 ,in those cold1 desolate regions1 where summer is very short1 and the long dreary winter extends over a greater part of their lives1 their occupations necessarily must be such as can be carried on in-doors1 and are in many instances executed in their own homes4 ,hence the children seeing the simple processes going on around them1 soon learn to help1 and long before they have reached the age when ,american boys begin to think of working1 they are earning their own living1 and frequently supporting others of the family by their industry4 ,although leather work to a ,russian boy is anything but play1 to a bright ,american it will be a source of considerable pleasure1 and will serve the same purpose of amusement and instruction1 for which most of the things in this book are intended4 ,the materials for leather work are very simple1 consisting of the waste scraps from the neighboring book-binders or shoe-makers2 these can be chosen without regard to shape or size4 ,to do the kind of work spoken of above1 and known as 8,kasan work10 select the thinner kid pieces from your leather1 and with a lead-pencil mark upon the wrong side any design you may fancy4 ,then with a pair of sharp-pointed scissors cut out the design1 carefully following the lines1 and making the edges smooth and even4 ,lastly1 wet the back with a little glue or paste1 and stick it upon the cloth4 ,care should be taken not to move the pattern after it touches the cloth1 as the glue might besmear the material in the open places of the pattern1 and thus ruin the effect4 ,after this has partially dried1 get your mother or sister to stitch the edges on the machine1 and you will have a nice bit of material1 suitable for a shoe-bag or any other useful object you may like4 ,another kind of leather work which is better adapted for boys1 and a much more fascinating process than the above1 is called by the ,french name 8,cuir ,bouilli0--pronounced 8queer bwea0--or boiled leather4 ,the scraps already gathered are suitable for this work1 as any kind of leather can be used1 although the softer kinds1 such as sheep or calf skin1 work much more easily4 ,soak this in hot alum water until it is soft1 remembering that thick1 tough leather requires a much longer time1 as well as a hotter and stronger solution to soften1 than the thinner pieces you may have4 ,after this leather has been reduced to mere pulp1 press it into any mold you may have at hand1 taking care that it is pressed into all the cavities4 ,after it is partially dried1 in two or three days1 remove the mold1 and you have your object in firm hard leather which can be painted or varnished as you like4 ,many toys for your younger brothers and sisters can be made in this way1 and are quite indestructible4 ,should you chance to have a good-sized piece of skin1 much prettier things could be made from it1 although a good worker in leather will use his scraps as the boy in his papier-mach uses his bits of paper1 pasting them so nicely that no one would guess the number of pieces used4 ,the best paste for this work is made of dextrine1 a cheap substance1 easily procured at any apothecary's4 ,a ,,panel ,,of ,,leather ,,work4 ,as this is one of the simplest forms into which leather can be wrought1 and one that probably gives the most satisfaction when completed1 perhaps the description of a dining room panel1 made by the writer's little son1 may afford more real assistance to the reader than any general rules which could be given for the work4 ,he had a sheet of calf-skin1 nine by fourteen inches1 which he soaked in warm alum water till it was very soft and pliable4 ,before this1 however1 he had prepared his foundation1 which consisted of a thick piece of pasteboard six by twelve inches4 ,upon this was nailed or glued a simple design of a duck hanging by its legs1 which he had drawn upon a thin slab of wood--a cigar-box cover1 ,i think--and had cut out with a scroll-saw4 ,before tacking this on1 he rounded off the edges of the figure on the right side with his jackknife1 and using an old newspaper and a little paste1 he built out the body of the bird1 molding it with his fingers and an old ivory paper-cutter until he obtained the desired shape4 ,after this had dried he covered his soaked leather with the dextrine paste1 and laid it evenly on the form4 ,beginning at the middle of the panel1 he carefully pressed the wet leather upon the figure1 using the dull edge of the paper-cutter for the lines and deep places left in the foundation2 always working from the center toward the edge1 and taking particular care that each part was firmly attached to the wood4 ,after the bird was done to his satisfaction1 he proceeded to stamp over the whole background1 using for this purpose an old office-seal which was at hand4 ,in regard to the stamp1 any ingenious boy can easily make a good substitute1 by taking a piece of hard wood with a flat end1 and cutting it across in parallel lines1 re-cross these lines with other parallel ones1 forming a surface of even diamond-work upon the wood4 ,this1 when pressed upon the wet leather1 makes a very agreeable background for almost any figure you may like4 ,a wet sponge must be constantly applied to the leather while working1 to prevent its drying too rapidly4 ,after the surface was well covered with the stamping1 the leather was again rubbed with paste and pressed over the edge of the pasteboard background2 tiny triangular pieces were snipped from the corners to allow of their lying quite flat on the under-side4 ,finally1 the whole thing was firmly glued upon a black-walnut slab bought for that purpose4 ,this panel is the natural color of the leather1 but they are frequently stained black1 and for that purpose the 8ebony black stain0 is the best material to use2 but it is not necessary that they should be black2 any color can be used1 the beautiful bronze powders making very fine effects4 ,,to ,,tell ,,the ,,hour ,,of ,,the ,,day ,,by ,,the ,,left ,,hand4 ,for the benefit of those boys who make frequent excursions into the woods1 or away from the sight and sound of town clocks and bells1 ,i write the following1 which ,i found in an old book published early in the present century3 ,extend the left hand in a horizontal position1 so that the inside shall be turned toward the sky2 then take a bit of straw or wood1 and place it at right angles at the joint1 between the thumb and the forefinger4 ,it must be equal in length to the distance from that joint to the end of the forefinger1 and must be held upright1 as represented in the figure at a4 ,now turn the bottom of the thumb toward the sun1 the hand being extended till the shadow of the muscle which is below the thumb terminates at the line of life1 marked c4 ,if the wrist or bottom of the hand be then turned toward the sun1 the fingers being kept equally extended1 the shadow of the bit of straw or stick will indicate the hour4 ,illustration ,when the shadow falls on the tip of the forefinger1 it denotes five in the morning1 or seven in the evening2 at the end of the middle finger1 it denotes six in the morning or evening2 at the end of the next finger1 seven in the morning1 or five in the evening2 at the end of the little finger1 eight in the morning1 or four in the afternoon4 ,at the nearest joint of the little finger1 nine in the morning1 or three in the afternoon2 at the next joint of the little finger1 ten in the morning1 or two in the afternoon2 at the root of the little finger1 eleven in the morning1 or one in the afternoon2 in the last place where the shadow falls1 on that line of the hand marked d1 which is called the table line1 it will indicate twelve o'clock at noon4 ,,stencils4 ,a dozen or more years ago ,i saw an advertisement from a ,boston firm1 of a package1 to be had for the small sum of twenty-five cents1 which contained several devices for entertaining children4 ,as the advertisement seemed attractive1 ,i sent for the article1 and received by return mail a small box1 which certainly contained all one could reasonably expect for the money4 ,many of the smaller things ,i have forgotten1 but the idea of cutting stencils was so good1 and gave the children of our family so much pleasure1 that ,i insert a few simple designs1 and give directions for cutting1 hoping they may amuse the little ones of other families as agreeably as those of ours4 ,illustration ,these designs1 which require considerable care in the tracing1 should be first drawn upon tracing-paper1 or some stiff1 thin paper1 with a sharp-pointed lead-pencil2 then1 this being securely attached to a piece of thin bristol-board1 or a common business-card1 carefully cut the design1 leaving the edges smooth and even4 ,particular care should be taken to cut all the useless bits of paper from the pattern4 ,after a little practice1 children learn to make designs for themselves1 and enjoy it much more than following those given by others4 ,it is1 however1 necessary that they should use those supplied at first1 so as to understand just how the lines are to be cut4 ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,after the design has been carefully cut out1 take a smooth piece of white paper1 fold it through the middle2 now fold again1 bringing the ends of the first crease together2 fold once more1 making the last crease to fall upon the same line as the other two1 and your paper will be in shape like the letter ,v1 ,fig4 #a4 ,be sure that b1 in ,fig4 #a1 forms a perfect point4 ,now lay the pattern on your folded paper1 letting a1 ,fig4 #b1 fall upon b1 ,fig4 #a1 and taking care that the edges of the pattern fall evenly upon the folds of the paper4 ,cut the paper out1 following the lines of the design4 ,after the black portions have all been cut away1 open your folded form1 and you will have a very pretty stencil1 which can be used in decorating your playthings1 or for the various other purposes stencils are so extensively employed4 ,one little friend of mine used to paste all his finest specimens on square pieces of black cloth1 and after he had a good-sized collection1 he had the pieces sewed together in the form of a book4 ,on the cover he pasted the word 8,stencil0 and his initials1 all cut from white paper2 and it was a never-failing source of pleasure to him to show this little work1 declaring proudly as he did so1 8,i did it all myself with my own little pair of scissors40 ,these stencils could be cut from variously colored papers and then pasted upon ordinary note2 the whole being caught together with a piece of ribbon4 ,a book would be the result1 which1 if not prettier1 would be less cumbersome than my little friend's1 and would probably give full as much satisfaction1 besides being much easier to make4 ,if you will carefully examine the inside decorations of many of our fine public buildings1 you will see that much of the work is put on with stencils2 and by looking still more carefully1 you can learn just how these stencils are made2 and from them gain ideas for your own designs1 which will aid you very materially in any decoration you may try4 ,it is not expected that a boy has judgment or skill sufficient to decorate an important room1 but if you would like to try the experiment1 you may be able to persuade your parents to allow you to try your hand at something of the kind in an unused garret room4 ,but even in this1 do not begin at hap-hazard4 ,study all the designs you can find1 and note the effect of the colors on each other and upon the color of the wall itself4 ,choose some simple1 open pattern at first1 and do not use more than two colors in putting it on the wall4 ,the fresco paint1 or kalsomine1 comes in a powder1 with full directions for using printed on each package4 ,it is put on with a short1 thick brush2 and is patted on through the stencil4 ,for stenciling1 the paint or kalsomine must be mixed much thicker than for an ordinary wash1 and it is best to have your stencil pattern1 after it is perfected to your taste1 cut from a piece of tin1 if a tinman is near at hand4 ,after the walls have received their share of decoration1 it would be well to paint the door to match1 using some appropriate oblong stencil for the panels1 and applying it with oil paint4 ,in such things it is very easy to overload the work1 and by putting on too much spoil the effect2 so care and judgment must be exercised to know at just what point to stop1 as well as to avoid daubiness and an uneven character to your work4 ,,light ,,produced ,,by ,,friction ,,under ,,water4 ,if you should rub two squares of cut-loaf sugar together in a dark room1 light would result from the friction2 but the effect is produced in a much greater degree by two pieces of silex or quartz2 and if two pieces of a fine quality of quartz be forcibly rubbed together1 you may distinguish the time of night by a watch2 but what is more surprising1 the same effect is produced equally strong on rubbing the pieces together under water4 ,in olden times1 before matches were invented1 fire for all purposes was produced by means of friction2 a piece of flint and one of steel being the substances used1 and a tin box of charred linen rags1 called tinder1 received the sparks which fell from the steel4 ,many years ago1 when your great-grandmothers were children1 in many ,new ,england communities a cow's horn1 sawed across the top1 and fitted with a wooden stopper1 was used to hold the tinder1 but later1 the more stylish and luxurious tinder-box took its place4 ,this box1 made of tin1 and somewhat larger and deeper than a good-sized blacking-box of to-day was fitted with an inside cover1 a simple disk of tin with a ring of wire in the top for a handle1 and was filled with a quantity of cotton or linen rags1 which were set on fire with a brand from the hearth4 ,when this burning cloth had reached a black color1 but before it was reduced to ashes1 the inside cover was let down upon it1 and the flames were extinguished4 ,after this1 another outside cover was put on the box to prevent dampness penetrating1 and thus rendering the tinder worthless4 ,to insure further protection against the intruding damp1 the box1 with its companions of flint and steel1 were generally kept in the chimney closet beside the fire-place4 ,in those primitive days of our country1 it was a very common thing for a farmer's wife to run into a neighbor's and borrow some one of these necessary articles1 and it was usually the tinder1 which she had neglected to prepare when fire was plenty1 that was the thing needed4 ,occasionally1 when two or three houses were near together and the inmates on friendly terms with each other1 one set would answer the demands of the neighborhood1 and would be used by all with equal freeness4 ,later on1 each family made their own matches1 by simply dipping bits of wood into melted sulphur1 and allowing it to dry on the end4 ,these matches were kept in another tin box1 and when the spark had ignited the tinder1 the sulphur end was touched to the smoldering fire1 and would immediately burst into flame4 ,before these matches were invented1 however1 when the housewife wished to make her fire 7stoves were of course unknown71 she would seat herself near the fire-place1 and1 grasping the uncovered horn or box between her knees1 would hold her steel in her left hand just above it1 and with the flint or quartz in her right1 would strike upon the former1 till two or three sparks fell upon the charred surface2 the bit of glowing tinder would then be carefully taken from the box1 wrapped around with a bit of rag1 and blown upon with her breath until the cloth burst into flames4 ,a candle was quickly lighted from this1 to keep the flame till the fire was well under way4 ,every boy has probably felt the inconvenience of being without matches1 when a fire on the beach in summer1 or near the skating-pond in winter1 would have been such a luxury4 ,the next time the emergency occurs1 strike a piece of quartz or hard white stone upon the large blade of your jackknife1 over any bit of dry cotton or thin paper you may have at hand1 as a tinder-box would probably not form part even of the very miscellaneous collection of the average school-boy's pockets4 ,,experiment ,,with ,,flower-,,seeds4 ,split a small twig of the elder-bush lengthwise1 and having scooped out the pith1 fill each of the compartments with seeds of flowers of different colors1 but which blossom about the same time4 ,surround them with mold1 and then tying together the two bits of wood1 plant the whole in a pot filled with earth1 properly prepared4 ,the stems of the different flowers will thus be so incorporated as to exhibit to the eye only one stem1 throwing out branches covered with flowers of different colors1 analagous to the seed which produced them4 ,if the plants are somewhat alike in the texture of their stems1 and germinate at about the same period1 there will be less danger of the strong choking the weak4 ,,how ,,to ,,skeletonize ,,leaves4 ,among the many desirable subjects for photographic printing1 none are more satisfactory or so delicate as a graceful arrangement of skeletonized leaves4 ,it may be very simple1 and composed of only three or four leaflets2 or it may be so elaborate as to embrace specimens from trees and weeds1 wild flowers and garden shrubs2 while the beautiful seed-pods and grasses1 readily found in our fields or along our brooklets1 answer for the blossoms in this dainty1 fairy-like bouquet4 ,the methods employed in freeing leaves from their pulpy element1 or cellular tissue1 as it is more properly called1 are very unlike1 as practiced by different individuals2 but the following1 given the author by a lady friend who has a large and extremely beautiful collection of remarkably fine specimens1 is very simple1 and can be practiced with success by a boy or girl of ten4 ,take a wash-bowl1 and fill it half full of soft water1 into which a heaping teaspoonful of baking soda should be thrown2 place this in a sunny window1 or one with a southern exposure if possible1 and put in your leaves2 care must be taken that they are all under water1 and not too crowded1 although three or four dozen can safely be done at a time4 ,any leaf which has a firm1 well-defined frame-work will make a good specimen4 ,the leaves of the horse-chestnut1 maple1 silver-leaf catalpa1 and magnolia2 those of the currant1 pear1 ,english ivy1 and plum1 all make fine skeletons1 and many delicate seed-covers1 like those of the strawberry-tomato1 are very easily treated4 ,do not confine yourself to this list1 however1 but try any which resemble these in texture1 as a great variety is particularly desirable1 if you would have a good collection4 ,after you have put your leaves to soak in the soda-water1 leave them in the sun for three weeks1 as that is the shortest time in which any will do4 ,then look them carefully over1 and should any be found nearly free from their tissues1 take them out1 and wash them off in a bowl of clean water2 then with a soft brush liberate any tiny particle that may still adhere to the frame-work1 as any blemish of this kind is considered a defect in the specimen4 ,during this process1 be careful to retain the fine threadlike bit of fiber that entirely encircles the leaf and forms an outside frame-work or edge4 ,if it is found impossible to entirely clean the skeleton by aid of the brush1 it should be put in a bowl or saucer of clean water and left in the sun for two or three days longer4 ,when they are thoroughly cleaned1 place them between the leaves of an old book1 and lay them aside until the time for bleaching4 ,if you live in or near the latitude of ,new ,york1 the best time to collect and treat your leaves is in ,june1 while they are still fresh and tender1 and before the insects have destroyed their shape2 but should your home be further south1 ,april or ,may would be a better time4 ,after your collection is complete1 and all are dry1 they will be much improved by bleaching4 ,this process is also very simple1 consisting1 as it does1 of merely dipping them in a weak solution of chloride of lime1 and letting them remain there until the proper color is attained2 then by slipping a piece of unglazed paper--ribbon paper is best for this purpose--beneath the surface of the water1 and bringing it up with the leaf lying flat upon it1 the skeleton can easily be taken from the water4 ,if the form is not inclined to spread out on the paper as it should1 take a long slender darning-needle1 and with the point carefully arrange it to your satisfaction4 ,another drying is now necessary1 but the bleached leaves should be left on the ribbon paper1 which may be put between the leaves of a book as before4 ,these can be kept for years1 and should you be successful and obtain a number of perfect specimens1 they will form a very valuable addition to your materials for ,christmas gifts1 and1 prettily arranged1 a very acceptable present to any dear friend4 ,,camera ,,obscura4 ,camera ,obscura1 a ,latin name1 meaning literally a dark chamber1 belongs to an instrument invented by ,baptista ,porta in the sixteenth century4 ,illustration ,the principle involved in the simplest and most refined forms is the same1 and may be illustrated by the following experiment3 ,let a small hole be cut in an opaque window-shade1 and the room darkened4 ,if1 now1 the beam of light entering the room by this hole be intercepted by a sheet of white paper1 held at a small distance from the hole1 an inverted image of objects without will be seen upon the paper4 ,by placing a small convex lens over the hole this image is rendered much more distinct4 ,it will also be found1 that at a certain distance from the hole the image attains the sharpest or clearest outline1 and that if the paper be removed from this point to any position either nearer to the hole or further from it1 the image becomes indistinct and confused4 ,at the point of greatest clearness the image is said to be focused4 ,such being the principle of the camera1 it is evident that in practice the instrument may assume many forms1 provided always that it consists of a darkened box or chamber1 having a hole at one end for the insertion of a lens or combination of lenses1 and at the other a screen1 generally made of ground glass1 on which to receive the image4 ,one of the first home-made cameras ,i remember seeing was constructed by a boy friend many years ago4 ,in it he used a lens from an old ship's spy-glass1 which still remained incased in its brass tube4 ,fig4 #a gives a view of this form of camera4 ,as every boy is not as fortunate as my friend in having a brass mounting for his lens1 it would be well to inclose it in a small tube of papier-mach or pasteboard1 so that it may be moved in or out of the opening at will4 ,the box itself was made of cigar-box wood1 with the cover sawed in two parts4 ,after the hole had been cut at one end and the lens inserted1 a piece of looking-glass was placed obliquely across the lower corner of the other end of the box1 the longer piece of the cover nailed on the front part of the top1 and a piece of ground glass carefully fitted1 with the ground side downward1 over the remaining open space2 the smaller part of the cover was then fastened on one side with small pieces of tape4 ,when not in use1 this little cover fell down over the glass1 but when any object was to be viewed the little lid was lifted into the position in the cut1 and served as a shield to the ground glass beneath4 ,a piece of black cloth thrown over this cover1 and allowed to fall over the triangular side-openings1 so as to still further prevent outside light from reaching the ground glass1 is a great improvement4 ,illustration ,in the diagram1 the dotted lines show the course of the light from the object in view1 through the lens 7where the rays cross each other7 to the looking-glass1 and thence to the ground glass above4 ,illustration ,a ,,simpler ,,form ,,of ,,the ,,camera ,,obscura4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,a simpler form of the camera obscura is seen in ,fig4 #b4 ,here the case is a small soap or spice box1 the lens a convex spectacle-glass1 and the board marked b a partition1 serving as a screen upon which the image is thrown4 ,in this form the lens may be fixed in the end of the box if desired1 which is much easier than adjusting it in a sliding tube4 ,the focal distance of an ordinary spectacle-glass averages about twelve or fourteen inches1 and the box should be1 of course1 somewhat longer than the focal length of the glass used4 ,a glass from 8near-sighted0 spectacles will not do1 as it is concave instead of convex4 ,the box is now pointed out of the window1 at some well-marked object1 such as a sun-lighted building1 and the partition-board moved backward and forward1 till the point is found at which the image on it is best defined4 ,then the board may be fastened 7as a1 b1 c1 d1 ,fig4 #b7 and the top put on1 of which the end should be cut off about four inches from the screen1 as shown in the figure4 ,a piece of black cloth thrown over the head1 and completely covering the ends of the opening1 renders the image more distinct4 ,,the ,,sketching ,,camera4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e ,this form of camera may be also used for sketching from nature1 by raising it on end1 and providing it with an inclined mirror1 as shown in ,fig4 #d4 ,the opening a1 b1 c1 d1 should in this case be sufficiently large to admit easy play of the hand in sketching1 and also allow an unobstructed view of the image4 ,the mirror may be prepared without much difficulty4 ,get the glazier to cut for you a piece of looking-glass three or four inches square1 and cover the back with a piece of thick paper or card1 to prevent scratching2 then take a wire of sufficient length1 and double it as in ,a2 now bend this double wire in the form of ,b1 letting the ends come at a and b1 and placing your mirror1 face downward1 upon the frame as in ,c2 hold it in place by two bands of strong paper1 passed around the glass and wires1 and pasted strongly on the back1 at the top and bottom of the mirror4 ,when in use this frame is placed over the lens1 and reflects the image down upon the drawing-paper placed on the screen below4 ,the four round-headed screws in the top are intended for attaching an opaque curtain to the box1 which1 however1 is only needed when the artist is working in the open air4 ,then the dark curtain is buttoned in place1 and falls over the head and shoulders1 completely shielding the image from any invading rays of light which might otherwise confuse the draughtsman4 ,as a matter of fact1 in using the sketching camera1 it is necessary to turn one's back to the objects sketched1 if it is desired to draw them in an upright position4 ,i have represented the artist facing the house1 as it would look strangely in the illustration to see him seated with his back to the view2 but he is compelled1 in consequence1 to draw his house1 sister1 and everything else which is included in the image thrown upon his paper upside down1 as a penalty for appearances4 ,,the ,,darkened ,,room4 ,to those boys living in the country1 and having a wide1 extended landscape stretched out before their windows1 the 8darkened room0 is a very interesting feature4 ,it simply requires a room which can be made perfectly dark4 ,at the window 7if there are more than one7 commanding the broadest prospect have a perfectly tight1 opaque screen fitted1 with a small hole cut in the lower part for the insertion of the lens4 ,over this fasten a small mirror to receive the image1 at such an angle as will throw the reflection down upon a stand placed two or three feet from the window1 and thus make it possible for the spectator to view the scene in its normal condition4 ,should you be desirous of having the whole sweep of the horizon at your command in the darkened room1 a simply constructed frame-work is necessary for the accommodation of the movable mirror1 and also for the lens2 this would further necessitate the cutting of a larger hole in the curtain4 ,fig4 #e represents this arrangement2 a being the movable lens1 which can be readily taken from its socket if desired2 b1 the hole in the bottom of the bracket1 which should correspond to a larger hole in the shelf d1 upon which the bracket rests1 and can be easily turned in any direction desired4 ,this hole should be large enough to allow the passage of all the diverging rays1 and c1 a small mirror1 fitted like the one for the sketching camera just described1 to receive the image and reflect it down through b upon the stand1 or a sheet placed upon the floor for the screen4 ,the height of the shelf d from the floor is determined by the focal length of the lens1 and must be decided by experiment before the hole is cut in the shade4 ,it is fastened in place by strings attached to small screw-eyes at its corners1 and tied upon tacks driven into the window-frame4 ,the arrangement shown in ,fig4 #e can be moved on the shelf1 so as to face the lens toward any portion of the view commanded by the window4 ,,photographic ,,printing4 ,if all boys are not so fortunate as to possess a camera1 there is no reason why they should be debarred from all the pleasures of photography2 and as there is much entertainment to be derived from this simple amusement1 it is advisable for every boy throughout the land who is old enough to give it a fair trial4 ,the first thing needed is a frame for holding the print while it is being exposed4 ,this can be made by an ingenious boy1 but as it is a rather troublesome job1 it is better to buy a small transparent slate for five or ten cents1 and discarding the copies1 use the frame and glass for your work4 ,the sensitized paper should next be prepared4 ,this can be bought at any place where photographers' supplies are to be found2 many boys1 however1 are too far away from our great cities to have access to such stores1 and even those who have will find more delight in making it for themselves4 ,there is a great satisfaction in the feeling of perfect independence1 and the more we can do for ourselves without aid or hinderance from the world at large1 the nearer we come to the ideal state4 ,so1 presuming that every boy has this independent spirit well ingrained in his nature1 ,i will give two formulas for this kind of paper1 and leave it to the reader to decide for himself which he will use4 ,the first produces a negative impression2 that is1 one in which all the parts that are dark in the copy come out light in the print1 and vice vers2 and the second makes a positive print1 or one in which all the shadings remain the same as in the original4 ,,first ,,process4 ,paper by this process is very easily prepared as follows3 ,make two solutions3 #ast4--,water1 #a ounce4 ,prussiate of potash1 #fj grains4 #b;d4--,water1 #a ounce4 ,ammonia citrate of iron1 #gj grains4 ,when these are dissolved1 mix them together1 and pour them through a piece of filter-paper into a tumbler1 and then into a clean glass bottle4 ,if filter-paper cannot be had1 nice clean cotton wool answers the purpose nearly as well4 ,this solution should be kept and also used in a dark room4 ,to sensitize the paper1 pour out a little of the liquid into a saucer2 then having cut note-paper into rectangular pieces1 a trifle smaller than the glass in your frame1 take one of these pieces at a time1 and place it evenly upon the surface of the liquid2 let it lie in this position until it is flat and not inclined to curl4 ,now take it out by one corner1 and thrusting a pin through this point1 drive it lightly into the edge of a shelf in your dark room1 and leave it to dry4 ,it is now ready for use2 should any be left after printing1 roll it up and place it in a tin box which has a cover1 to keep it from the light and dampness4 ,to print on this paper1 place your glass in the frame1 and next to it any engraving you may fancy1 provided it is printed on thin paper and has no type on its back4 ,if a copy is desired precisely like the original1 place the engraving face downward on the glass1 but if a reverse is wished1 that is1 one in which all the objects in the original are turned about1 and its left side is to correspond to the right in your print1 then place it with its face toward you in the frame4 ,when this is adjusted to your satisfaction1 take the frame to your dark closet1 and put in your sensitized paper1 being careful to cover it closely with the back of the frame well fastened in place before bringing it to the light4 ,place the frame1 glass side upward1 on a window-ledge1 or in any place where it will be exposed to the free rays of the sun1 and let it remain until it is printed to the desired depth4 ,it will be noticed that at first the light changes the portions exposed to a bluish color2 the operation1 however1 is not finished at this stage1 but must be continued long enough to turn these portions a deep metallic gray4 ,care must be exercised in examining the print1 that the paper is not moved from its position relative to the copy to be printed2 with the above frame this will be a very delicate matter1 and it is doubtful if it can be successfully done4 ,a better way would be to make one or two prints1 without caring for accuracy of form1 but simply with a view of obtaining a good color1 and time the operation2 this would form a sort of basis from which to work4 ,if some subsequent engraving was upon thicker paper1 it would take a somewhat longer time to print it1 and if on thinner paper1 the time required would be proportionately shorter4 ,it would be a great source of convenience if the back could be cut in two equal parts1 and a piece of canton flannel be pasted over both1 joining them as they were at first4 ,this with the soft side outward will keep the paper from slipping1 and act as a hinge to either half4 ,now instead of one fastening1 two will be required1 one on either half of the cover2 if then you wish to examine your print1 you have only to open one end of your frame1 and carefully lift up the edge of the paper1 while the other end1 remaining firmly closed1 holds the whole thing in place4 ,after your print has reached the proper degree of color1 take it out and immerse it in clean water1 when it will become a rich blue1 except those parts which are to remain white4 ,change the water once or twice1 or until every part comes out distinctly2 then take it from the bath and dry between sheets of blotting-paper4 ,the second way to prepare paper consists in washing good letter-paper with the following solution3 ,bichromate of potash1 #aj grains4 ,sulphurate of copper1 #bj grains4 ,water1 #a ounce4 ,papers prepared with this are of a pale yellow color2 they may be kept any length of time in a tin box1 and are always ready for use4 ,for copying engravings1 the wings of dragon-flies1 or of cicadas1 the beautiful skeletonized leaves or delicate ferns1 arranged in tiny bouquets on the inner surface of the ground glass1 this paper is excellent4 ,after it has been exposed to the influence of the sunshine1 take the frame to your dark closet1 and after removing the print1 wash it over with a solution of nitrate of silver of moderate strength4 ,as soon as this is done1 a very vivid positive picture makes its appearance1 and all the 8fixing0 it requires is well washing in pure water4 ,the dark closet spoken of above is necessary in all kinds of photography1 as light let in upon the sensitized paper would darken the whole surface4 ,to make a 8dark room10 stop the upper part of the window with any opaque substance1 and pin a large sheet of dark orange paper over the lower sash4 ,the yellow paper used in making envelopes is excellent for this1 but if it cannot be found1 four sheets of tissue-paper1 two red and two yellow1 placed over each other1 answer the purpose very well4 ,a friend of the writer utilizes an old disused chicken-house for his dark room1 and it answers its purpose capitally1 while it was at the window of this little room ,i first saw the tissue-paper successfully used4 ,the prints used for copy might be rendered more translucent by rubbing them over with a little linseed oil mixed with turpentine4 ,this1 of course1 should be thoroughly dried before it is used in connection with the sensitized paper4 ,a great number of graceful1 pretty things can be photographed in this manner2 the delicate maiden-hair fern1 so common in several parts of our country2 the fine1 feathery leaves of many of our wild flowers1 some of the finer flowers themselves1 and many of the beautiful mosses and sea-weeds after they are pressed1 make exquisite little photographs1 worthy of a place in any collection4 ,a dozen or more of these prints carefully taken1 pressed1 and trimmed1 would make a pretty ,christmas present to a dear friend4 ,the cover could be of plain paper1 with the name of the person for whom it was intended neatly written upon the top1 an appropriate sentiment on the middle1 and the donor's name with the date upon the lower part of the page4 ,the stencils1 for the making of which full directions are given in another part of this book1 make very line subjects for photographs4 ,if intended for this purpose1 however1 they should be of a slender1 delicate pattern1 small in size1 and cut with extreme care4 ,a snow-flake caught upon a black surface1 and examined in a cold room1 will furnish many suggestions for stencils designed for copy4 ,,the ,,toy ,,panorama4 ,the modern stereopticon has almost entirely superseded the old-fashioned panorama1 so popular a quarter of a century ago4 ,illustration ,your parents will probably remember with what delight those itinerant exhibitions were greeted by the young people of those days2 how the very handbills1 those wonderful precursors of so many entertaining spectacles1 were studied and commented upon1 and when the happy day came1 how we all rejoiced to see the manager enter the school-house door1 and after a few words with the teacher1 address the school1 and offer to us children an afternoon exhibition1 for the trifling sum of ten cents apiece1 if enough could be induced to attend4 ,the panoramas the writer remembers most vividly occurred during the war of the ,rebellion1 and as the subjects of the paintings were of a very patriotic character1 we had little difficulty in urging our parents to permit us to go2 and the afternoon session of the school was gladly sacrificed for so good a cause4 ,the battle of the ,monitor and ,merrimac1 was a favorite subject1 and1 as the vessels moved to and fro1 and sent forth from their tiny port-holes volleys of real fire and smoke1 while a big drum1 out of sight1 gave forth the answering boom1 the scene was very impressive1 and struck a kind of fascinating terror to our childish hearts4 ,after the many accounts and fine illustrations which subsequent readings have given1 at the simple mention of that famous battle1 my mind instantly wanders back to the darkened hall1 filled with boys and girls1 all intently gazing at the sham battle in progress before them2 while far back in the rear end of the hall stood the two brass field-pieces1 captured from ,burgoyne at the battle of ,saratoga1 nearly a hundred years before1 grim and awful1 and silently waiting for the time when they should be called to take their place in the mighty conflict then so fiercely raging in our land4#a ----- ,footnote #a3 ,this building was erected for an armory1 but served the purpose of town-hall as well4 ----- ,but finally the war ceased2 and after all1 the only part the old cannon played was to thunder forth resoundings of joy1 which shook our old town to its very foundations1 when peace was again restored4 ,although children's hearts will never again be gladdened by these great1 clumsy shows1 there is no reason why the little toy panorama should also be banished from among us4 ,the mere delight of making it is sufficient reason for its existence1 and when it is once finished it will continue to be a source of enjoyment to each little member of the household in turn4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,the simplest form this can have is represented in ,fig4 #a1 the foundation being a small soap-box1 the rollers1 sections of a broomstick1 with small wooden pins glued into each end1 which extend through holes made in the box for that purpose4 ,the pictures1 taken from any illustrated paper1 are all cut the same width1 about an inch narrower than the length of the rollers1 and pasted together at their ends1 the only limit to the length of this strip being the capacity of the box4 ,illustration3 ,figs4 #b1 #c ,when the paste is dry1 attach an end to each roller4 ,it is necessary that the upper peg of each roller be also fitted with a strong crank1 as an even motion is requisite for the proper display of the pictures2 and this crank can be made in two ways3 first1 like ,fig4 #b1 where a piece of wood is nicely fitted and glued on the pin1 or like ,fig4 #c1 which is the better arrangement1 where a stiff wire is bent into the shape a1 and then passed through two holes pierced through the crank-pin as shown at b2 this arrangement securing the needful firmness1 the projecting ends of the wire are then bent1 the upper one upward1 the lower downward1 so completing the crank4 ,after the mechanical part of the panorama is finished so that it runs smoothly1 two strips of stiff pasteboard can be fastened over the front1 corresponding to the dotted lines a and b in ,fig4 #a1 which will hide the rollers and give a neater appearance to the whole4 ,if liked1 a second piece of the pasteboard can be cut1 in length corresponding to the width of the box1 and wide enough to cover the cranks1 and extend down to the top of the pictures4 ,when exhibiting the pictures1 place the box on a table with its front well lighted1 turned toward the audience1 and turn the pictures slowly1 by an even motion of the cranks1 pausing slightly at each scene1 at the same time giving1 if possible1 a brief description of the thing illustrated1 as this will add considerably to the enjoyment of the little folks4 ,i forgot to add1 in its proper place1 that for a final finish the whole thing should be covered with any pretty paper at hand4 ,nice wall-paper or even common brown wrapping-paper gives it a neat appearance4 ,a ,,more ,,elaborate ,,panorama4 ,having thoroughly mastered the construction of the simpler form of the panorama1 a more elaborate one can be made by simply devoting to it considerably more time and attention2 but as this is greatly superior to the other in every respect1 it is well worth the extra trouble4 ,this will necessarily require a much larger box than the one previously described4 ,for convenience in description1 suppose we have a soap-box two feet long1 twelve inches high1 and eighteen inches wide4 ,we shall first take away both top and bottom1 then standing it upon its side1 we have the frame-work of our structure1 which is still two feet long1 but now eighteen inches high1 and twelve inches deep1 that is from front to back2 next1 we cut from the discarded top a false bottom1 or shelf1 like ,fig4 #b1 which1 if your box is of seven-eighths inch material1 will measure twenty-two and a quarter1 by eight inches4 ,mark the point a1 four inches from one side of the board1 and equidistant from the ends2 through this draw the line b c1 five inches long on each side of a1 or ten inches in all2 mark at three and one-half inches from the ends of the board the points d and e1 and draw the lines b d and c e2 then cut out the piece thus marked off4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,the holes at the bottom for the rollers are four and one-half inches from the back f g1 in order to insure that the line of pictures when in motion shall not fall back from the line b c1 and are equidistant from the ends of the board and the oblique lines b d and c e1 to secure as much room as possible for the roll4 ,make corresponding holes in the top of the box1 taking particular care that they are exactly above those in the shelf1 when that is in position4 ,the rollers are made from sections of broomstick1 with holes bored in the ends1 and the wooden pins glued firmly in place4 ,remember that the upper set of pins are to be much longer than the lower to allow for the insertion of the crank4 ,these rollers are about eleven and one-half inches long1 and when the glue has thoroughly dried1 should be put in place and kept there by inserting the shelf1 and fastening it in place by nails driven through the sides as at i i1 in ,fig4 #c4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,fig4 #c represents what is called a horizontal section2 that is1 the work is supposed to be cut across from front to back1 a little way above the shelf just mentioned1 and the observer is supposed to be looking downward at it4 ,fig4 #d represents the work in an upright position1 and the observer sees the front of it4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d ,from the top of the shelf to the lower outside edge of the box should be just five and one-half inches4 ,next come the two uprights1 a b1 c d1 ,fig4 #c1 and ,a ,a1 ,fig4 #d4 ,they may be made from the bottom of the box1 which was taken out1 it will be remembered1 and let their width correspond to a b and c d1 ,fig4 #c4 ,round off the edges at a and c1 and smooth it with sand-paper1 as it would soon tear the pictures if left in a rough state2 place these two boards in position1 and secure them by nails at the top and bottom4 ,now cut two oblong pieces from stiff cardboard1 as long as these wooden uprights1 and wide enough to cover the spaces left at e b and d f1 and tack these in position2 they are shown by dotted lines in ,fig4 #d4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e ,from a thin board cut two other strips to cover the spaces g h1 but leave the placing of these till the work is nearly finished4 ,a board two feet long and about three inches high is also necessary for the lower edge of the front1 and should be put on after the other parts are in position1 to hide the flame of the foot-lights 7consisting of a row of short candles7 from the spectator4 ,the two pieces like ,fig4 #e are made of pasteboard and are designed to furnish the upper and lower portions of the frame for the pictures4 ,their position is indicated by dotted lines in ,fig4 #d4 ,as it is somewhat difficult to arrive at the exact proportions of these irregular pieces1 without the actual box before one1 it will be easier to leave this to the maker1 as it is simply necessary to take a stiff piece of paper and place it in the position desired2 then crease the lines so that they shall meet the proper points on the uprights2 the lower piece comes up to the top of the shelf1 and the upper piece comes down just below the top of the picture4 ,after fitting this paper1 it is an easy matter to trace the form on the pasteboard1 taking care that all the lines are perfectly straight4 ,the curtain should be next adjusted1 and a piece of dark blue or green cambric is best suited for this purpose4 ,cut 7do not tear7 from your cloth a piece of the required size1 making sure that the sides are at right angles to each other1 and prepare another roller from your broomstick twenty-one and one-half inches long4 ,this roller is seen between e and f in ,fig4 #c4 ,paste or glue one of the ends of the cloth1 which corresponds to the length of the roller1 smoothly around it2 now letting this roll just touch the floor1 draw the other end up evenly1 and tack it along the under-side of the top of the box1 on a line three inches from the edge4 ,in order that the curtain may roll up smoothly1 it is best to mark straight lines with a pencil and ruler1 on both roller and box1 and adjust its edges carefully to these lines4 ,just in front of this line1 and at two inches from either end1 tack to the box the ends of two pieces of fish-line1 and1 carrying the strings down the front of the curtain1 bring them under the roller1 up on the other side1 and through two small holes bored for the purpose in the top of the box1 about three and one-half inches from the ends2 next bring the two strings together1 and pass them through a screw-eye placed at the middle and back edge of the top to receive them4 ,at one side of the back1 in any convenient place1 drive a small nail to wind the strings upon when the curtain is up4 ,by simply undoing this1 the curtain can at any moment be made to fall4 ,it is also well to tie the two strings together1 and fasten a button to them just back of the point where they pass through the screw-eye1 when the curtain is down1 and they are evenly drawn1 as this prevents an extra play of the cord1 and obviates entirely the danger of their slipping4 ,before the curtain is nailed on1 it is best to paper the whole beveled surface picture frame with some neat plain paper2 very dark red or green 8velvet0 house-paper being preferable to all others4 ,after the curtain is in a good working condition1 fasten on the two uprights1 g and h1 indicated in ,fig4 #c1 and the long piece across the front which you have already prepared2 make a fancy design for the top out of stiff cardboard1 taking especial care that it is wide enough to cover the cranks on the top1 while at the same time it extends low enough to cover the upper edges of the curtain and the rough unfinished wood in front4 ,cover the outside and edges of the box with fancy wall-paper1 letting it extend well over on the inside1 wherever there is the slightest danger of that surface being exposed to view2 and lastly1 fasten the long strip of pictures on the rollers1 and nothing is wanting but posters and tickets1 to insure a first-class show1 of the best approved1 old-fashioned style4 ,,repouss ,,work ,,for ,,boys4 ,the term ,repouss is applied to any sheet-metal in which a pattern is hammered out or left in relief1 by means of a hammer and common nail1 or a regular tool made for the purpose4 ,it does not simply refer to brass-work1 but applies equally to work of like character either on silver or gold4 ,illustration ,if you have friends who have made the voyage of the ,nile1 you have probably seen the beautiful silver bracelets bought by them of the ,nubian workmen as souvenirs of their ,eastern travels4 ,these bracelets are made1 ,i was told1 by the natives of the interior1 with simply a nail and a stone1 but the effect is very artistic and pretty4 ,so1 if ignorant ,nubians can make these beautiful things with such primitive tools1 certainly an intelligent ,american lad can do equally good work1 with a little instruction and better materials4 ,,repouss1 ,,or ,,hammered ,,brass4 ,this work is chiefly produced by means of a punch and hammer4 ,an ordinary tack-hammer can be used1 but that generally in use by most workers is of rather peculiar shape1 like that in ,fig4 #a4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,the round end will be found very useful in working from the inside of the pattern1 which will be explained hereafter4 ,the punches are of various forms2 but a set of common board nails of different sizes1 and varying shaped ends1 make good tools for beginners4 ,a very nice piece of work can be done with a common ,french nail whose end has been ground flat4 ,it is desirable that a beginner should practice upon the thinnest sheet-brass until he becomes perfectly acquainted with the use of his tools4 ,brass can be obtained for about twenty-five cents a pound1 and one-quarter of a pound of ,no4 #be will be amply sufficient for this practice4 ,a tool which is of great assistance in all brass work is a dull chisel or screw-driver1 with a serrated edge1 so that a dotted line is left when it is pressed upon the metal2 however1 if this is not readily procurable1 a common screw-driver will answer the same purpose in most instances4 ,in this practice1 the first thing to be done is to draw a line of some design upon the brass with a soft lead-pencil or with impression-paper1 taking extreme care that this line is precisely like that in the copy1 as all irregularities should be corrected in the drawing1 and none left for the punch4 ,it is1 indeed1 very difficult to make the proper corrections after the work is commenced4 ,then having traced your line as perfectly as you can do it1 lay the brass upon a piece of soft wood1 and with the end of the screw-driver pressed evenly upon the line1 give the head a light blow with the hammer2 then move the blade along the penciled line1 so that its edge shall just touch the end of the last indentation1 and give it another slight tap with the hammer4 ,if you strike with too much force your line will be unequally deep in some places1 and your work will not present as good an appearance when finished4 ,this process should be repeated along the entire design1 and a perfect unbroken line should be the result4 ,until this is accomplished it is best to attempt nothing further4 ,after you have succeeded in making one unbroken even line1 mark two parallel lines upon the metal1 and do them in the same manner4 ,when these present a satisfactory appearance1 trace some very simple design upon the same thin sheet1 and after nailing the sheet at each corner to the block1 commence with the chisel and mark lightly around the figure4 ,it is often necessary to do this tracing over two or three times during the process of working1 as too deep denting at first warps1 or1 as the regular brass-worker would say1 8buckles0 your pattern4 ,now commence at the outside edge of your design1 with your nail placed near the line1 strike upon it with a light blow1 and continue this operation until your whole background is covered with little dents1 and presents a thickly mottled appearance4 ,when this is removed from the block1 the pattern will seem to stand out from the rest of the surface4 ,care must be taken at first not to crack or break holes in the brass1 but after a little practice1 and a thicker quality of brass is used1 you will learn to avoid this danger4 ,,plaque ,,in ,,hammered ,,brass4 ,when quite confident in the use of your tools1 you can proceed to make a card-receiver decorated with an antique head1 as in the figure2 or by enlarging the design1 and making the background circular1 a plaque will be the result1 which will be useful for holding fruit1 or1 set in a velvet frame1 will make an ornament for your walls4 ,a sheet of brass nearly one-eighth of an inch in thickness1 and at least seventeen inches square will be required4 ,as in work of this character a deeper relief is desirable1 you will find it more agreeable to work over a bed of composition1 which is more yielding than wood1 and can be made with but little trouble2 this composition can be obtained in small cakes at any store where jewelers' tools are for sale2 but you can easily make it yourself by thoroughly mixing fine sand1 well-sifted wood ashes1 or even brick-dust1 with equal parts of pitch or resin2 a tiny bit of tallow improves it considerably4 ,this pitch bed1 as it is called1 can be spread on a flat table or board1 and the sheet of brass1 after the design has been carefully traced thereon1 fastened down upon it by means of four screws at the corners4 ,to draw the design for the plaque1 with a strong pair of carpenter's dividers describe a circle whose diameter shall be sixteen and one-half inches1 and within this draw a second circle1 with a diameter of fifteen inches4 ,the space between these two circles is to be left untouched1 as it will be turned over to inclose the wire which forms the edge1 if for a platter2 or will extend under the edge of the velvet1 if intended to be framed4 ,be sure and put your screws outside the large circle1 as holes in the body of the plaque would ruin its effect4 ,in this work heavier blows with the hammer will be needed2 and a large1 well-shaped nail used for the background4 ,work around the pattern until it stands out in line relief4 ,the brass will become discolored and black during the process of hammering2 but1 when done1 it can be readily cleaned1 at first with oxalic acid and rotten-stone1 then a final polishing with chamois-skin4 ,when well polished1 take it to a tinsmith and he will make it up for you as a platter1 or trim and bend the edges for a plaque4 ,,card-,,receiver4 ,in making the card-receiver1 take the design off on tracing-paper1 and then carefully trace it with a sharpened stick or end of a bone crochet-hook1 over the impression-leaf on the sheet of brass4 ,in this also the relief should be high1 thus rendering it necessary that it should be hammered on the composition-bed4 ,polish and finish this in the same manner as the plaque4 ,,foxing4 ,foxing1 or sticking the metal to be embossed upon a block covered with pitch1 is a favorite method with many workers4 ,the block can be of iron or wood1 and should measure eight or nine inches across2 this rests upon a deep ring of straw1 which is readily made by an ingenious boy1 as it simply consists of the twisting several wisps of rye straw in the form of a large cable1 and then bending them into a small ring of even thickness4 ,catch them in place with a large darning-needle filled with wrapping-twine4 ,nice rings1 made of leather1 and designed expressly for this purpose1 can be obtained in the trade1 but the home-made ones answer as well for any work a novice would be competent or even desirous of undertaking4 ,the top of the block is covered with pitch1 which should be warmed1 and then given the slightest possible coating of oil1 whenever a new object is to be placed upon it4 ,care must be taken that too much oil is not used1 as in that case it will be impossible to make the surface of the brass adhere to the bed4 ,in work of a nice nature1 where the lines are many and fine1 and the background complicated1 this is by far the most satisfactory bed to use1 and when the metal is 8annealed0 it will be found invaluable4 ,,annealing4 ,when working in very heavy metal1 it is often necessary to soften it somewhat1 especially if a deep relief is desired4 ,this is accomplished by placing the plate upon a bed of glowing coals1 and allowing it to remain there till it becomes soft1 but not in the least melted1 and then removing it with pincers4 ,hammering upon the cold metal is inclined to make it brittle1 and at times slightly unmanageable1 and this unpleasant quality can be overcome by annealing2 but so much care and patience are required to accomplish this process successfully1 that it is not very popular with young workers4 ,in many larger designs1 a very high relief is obtained by turning the brass after the plaque has been hammered upon the right side as much as seems necessary1 and with the round end of the hammer sending strong1 even blows into the figure1 at whatever points the highest work is desired4 ,by annealing the metal1 and working the pattern from the inside after the background is finished1 a very fine bunch of well-rounded grapes is easily formed1 and makes a very nice subject for a fruit-dish or dining-room plaque4 ,a dragon1 and the emblem of ,st4 ,mark1 both make unusually fine designs for a medival plaque4 ,as you become more expert in this art you will constantly desire new punches4 ,designs will suggest themselves to you1 and it will be impossible to obtain them ready-made1 so it is well for a boy to learn to make his own tools4 ,a kind of square steel wire about one-eighth of an inch thick is made for this purpose1 and can be bought in any quantity2 this can be cut with a file1 and the ends formed into the desired shapes4 ,a ,,salver ,,in ,,repouss4 ,a very beautiful salver1 which will not only be ornamental but exceedingly useful1 can be easily made by one accustomed to work upon sheet-brass4 ,a piece twenty by fifteen inches in size1 and about one-eighth of an inch thick1 will be required for one of medium size4 ,strike off with the dividers a quarter circle in each corner1 to give it a slightly oval effect1 and draw a line around the salver parallel to the intended edge1 and one and three-fourths inches from it4 ,the entire central surface can be hammered in the honey-comb pattern1 which is so popular just now1 and is done with a perfectly straight-edged punch1 its length determining the side of the hexagon1 or if preferred the pentagon1 as both forms are equally attractive2 or it may contain some graceful design done in low relief4 ,the more original the design the more unique the salver1 provided it is artistic and in harmony with the object and use for which it is intended4 ,it would be well for all young workers in brass to examine carefully any work of that nature which comes within their field of view1 especially any antique or foreign brasses1 with a view toward perfecting their own designs1 or gaining ideas for others4 ,when the work on this salver is completed1 take it to the tinman1 and tell him how you wish it made up1 and he will do it for you for a very small sum4 ,a ,,silver ,,bangle ,,for ,a ,,lady',s ,,bracelet4 ,for the past few years there has been an increasing passion among young girls for the little round bangles1 which tinkle so musically with every movement of the slender white wrist1 that we are forcibly reminded of the old nursery rhyme3 8,with rings on her fingers1 ,and bells on her toes1 ,she shall have music ,wherever she goes40 ,and as it has long been a matter of rivalry1 as to who should display the greatest number of these resonant favors1 it is quite certain that one of the pretty trifles will make a very acceptable present to any of your sisters or girl friends you may desire to please4 ,they are usually made from ten cent pieces1 but occasionally a bit of silver no larger than an old-fashioned three-cent piece is used4 ,the coin is beaten or rolled flat1 and the giver's initials or monogram1 with perhaps a date1 is engraved on one side4 ,now a much more unique and artistic thing could be made by annealing the coin1 and beating its surface flat on some firm1 hard bed4 ,after the silver is reduced to the proper size and thinness1 with a pen or pencil draw some odd designs1 and hammer it in shape with a small1 blunt-pointed nail4 ,ancient coins1 such as are frequently on exhibition in store windows1 afford excellent subjects for this class of ornaments4 ,when the design is well indented1 the work can be cleaned by boiling it in sulphuric acid and water1 and polishing it with chamois-skin4 ,a ,,bangle ,,bracelet4 ,a bangle bracelet can be easily made of hammered work1 from a narrow strip of sheet-silver1 which can be obtained from any silversmith at a small cost4 ,the design is to be traced on the silver in the same manner as upon the sheet-brass1 and great care must be taken in the working out of each little detail4 ,when the work is finished1 it should be sent to a jeweler to be made up and polished4 ,this is of course an expensive1 as well as a very nice piece of work1 and should not be tried until considerable skill in the manipulation of sheet-metal has been acquired1 and success seems in a large degree certain4 ,many ladies are fine workers in repouss1 and it cannot fail to be a source of satisfaction to every one interested in the art to know1 that each year its merits are becoming more fully known and appreciated by that great class of people1 whose purchases govern the prices of all artistic things4 ,now1 boys1 ,i have simply touched upon this very interesting subject of repouss1 and given you a few directions1 culled from my own experience4 ,if1 however1 ,i have succeeded in stimulating in you a desire to pursue this subject further1 you will find many excellent helps1 in the form of books or pamphlets1 in any of our large stores devoted to artists' materials and supplies4 ,a ,,frame ,,for ,a ,,plaque4 ,a fine frame for any kind of plaque1 whether repouss1 porcelain1 leather work1 or papier-mach1 can be easily made from a square piece of wood1 about six inches wider than the subject to be framed2 this can be beveled at the edges1 or left as when sawed4 ,in the center1 with a strong pair of carpenter's dividers describe a circle1 whose diameter shall be half an inch shorter than that of the plaque4 ,bevel the front edge of this opening1 then covering the whole front surface of this wood with thin glue1 lay it1 face downward upon the piece of plush or velvet1 intended to cover it2 the material lying flat and smooth1 with its raised surface downward1 upon an uncovered table4 ,cut the center of the cloth away1 allowing enough on the edge to draw over the opening of the frame2 slash this to within a short distance of the wood1 that it may lay evenly when finished2 now glue this firmly down upon the back1 and bring over the outside edges and fix them in the same way4 ,when this is dry1 fasten in your plaque with brads driven into the back of the frame1 and extending over the edge of the opening at its back4 ,finally1 when certain all is securely fastened1 wet a piece of brown paper1 cut to exactly cover the entire back of plaque and frame both1 cover it with paste and press it in place4 ,it is necessary to wet the paper first1 to prevent its wrinkling or forming great bubbles when dry4 ,when the paper is dampened1 a bit of paste around the edge is all that is necessary to hold it in place4 ,after this backing is completed1 a couple of screw-eyes and a wire cord are to be added1 and your plaque is ready for your walls4 ,,the ,,aquarium4 ,illustration ,the name aquarium was formerly sometimes given to a tank or cistern placed in a hot-house1 and intended for the cultivation of aquatic plants2 but in later years its signification has widened1 so that it now embraces animals as well as plants in its category4 ,its use seems to have been known nearly a hundred years ago1 and a number of gentlemen1 in the latter part of the eighteenth century1 made several successful experiments by means of this 8scientific plaything10 as some writer has happily called it4 ,the aquarium can be used for either salt or fresh water animals1 the former necessitating a residence conveniently near the sea1 for the purpose of occasionally replenishing it with a fresh supply of the water4 ,it may be an ordinary globe1 or it can be made of slabs of heavy glass1 fastened inside an iron frame-work1 with a peculiar kind of cement1 made specially for the purpose4 ,they can be obtained in different sizes at several places in ,new ,york and other cities1 and as the materials in themselves are expensive1 and the work of making one usually results in a series of disappointments1 and finally1 in total failure1 the expediency of buying one ready-made cannot be too strongly urged upon the young naturalist4 ,although the large aquarium accommodates more inmates1 the globe is much more easily cleaned1 and answers equally well for a few fishes1 as the one in my window will testify4 ,as fresh-water animals and plants are more accessible to the larger proportion of boys in the country1 and the globe much cheaper1 while it occupies less space than the large square articles alluded to above1 it may possibly not come amiss for me to give1 for the benefit of those of my readers who are interested in the subject1 a description of my own fresh-water aquarium1 and what little experience ,i have derived from it4 ,it is a globe of ordinary shape1 and has the capacity of a common water-pail4 ,for several years it was stocked with gold-fish1 but it was1 moreover1 a source of ceaseless anxiety and trouble4 ,the fish would die or turn black without any apparent cause1 and1 still worse1 would frequently have what we termed 8fits0 in the night1 and jump out of the globe on the floor1 where they would be found1 cold and lifeless1 in the morning4 ,the experiment of keeping these decidedly troublesome pets was finally given up1 and the empty globe placed high and dry upon a closet shelf4 ,one day nearly a year ago1 a young member of our household brought home three small fishes 7the common dace71 and begged so hard that the globe might be brought out1 and converted into the family fish-pond once more1 that we finally consented1 and the little fishes were soon at home in our library window4 ,not more than a week after this1 a genuine mud-turtle was added to the collection1 and1 strange as it may seem1 these little creatures have lived at peace with each other ever since4 ,we covered the bottom with a few pebbles from the brook1 and afterward added some sand and a handful of shells from the sea-shore4 ,we experimented with several species of water-plants1 but were convinced that a tiny fine-leaved plant1 of which ,i have forgotten the name1 but which grows very plentifully in our northern fresh-water brooklets1 and the vallisneria ,spiralis1 or common tape or eel-grass1 gave the greatest satisfaction on the whole4 ,with these little plants growing on its bottom1 we are not obliged to change the water for several days at a time4 ,in bright sunny weather the plants give forth plenty of oxygen for the fishes to breathe4 ,this can be readily seen by noting the little air-bubbles adhering to the leaves and stems1 or rising slowly to the surface of the water2 but in cloudy weather this gas-making process diminishes1 so that after awhile the air becomes vitiated1 and the fishes1 finding it hard to breathe1 are forced to swim near the top1 with their heads at the surface of the water4 ,at such times it is well to introduce fresh air into the water1 by filling a cup with the water1 and1 holding it an inch or two above the surface1 pour it slowly back into the globe2 by repeating this process several times the water is made comparatively pure once more4 ,another and easier way of accomplishing this is by using a small syringe instead of the cup2 but care must be taken in either case to avoid hitting the fish with the descending stream4 ,their food consists of angle-worms and flies in summer1 and bits of fresh meat cut very fine with the scissors1 during the colder portions of the year4 ,,the ,,salt-,,water ,,aquarium4 ,illustration ,the globe answers equally as well for salt as for fresh water fish1 provided its inmates are not crowded and are supplied with a sufficient quantity of good sea-water4 ,in obtaining this supply1 it is desirable to have it dipped from deep water some distance from the shore1 or from the channel if possible4 ,in preparing your globe1 put a handful of gravel and sand on the bottom1 then with three or four irregular stones build a cave or little arch1 for the fishes to play beneath4 ,although some authorities say that the aquarium should be kept in the shade1 the one with which the writer was familiar through childhood always stood in a south window1 which was only partially shaded by some great trees in the garden beyond4 ,occasionally1 on very sunny days in spring or early summer1 before the leaves were fully grown1 a newspaper would be placed between the glass and the window-pane1 or over a corner of the top1 to give the desired protection2 but the tiny cavern usually supplied sufficient shade1 and it was ever a source of unabating amusement to watch the little fellows swim in and out through the arches1 darting now here and again there1 hiding in the shadow of some moss-grown stone1 to spring out a moment later upon an unsuspecting companion swimming leisurely by2 their little games of hide-and-seek and of tag were very entertaining to witness1 and we children would frequently find ourselves quite excited over the success or failure of our special favorite in the game4 ,as the aquarium of which ,i speak was a large one1 it frequently had several inmates at the same time2 among these the little nippers1 or1 as the dwellers along the coast of ,new ,york ,state call them1 killie-fish--so named by the ,dutch settlers from their frequenting the little kills1 or inlets1 along the shore--always held a conspicuous place4 ,indeed1 these little fishes seem to be blessed with a long string of names entirely disproportionate to the size of their tiny little bodies4 ,in some places they are known as minnows1 while on the shores of the ,narragansett they retain their old ,indian name of ,mummychog4 ,they are a bright1 lively little fish1 darting through the water with such rapidity1 that you hold your breath in fear lest they dash themselves against the glass at the end1 but they never do2 just as contact with it seems a matter of certainty1 they suddenly turn a sharp angle1 face about1 and perhaps come to the front and peer at you through the glass1 with their funny little faces pressed up close to its surface4 ,they are of a greenish-gray color upon the back1 which gradually shades to a bright silvery tone at the sides1 and their eyes1 which are large and staring1 have a very mild1 good-natured expression4 ,very different from these are the sticklebacks 7,gasterosteus71 also fine subjects for the aquarium1 for a more pugnacious or plucky little fellows it would be hard to find than these graceful little tyrants1 which in early spring are found in our creeks and salt-water ditches in great abundance4 ,as this is the only season of the year in which they can be captured1 it is best to be on the watch for them during the last of ,march or the first of ,april4 ,a dip-net1 made of a piece of mosquito netting caught over a small hoop1 and attached to a long1 slender handle1 is best for catching all kinds of fish for the aquarium1 and the shores of bays or salt-water streams supply a greater abundance than the open sea1 or the shore washed by the heavy ocean waves4 ,if your globe is the vessel you are to use1 the sticklebacks will afford you quite as much amusement as any fish you could find1 for aside from their quick1 lively manner1 they are a very handsome fish4 ,the male is of a rich ruddy color1 his little silvery sides giving forth gleams of red or blue1 which vary considerably1 according to his temper4 ,if he feels quiet and peaceful1 they are pale and soft in tone1 but if indignant1 they become very brilliant1 and the little chap with his savage1 fiery eye1 becomes an object of great respect and terror to all the other denizens of the water within reach of his teeth or sharp little spines4 ,the female is less brilliantly colored than the male1 is blunter in build1 and has a comparatively mild disposition1 leaving all little differences with other fish for her liege lord and master to settle1 for which duty he is perfectly well fitted and takes great delight in performing2 indeed1 so quarrelsome were these little fellows1 that they would soon kill all fish of other species in the tank1 and when no other subject was at hand1 would fall to and fight one another1 biting as ugly dogs might do1 and spearing with their tiny spines1 till one had acquired complete supremacy over all the rest4 ,it is very interesting to watch the process of their nest-building1 and to see them1 like so many lilliputian carpenters1 lay the sticks and hairs in place1 working as if their whole life depended upon their unceasing exertions4 ,we used to put in bits of broom-corn split in threads1 and bristles from the floor-brush1 for materials2 and the work of building would generally occupy three or four days4 ,the nest was built in one corner of the box 7we were obliged to keep the sticklebacks in a separate glass case1 as they killed all the other fish if together7 and well up on the sides1 with a tiny round hole at the top for the fish to go in and out4 ,after a short time--,i do not remember now just how long--hundreds of little fish came out from the nest1 and were very lively for two or three days1 but in a week they were all dead1 and the parents had the waters to themselves once more4 ,we never succeeded in raising the young fish1 ,i remember1 but ,i do not now recall whether any reason was ever ascribed to our failure1 or if it was even known4 ,but to go back to our large aquarium4 ,fortunately for us1 not many fish are as quarrelsome as the sticklebacks1 and most of those ,i shall now describe live together in perfect harmony4 ,the young of larger fish do very nicely for a time in the aquarium1 and a young eel is a rather amusing although somewhat sluggish fellow to keep4 ,the most amusing denizens are creatures of the crab family4 ,the little hermit-crabs1 found in quantities on any shelving beach of the bay or sea inlet1 create much sport for the young naturalist4 ,these little crabs1 you must know1 are soft little fellows1 for whom nature in a frugal moment prepared no house or covering to protect them from the thumps they might receive from both water and stones2 but the little fellows1 with a shrewdness one would hardly suspect in creatures so small1 rise equal to the occasion1 and help themselves to the empty snail-shells left by their more fortunate neighbors4 ,when small they occupy the little black snail-shells1 moving from a smaller to a larger as they increase in size4 ,after outgrowing these plainer homes they take possession of the pretty grayish-white shells also found in abundance on our shores4 ,it is frequently quite amusing to watch two fight over a particularly desirable one1 which either has chosen for its own1 and ofttimes the battle will be long and heavy before either will give up that which he considers by rights his own4 ,if you have one or more of these little wanderers in your globe1 remember to put in two or three empty snail-shells for them to flee to when they have outgrown their present abode4 ,their manner of eating affords a very entertaining spectacle4 ,clams1 either soft or hard1 cut into tiny bits1 form the principal food for all the dwellers in the aquarium1 and a long stick with a needle driven in one end1 to form a tiny spear1 is used in passing it to them4 ,when a particular crab is to be fed1 a bit of clam is taken up on the needle1 and lowered down in the water to a position directly in front of him4 ,at first1 before he has become acquainted with this mode of dining1 he draws in his claws1 and nothing but the shell is to be seen upon the bottom2 but in a few moments the little fellow lets himself out again1 little by little1 with a quick1 jerky movement1 till at last his two little eyes stand in an upright position1 and he is ready to seize the tempting morsel4 ,this he does with his longest claw1 and holding the clam firm in his grasp1 he proceeds to pick it in pieces with the other long claw1 and pass it along to the smaller set1 which in turn give it to the next in order1 until it finally disappears in the mouth itself1 and is swallowed by the little creature4 ,it is important to have two or three snails in your globe to act as scavengers1 and keep the water free from the refuse which would otherwise remain on the bottom4 ,these little creatures are often seen moving slowly along on the surface of the glass1 feeding upon the green moss or conferv which accumulates so quickly on all the objects under water4 ,the pipe-fish1 a peculiarly shaped specimen1 comparatively rare on our ,atlantic coast1 is worthy a place in your collection2 and the shrimp1 the acrobat of the aquarium1 whose funny little backward movements1 when the poor little fellow is frightened1 create so much laughter among the little folks1 must not be forgotten4 ,young scallops are very pretty1 and when left undisturbed open their shells a trifle1 disclosing a beautiful fringe of tiny blue tentacles which wave to and fro with every motion of the water4 ,the medus1 also called jelly-fish1 with their umbrella-like cover1 and long1 slender tentacles streaming downward1 are pretty for a time1 but do not live long after they are taken from the sea4 ,the ,cydippe and the ,beroe are very lovely specimens of this class1 the former particularly is noticeable for its beautiful iridescent colors4 ,the beautiful orange colored medusa is an unsafe inmate1 as he very soon kills all the fishes within his reach4 ,illustration ,if it is possible1 obtain one or more of the beautiful sea-anemones1 and add it to your globe2 the large1 bright-colored members of this class are only to be found in the tropics1 but very pretty1 delicate specimens are sometimes found in our northern waters1 where a rock or bit of stonework is constantly washed over by a swift current4 ,if possible1 it is better to take the stone on which they rest1 as it is almost impossible to remove them from its surface without killing them4 ,this was1 however1 done several times with success1 and the anemones lived in our aquarium as long as they could be expected to exist in perfectly quiet water4 ,when these creatures are at rest or frightened they draw down into little shapeless masses2 but when looking for food they stretch up again1 and expand on the top of the long stalk1 as we may call it1 a beautiful flower-like head1 resembling an aster in form1 and of a deep brownish-yellow color4 ,when food is passed down to this animated blossom1 it will fold its little tentacles one by one around it1 and pass it down into its mouth1 open to receive it1 but which is entirely hidden by the beautiful petals of this delicate flower4 ,all of you have probably noticed the serpul1 or worm-like excrescences often seen upon oyster and other hard shells4 ,if one of these shells be taken from the water and immediately placed on the bottom of your aquarium1 after a few days1 when the little animals feel quite at home1 they send out of one end of their slender tubes bunches of the loveliest1 delicate brown fern-like feelers1 which sway about in the water like the beautiful roadside ferns in a gentle summer breeze4 ,but in the salt as in the fresh water aquarium1 vegetation is necessary for a healthful condition of the inmates4 ,here we see on a miniature scale that wonderful balance of organic forces which exists on the larger globe around us4 ,the vegetation exhales the purifying oxygen1 which renders the water fit for sustaining animal life2 the fishes and other animals in their turn give forth the carbonic-acid gas1 which is equally needed for the healthful development of the plants2 while1 last of all1 the snails--those little scavengers nature has so wisely provided--remove such minute portions of decaying matter as might otherwise pass unnoticed1 and so contaminate the entire water in the globe4 ,,the ,,wooden ,,windmill4 ,so common were these little toys among the companions of my childhood1 that it seemed almost superfluous to insert what ,i supposed every boy must be familiar with2 but upon questioning my young friends1 ,i find that very few of them away from the sea-coast towns of ,new ,england1 and the sailor-like influence or atmosphere which permeates them1 know anything of the pretty little windmills1 or weather-vanes1 which we copied from those of our sailor friends4 ,it was no uncommon thing in those days for some boy less ingenious than his companions to use a little strategy1 and so get his work done for him by proxy2 and the manner in which he would proceed was generally something like this3 ,early some bright spring morning1 with jackknife and shingle in hand1 he would saunter down to the wharf1 upon which he knew at an early hour the old sea captains of the village would assemble1 and wait his chance4 ,here the old captains1 and the sailors1 who by reason of their advanced age took the same honorary title1 were wont to gather on the sunny side of the weather-beaten old store-house1 and watch from under their heavy gray eyebrows the bay stretched out before them1 while they enjoyed their pipes1 and lived over again the wonderful adventures and disasters of their successive voyages2 and here he would watch for his prey1 little suspected by those kindly old souls1 who had1 years long gone by1 ruled with iron will over the crews and destinies of great ships1 known to him only by their names4 ,occasionally two or three would arrive at the wharf together1 and he knew his chances were gone for that day at least2 but usually some one1 whose breakfast may not have claimed as much attention as usual1 would be seen making his way down the quiet village street1 easily recognized by his rolling gait1 his inseparable pipe1 and manner of scanning the clouds and horizon4 ,now our friend would begin to whittle in earnest1 soon attracting the attention of the ancient mariner by his awkward movements4 ,of course1 he would receive no end of ridicule for his stupidity2 but as that did not sink very deep in his boyish soul1 he was prepared to pay a greater price1 if necessary1 for the work he expected to receive4 ,it not unfreqently happened that the old fellow would take the shingle to show him how to begin1 and would get so much interested in the work that he would offer to do it during the day1 and would actually whittle away on the little boat1 while he or one of his companions related for the fiftieth time how the ,nautilus passed through so many hair-breadth escapes1 and finally reached port at last1 with no soul missing and cargo untouched4 ,it was during these long voyages1 when time hung heavily on their hands1 that they acquired their skill in fashioning these mechanical toys1 which almost always had for their motive power the wind or the waves4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d ,the simplest form of windmill from this source ,i remember seeing is very easily constructed4 ,it is made from an oblong piece of wood like ,fig4 #a4 ,through the center of this bore a hole1 a1 for the pivot upon which it will finally turn1 and mark the two lines at b4 ,now1 commencing at the point b1 cut off the corner1 b c1 and make the surface flat as in ,fig4 #b2 then cut off the opposite side of the other end1 indicated in ,fig4 #a by the dotted lines d e1 in a like manner4 ,your figure will now resemble ,fig4 #b1 and both ends will form a prism like b c d e f2 but b c d e should be a thin flat blade1 so the corner or edge1 commencing at f1 should be cut down in the same manner that e d was treated in ,fig4 #a4 ,make the other blade to correspond and chamfer out the middle1 or square piece1 as seen in ,fig4 #c4 ,this middle piece is not a square1 although ,i have spoken of it as such1 but is oblong1 to allow room for another two-bladed piece made precisely like this to interlock with it4 ,when these two pieces are fitted together1 fasten them with one or more nails1 and then insert the small round stick upon which the windmill is to turn4 ,fig4 #d shows an arrangement by which two windmills are operated on the same stick4 ,these should turn in opposite directions to make them effective1 and this is easily accomplished by simply cutting the vanes of the one so that the wind shall strike it at an angle opposite to that with which it strikes the other4 ,should you care to decorate them in colors1 it had best be done by painting bands or stripes across each vane1 all to correspond with each other in width and shade4 ,for instance1 take the windmill in ,fig4 #d2 let the outside bands be of chrome yellow and one inch wide2 the next red and two inches wide2 while the third yellow1 and the fourth blue1 should each be an inch in width4 ,the axis should have a greater diameter where the larger revolves upon it1 but should be cut smaller where it meets the back of the little windmill4 ,nails in front and back of the larger1 and front of the smaller1 are necessary to keep them in place4 ,illustration ,perhaps the most satisfactory way of arranging such a windmill is to place it on the end of a weather-vane1 as shown in ,fig4 #e4 ,it is then always presented to the wind4 ,the vane and the windmill may be painted the same color1 or the latter may be decorated in stripes1 as before described1 and the vane given a color which will harmonize with it4 ,care must be exercised to fasten each part strongly in place1 as the strain is very great during a strong wind or in a storm4 ,,the ,,screw-,,propeller2 ,,or1 ,,weather-,,vane ,,and ,,windmill ,,combined4 ,illustration ,take a piece of board1 seven-eighths of an inch thick1 and large enough to make a vessel of the size you desire4 ,cut out a hull like that in the illustration4 ,make a small windmill like that just described1 but with rounded ends to the vanes1 like that represented in ,fig4 #b4 ,pass a strong wire through the hole in the center1 and drive it into the stern of ,fig4 #a2 fasten the other end into the rudder1 which should be stationary4 ,be careful when planning your vessel to allow sufficient room for the windmill to revolve below the over hang4 ,bore a hole at a for the pivot to rest in1 upon which the weather-vane is to turn1 and insert the two masts in their proper places4 ,cut a small mizzen-sail from thin board and nail it to the mast4 ,illustration ,the flags are of red and blue flannel1 the stays of copper or galvanized wire1 and the bowsprit a small stick1 cut from a tough bit of wood4 ,this propeller may be painted to suit the fancy1 but usually is black1 with a narrow yellow or white stripe near the top4 ,the lower third is frequently painted green1 however1 which adds considerably to its nautical appearance4 ,the windmill should be a bright red1 and the entire vessel should have plenty of time to dry before being placed in its final position4 ,,the ,,side-,,wheeler4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,another1 and very pretty windmill1 which can be easily constructed by a boy1 is in the form of a steam-boat1 the paddles of which are always presented to the wind by the position of the boat itself4 ,cut out of a seven-eighths of an inch board a hull like that seen in the illustration1 and make the hole for the pivot at the middle point between bow and stern2 bore another hole just aft of this for the axle of the paddle-wheels4 ,out of thin wood cut two circular disks for these wheels1 and dovetail the paddles into their edges as seen in ,fig4 #b4 ,next cut out two half circles of your thin wood for paddle-boxes1 and bore a hole in each for the axle of the wheels4 ,these are to shield the upper half of the wheels from the wind4 ,now take a piece of tin1 in shape like ,fig4 #c1 and wide enough to accommodate the wheels on either side1 and nail it to the edges of the paddle-boxes1 as seen in the figure2 the ends1 a1 are to be nailed upon the deck of the steamer1 and answer the purpose of keeping these boxes in position4 ,paint this boat black and green1 the latter occupying the lower third of the hull1 while a narrow line of yellow or white around the top relieves the somberness of the upper part4 ,the paddle-boxes should be black1 with narrow lines of light red radiating from a small semicircular figure of the same color near the bottom4 ,this boat should also be fitted with a small mizzen-sail1 made of tin or thin board1 and painted white4 ,the top of the paddle-boxes is buff or light yellow1 and the wheels or windmills are a bright red4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,in this steam-boat1 a 8dummy0 walking-beam1 cut out of a single piece of thin wood1 can be added if desired1 and should be painted in solid black1 or1 if liked1 it can be striped like that in the 8,toy ,steam-boat10 elsewhere described in this book4 ,the smoke-stack in this1 as well as the screw-propeller1 should be nailed in place before the first painting4 ,if you should care to take the trouble1 the walking-beam can be made to move by simply cutting away the hull between the paddle-boxes1 to allow the crank to turn in1 and bending the axle of the wheels in the form of the crank described in the 8,toy ,steam-boat40 ,a long slit must also be cut in the tin cover of the paddle-boxes1 to allow of the play of the connecting-rod4 ,small flags of bright-colored strong cloth can be placed in the proper places if desired1 and really add considerable to the bright1 pretty effect when first made2 but as they are soon ruined by the combined influences of sun1 rain1 and wind1 they are hardly desirable1 unless the boat is in some position where it can be easily reached1 and the little flags changed for new ones1 as they become faded or torn4 ,,the ,,regatta ,,windmill4 ,illustration ,take two sticks of wood1 about three feet long1 and one inch in diameter2 fasten them together at their central points1 so that their arms shall be at right angles with each other 7see ,fig4 #a72 and bore a large hole through the point of intersection4 ,from shingles cut out four boats1 each eight inches long1 and fit them with masts2 next cut from strong new cloth four small triangular pieces for sails1 and sew them to the masts2 fasten the lower corner by a strong bit of cord to the stern1 as seen in ,fig4 #b2 then cut a small flag from red flannel and nail it to the top of the mast4 ,you can paint these boats if you like1 and also the cross-pieces upon which they are finally nailed4 ,care must be taken that they all head the same way4 ,observe their positions in ,fig4 #a4 ,illustration ,fig4 #a shows the affair finished and mounted on its pole4 ,place them in as high a position as possible1 so that they may catch the breeze from all directions4 ,a ,,boy',s ,,solar ,,microscope4 ,the microscope is1 as every boy knows1 an optical instrument1 which enables us to see and examine objects which are too small to be seen by the naked eye4 ,the arrangement of the solar microscope is similar to that of the magic lantern1 the sun taking the place of the limelight usually employed4 ,in this form of the magic lantern1 two difficulties are to be overcome2 one1 the necessarily fixed position of the instrument2 and the other1 the very inconvenient habit the sun has of constantly changing his position2 so that it would be impossible to adjust the lens without the aid of a mirror1 to throw sufficient light in upon the object to be examined4 ,both of these obstacles are surmounted in the simple arrangement of the solar microscope here described4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,first make a strong frame of wood1 seven-eighths of an inch in thickness1 that will exactly fit in the lower half of the window when the sash is thrown up2 and in the middle of this fit an upright board a foot wide1 which has a hole cut in its center ten inches in diameter4 ,fasten it strongly in place by four nails driven through the frame1 and well into the ends of the boards1 or1 if more convenient1 by long screws inserted in the same places4 ,fig4 #a shows the position of the board a1 also that of the nails b4 ,the open spaces1 c1 are to be closed by several thicknesses of brown paper pasted or tacked across on the inside of the frame4 ,the upper part of the window must also be closed1 so that no ray of light shall enter the room1 except through the hole d4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,before proceeding further1 it may be well to remark1 that1 as perhaps the largest part of the work is the cutting of no less than seven circular holes of various sizes1 through as many pieces of board1 a scroll-saw will be found an almost indispensable aid to the construction of this apparatus4 ,also1 that the window in which this microscope is used must necessarily have a southern exposure4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,in ,fig4 #b we have a disk of half-inch wood1 twelve inches in diameter1 with an opening in the center four inches across1 to hold the condensing lens1 a2 b is a mirror five inches wide and ten inches long1 turning on an axis which passes through the supports1 c c1 the latter being attached to the disk4 ,these supports should be long enough to admit of the mirror turning entirely around without touching the disk1 and are fastened in place by screws passing through the disk and into their ends4 ,when the mirror is in place1 cut the slit d parallel with the edge of the mirror1 for the wire e to pass through4 ,the manner of attaching the wire to the back of the mirror is seen in ,fig4 #c4 ,the back is first covered with paper to prevent its scratching2 then the wire is bent and laid in place1 and lastly1 a piece of very strong paper is pasted over the wire and entire back1 and caught down over the edge of the front1 forming a narrow frame to the glass2 the ends of this wire should pass through rather small holes in c c1 so that it will not turn easily out of position4 ,a handle 7see f1 ,fig4 #d7 should be placed on the other side of the disk1 and just across the lens from the slit d4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d ,next take two pieces of wood1 fifteen inches square and half an inch thick2 in the center of one cut a hole twelve inches in diameter1 while in that of the other cut another round hole only ten inches across4 ,in ,fig4 #d1 which represents a section of this microscope1 g is the central board of the screen1 marked a in ,fig4 #a2 h is the piece you have just made1 with the central opening twelve inches in diameter2 and i is the second piece1 which measures fifteen inches square1 but has a hole of only ten inches diameter in its center2 d1 which has a dotted surface1 to distinguish it from the frame-work1 is the large disk 7,fig4 #b71 which1 you remember1 is just twelve inches in diameter1 and1 consequently1 will exactly fit the opening in h2 if these edges are rough1 sand-paper both with a coarse quality first1 finishing them off with a finer kind4 ,when d is in position1 and moves easily but not loosely in h1 place i over it and fasten it in place with screws1 passing through i into h2 but h1 of course1 must first be strongly nailed or screwed upon g4 ,you will now see that by turning the handle1 f1 the position of the mirror1 which is fastened to this disk1 can be easily changed so that it shall face in any direction1 while by drawing the wire1 e1 it can be turned so as to reflect the sun's rays through the lens1 a1 from whatever quarter of the heavens it may be shining4 ,this double adjustment of the mirror and lens enables you to throw the rays of the sun through the opening in upon the object1 o1 at any hour of the day4 ,as the mirror is adjusted in ,fig4 #d1 the sun must be very low1 as its rays1 to strike the mirror1 would necessarily be nearly horizontal4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e ,the lens1 a1 should be held in place by two pieces of whalebone1 bent around on either side of it1 at the edge of the opening in d2 this lens is four inches in diameter1 and has a focal length of nine or ten inches2 its adjustment had better be left till everything else in the microscope has been finished4 ,fig4 #e shows the appearance of this when completed4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f ,as the outer part of the work is fitted1 we will now turn our attention to the other1 or inner1 side of the screen4 ,in ,fig4 #d1 the board j is eighteen inches long by ten inches wide1 and half-an-inch thick4 ,in the middle is a small circular hole1 one and one-half inches in diameter4 ,this is fastened to the middle board1 g1 by the four horizontal posts1 p1 each six inches long4 ,now take a square piece of half-inch board1 five inches across1 cut a circular hole two inches in diameter in the middle1 and fit into this hole a pasteboard tube four inches long1 which is painted black on the inside4 ,the edge of the circular hole in j should also be black4 ,in ,fig4 #f1 which represents this board1 you will notice two cleats1 l l1 fastened to the back of k2 these are also made of half-inch wood1 and are five inches long by one wide4 ,in ,fig4 #d1 the position of k and l is seen in connection with the longer piece1 j2 the center of the openings in j and k should form one and the same horizontal line4 ,the opening between l and l is for the glass slides upon which the objects to be examined are placed4 ,after these parts are fastened in their proper places1 make a pasteboard tube1 with a black inner surface1 as represented at n1 about four inches in length1 and inclose in one end two lenses1 each one and one-half inches in diameter1 and each having a focal length of four inches4 ,fit this tube in the one marked m4 ,now1 having everything in place1 fit in the lens1 a1 so that it will send the rays of light directly through the hole in j upon the object in l1 and fasten it securely in place with your bent whalebones4 ,the screen upon which the image is thrown can be the opposite whitewashed surface of the room1 if by a proper adjustment of the tubes the image can be made distinct1 or it can be a sheet stretched over a frame-work of light wood2 the latter is preferable1 as it can be more easily brought in focus4 ,of course1 in this form1 as in any other 8magic lantern10 the nearer the screen to the lantern1 the longer the tubes m n2 but the image1 which is smaller1 gains in brilliancy of illumination1 while with these conditions reversed1 the results are the opposite2 a larger image1 but less bright in appearance4 ,the same light being spread over a larger surface is necessarily less strong4 ,,some ,,objects ,,for ,,this ,,microscope4 ,the objects which can be examined by aid of this instrument are many in number1 and can be readily prepared by simply inserting them between two pieces of glass1 sufficiently small to slide in the opening l l1 and pasting bits of brown paper over the edges to hold them in place4 ,in this manner the legs of flies and mosquitoes1 the heads of the latter with their venomous sting2 hairs of the dog and cat1 also from the human head2 tiny sections of human skin2 down from the butterfly's wing1 obtained by dusting off a few of the tiny particles upon a glass plate2 the pollen from different flowers2 spores of the puff-ball and tiny grains of dust1 all make very interesting subjects for study1 when magnified and thrown upon the screen in the darkened room4 ,one of the most interesting experiments with this form of the magic lantern is made by throwing the image of a drop of some solution1 like sulphate of copper1 upon the screen1 and watching the process of its crystallization2 sulphate of copper and of iron2 hyposulphite of soda1 which latter may be colored by adding a very little permanganate of potash to the solution4 ,the eels in a drop of vinegar1 drops of stagnant water1 and the larv of the mosquito are also interesting objects1 when viewed by the aid of this powerful magnifier4 ,,sea-,,mosses4 ,illustration ,no boy who has lived on our coast1 or1 indeed1 who has spent much time near the sea1 could have failed to notice and admire the beautiful feathery mosses which sway about so gracefully under the surface of the water4 ,the most delicate mosses are not found upon the open sea-beach1 but in the more sheltered bays and inlets near the coast1 and one who has never given them especial attention cannot fail to be impressed by the great variety of form and color to be found within a small space of water4 ,ranging in color from the palest pink or straw to the deepest purple or brown1 and from the lightest sea-green to the darkest shade of olive1 they are capable of being arranged in most beautiful bits of coloring1 while the delicate1 fine specimens1 united with the coarser varieties1 add to the effectiveness of the whole4 ,to gather and arrange these mosses is not as difficult a task as most people imagine4 ,any boy can1 with a little care1 make a fine collection1 which would be valued very highly by some inland friend who cannot reach the sea-shore every year1 or perhaps not more than once or twice in a lifetime4 ,if any of you1 my boy readers1 have any such friend1 do not fail to collect a quantity of the mosses common to the waters near you1 and arrange them on cards for their preservation4 ,in gathering your mosses have an old tin can filled with water in the bottom of the boat1 and after detaching from the stones1 throw them immediately into the can4 ,when you get home they can be left in the can of salt water over night1 if you have not the time to attend to them at once2 or they may be put into a basin of fresh water1 and left for awhile to wash away the salt and sand that remains on them4 ,when they seem perfectly clean1 take two or three carefully up on a bit of paper and throw them into a basin of clean water4 ,now the delicate part of the process is reached4 ,have a number of square pieces of unglazed paper at hand--ribbon paper is very good for the purpose--and thrust them carefully into the water under the bit of moss you desire to take out4 ,with a long1 slender darning-needle carefully arrange the tiny filaments1 so that they shall form a graceful composition1 and raise the card carefully from the water4 ,it is not necessary to exercise as much care with the coarser 8silver mosses10 as their more wiry branchlets naturally assume graceful positions1 and the water flowing from the surface of the card does not so easily disarrange their positions4 ,when all the mosses have been taken up on cards1 fasten each to a table or shelf to dry4 ,this is done by driving a pin through one corner of the card into the edge of the shelf or table1 and allowing it to remain undisturbed until both the moss and paper are perfectly dry4 ,they may now be mounted upon cards prepared for the purpose1 and their names1 with the locality where they were found1 neatly written beneath2 or they may be preserved in a case or frame4 ,illustration ,the illustrations show two different arrangements of sea-mosses for the frame4 ,in the first1 that seen in ,fig4 #a1 they are glued upon a background of fine white cardboard1 one layer superimposed above another1 until they extend forward from the card for an inch or more4 ,their stems are finally covered by a small1 well-striped scallop-shell which has been washed clean and varnished4 ,it is perhaps needless to add that the effect is very pretty4 ,the 8silver mosses0 are best adapted for this arrangement4 ,the design given in ,fig4 #b is quite grotesque in its appearance1 and appeals rather more to the average boy's taste than the former arrangement4 ,red and brown mosses are used entirely1 unless the effect seems too somber1 in which case a little 8silver moss0 may be introduced on the back to lighten it a trifle4 ,tiny baskets1 made of pretty scallop-shells nicely fitted together and varnished1 are often filled with the coarser varieties of moss1 and are very pretty2 but if they are unprotected from the dust they are soon destroyed1 and unless covered with a glass case or inverted thin plain glass tumbler1 they hardly pay for the trouble of making4 ,,antiques ,,and ,,horribles4 ,illustration ,this is another of the mechanical toys which was common during my childhood4 ,the whole affair is so simple that a small boy could make it1 in a less finished form at least1 and the most sullen little fellow in all the land could not fail to be amused by the grotesque procession of clowns and hobgoblins1 kings and countrymen1 birds and fishes and animals1 whose names no naturalist could tell1 and whose like was never seen on this earth before4 ,this procession travels on and on1 as long as the crank is turned4 ,the above illustration gives some idea of a few of the many members of the band1 but any boy at all ingenious1 will see that he has a variety--the more grotesque and outlandish the better the effect4 ,fig4 #b shows a section of the machinery2 the box-like covering is removed1 and the frame-work exposed to view4 ,first procure a board1 a1 about twenty by eight inches2 next two rollers upon which the band is to turn1 for you must have seen that these little images are made of thin cardboard1 attached to an endless band of strong cloth4 ,these rollers should be rather larger than broomsticks1 and held in place by four uprights1 c4 ,only two of these can be seen in the cut4 ,a table1 d e1 extends between the rollers and is supported by four legs1 f1 which should be of sufficient length to make the top1 d e1 come just below the upper section of the band1 g g are boards1 the same width as the bottom1 a1 and of sufficient height to make a good foundation for the top1 and to allow free passage of the procession4 ,none of the figures should be much over three inches in height1 and none should be attached to the cloth in more than one place2 that is1 by only one foot1 as they would be unavoidably torn in passing over the rollers if more firmly fixed4 ,the top and front are of pasteboard1 and the whole exposed surface is covered with pretty wall-paper4 ,on the right roller at the back end1 fix a small crank1 or handle1 and the machine is started by turning this4 ,when about to give a grand exhibition1 be careful to turn in the right direction1 and not set the whole procession running backward1 as you might easily do if unobserving or forgetful4 ,the images are much more amusing if painted in bright colors4 ,use plenty of blue1 red1 yellow1 black1 and white paint1 with a touch here and there of rich green and purple2 and you may perhaps almost make your audience believe that ,fourth of ,july is here again1 and they are viewing the 8,antiques and ,horribles0 through the large end of a spy-glass4 ,illustration ,,the ,,musical ,,chickens4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,one of the most pleasing toys for children1 which may be counted among those made by boys themselves1 is this little coop of chickens4 ,make a box like ,fig4 #a1 leaving off the top and back boards until the works are placed within it4 ,the little bars which separate the chickens are thin strips of wood4 ,in ,fig4 #b1 a represents one of the chickens1 which is also made of thin wood and painted yellow2 a hole is made at b1 to allow the passage of a strong stiff wire1 upon which the chickens turn1 and by which they are also kept in place4 ,at the end1 c1 of each1 a strong piece of linen thread is tied through a small hole bored for the purpose1 and each line is caught to a separate nail1 driven in the bottom of the box1 just below the chicken1 in such a manner that when it is drawn tightly in place it will just touch the roller d4 ,fig4 #a shows just where each chicken is placed1 and how far their heads protrude through the bars4 ,the ends of the wire1 b1 which holds them in place1 can be fastened on one side by simply pushing one end into a hole bored partly through the wood to receive it2 the other should be slipped into a groove made for it1 and fastened in place by a wedge nailed just above it when in position4 ,fig4 #c shows the roller in full1 and the little blocks or cams which are placed along its surface4 ,these little cams are made of wood1 not more than three-eighths of an inch thick1 and are placed at such distances from each other along the roller that the middle point of each shall come opposite one of the threads4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c ,between these blocks1 but so situated that they will not come in contact with any one of the threads1 are little quills1 driven into tiny gashes made in the roller4 ,these quills are an inch long1 and should all be of the same length4 ,one end of the roller is fitted with a crank1 while the other is fastened in place by a wooden pin or long nail4 ,below this1 at either end of the box1 is a curved bridge1 e1 into which grooves are cut and slender brass wires drawn very tightly1 as seen in a violin4 ,the curve made by the wires1 however1 is unlike that in the above-named instrument1 being concave instead of convex4 ,now it will be seen that by placing the roller in such a position that the quills will strike the wires with some force as the wheel revolves1 a constant tinkling sound like that of a toy piano is the result2 and at the same time1 as the little blocks come in contact with the strings1 they push the thread backward1 and in so doing lower the point c1 and consequently raise the head of the chicken4 ,the top of the extension in front of the bars is made of thin board and painted green1 while a slight sprinkling of yellow over its surface represents the meal the chickens are supposed to be eating4 ,the remainder of the box may be painted to suit the fancy of the maker4 ,,captain ,s4',s ,,peg ,,puzzle4 ,one bright summer morning1 which seems but a short while ago1 unless ,i stop and count the years that have passed since then1 we children were invited to take a sail across the bay with one of the kind-hearted old captains who owned a trim little cat-boat1 which her owner was wont to boast would beat any other craft of her length in the harbor4 ,but there was not much chance of beating anything on the morning of which ,i write1 for1 although a light northerly breeze was stirring when we intended to start1 the girls of our party took so much time in which to get ready1 that by the time we were fairly under way we were scarcely able to fill our sail4 ,however1 we managed to make some little headway1 and in the course of two hours reached the beautiful rocky point covered with its grove of fine old trees1 which1 but for the delay in starting1 would have been reached much earlier in the day4 ,this point was quite a favorite spot for excursionists1 and was hailed with delight by most of our party4 ,we boys1 however1 cared more for the little ,sea ,dog1 and the companionship of old ,captain ,s41 than for the walks on shore4 ,so1 claiming our full share of the good things packed in the baskets stowed away in the cabin1 we decided to remain on board and share our picnic with the captain on the bay4 ,after all were on shore1 and the hampers had been taken to the grove1 we hoisted the sail and made for deeper water2 but there was no wind1 and we had to content ourselves with looking at the glassy surface around us1 and feeling that we were in a boat away from shore1 even if not in rapid motion4 ,we ate our lunch as we listened to a delightful story told by the captain1 of how his ship was once chased by a pirate1 and only escaped through the timely interposition of a snow-storm4 ,we next tried our hands at the oars and rowed some distance further from the land4 ,finally1 as we were about to return for the others of our party on shore1 a small piece of wood ,fred found on the cabin floor changed the current of our thoughts1 and we saw for the first time the little device ,i am about to describe4 ,this bit of wood which he had picked up was a thin strip of a cigar-box cover4 ,in one end was a circular hole about an inch in diameter1 in the middle was a square hole of the same diameter1 and at the extreme end was still another opening1 in the form of an isosceles triangle1 the perpendicular being of the same length as the side of the square4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a ,when ,captain ,s4 saw the piece of wood he challenged us each to make one peg which should exactly fit all three holes4 8,but it can't be done1 ,captain10 we both exclaimed at once2 8the holes that have corners couldn't be fitted with a round peg1 and the peg large enough for the square would be too large for the triangle10 continued ,fred1 as he examined the openings more carefully4 8,but it can be done10 answered ,captain ,s41 with a peculiar kind of chuckle he always gave when very much pleased4 8,it can be done1 for ,i have done it hundreds of times40 ,he had done it hundreds of times2 had made one peg which should fit a round1 a square1 and a triangular hole1 and fit them nicely6 ,how was it to be done8 ,we thought it over1 and tried to study it out2 we even took out our jackknives and whittled away at an old broken thole-pin which lay in the bottom of the boat4 ,but we couldn't make it work2 there were always the corners to be filled1 and little spaces would be left if we tried to compromise1 and make the pin less round as it increased in length2 then the triangle6 that wouldn't accommodate itself to any shape we could devise4 ,we whittled away for over an hour1 now and again receiving a little encouragement from the captain1 who greatly enjoyed our successive failures4 ,during the meantime a brisk south-west wind had sprung up1 and we were bounding over the water at a delightful speed2 but we paid little attention to the sail2 in fact1 we hardly knew we were moving at all1 so intent had we become to solve the mystery4 ,after the others of the party came on board1 we soon fired them with our enthusiasm1 and every bit of available wood and every jackknife was brought into use4 ,but not one of the party was bright enough to hit upon the right shape4 ,i shall never forget the fun made of us by the girls--not one of whom1 by the way1 could sharpen a lead-pencil decently--when the captain finally showed us how the thing was done4 ,asking one of the older boys to take the helm1 he picked up a bit of wood we had thrown aside as too small1 whipped out his jackknife1 and in less time than it takes me to write it1 had the peg made and fitted to the holes4 ,how he made it fit so well in so short a time has never ceased to be a source of wonder to me2 but probably the practice of years1 while off on lonely whaling cruises1 had something to do with his dexterity4 ,illustration3 ,figs4 #b1 #c1 #d ,he first whittled out a cylinder1 which exactly fitted the circular hole2 then he cut it off1 so that its length should be the same as the diameter of the square 7see ,fig4 #b74 ,now1 by putting this sideways into the square opening1 it fitted it perfectly4 ,lastly1 leaving the base of the cylinder undisturbed1 he cut away from either side until he had a shape like ,fig4 #c1 which1 when looked at from another point1 presents the appearance of ,fig4 #d1 and would1 of course1 perfectly fit the last and triangular opening4 ,,slate ,,games ,,for ,,children4 ,a slate is one of the most useful presents which can be given to a child4 ,long before the little hands can fashion letters1 or the infant mind comprehend them1 the baby fingers can make marks and scratches upon the smooth surface and derive considerable amusement from the exercise4 ,as the little one grows older1 these meaningless scrawls gradually change to more intelligible forms1 and then it is that the 8,tit-,tat-,to10 so very old1 and yet so delightfully new1 to every little girl or boy in their turn1 comes into play4 ,illustration ,,tit-,,tat-,,to4 ,this game is played on a figure similar to the above1 made on an ordinary slate4 ,the players alternately mark in the figure1 the one a cross1 and the other a nought2 he who first obtains a row1 either horizontally1 perpendicularly1 or diagonally1 wins the game1 and calls out the following rhyme3 8,tit-,tat-,to1 my last go2 ,three jolly butchers all in a row40 ,the object of each of the players is equally to obtain such a row and to prevent his opponent from obtaining one4 ,,air1 ,,earth1 ,,or ,,the ,,sea8 ,this game--which is sometimes called ,birds1 ,beasts1 and ,fishes--is instructive as well as interesting to children who have some slight knowledge of natural history4 ,it is played as follows3 ,two boys take their slates1 and each writes down the first and last letters of the name of some bird1 beast1 or fish1 first stating whether it belongs to the air1 earth1 or water1 or from which category the name is selected1 and puts a cross for each of the intermediate letters4 ,for example3 ,james writes upon his slate ,t r1 and remarks1 as he passes it to his companion1 8the earth40 ,charles selects a bird and marks upon his slate as follows3 ,e e1 saying1 at the same time1 8the air40 ,they exchange slates1 and each tries to guess the name of the beast or bird indicated1 and fills up the blanks accordingly4 ,it is evident that those indicated above are respectively tiger and eagle4 ,,turks ,,and ,,russians4 ,illustration ,the slate should be divided into three divisions1 the top and bottom divisions each having a small compartment marked off therein1 as shown in the annexed diagram4 ,one of the two end divisions should be allotted to the ,turks1 and the other to the ,russians1 and marks put therein1 to represent the soldiers of the respective nations4 ,each player having provided himself with a well-sharpened pencil1 the game is played as follows3 ,the players decide the order of play1 and the first selected being supposed to be a ,turk1 places the point of his pencil at the spot marked in the smaller compartment of the ,turkish division of the slate and draws it quickly across the slate in the direction of the opposing army4 ,the pencil will1 of course1 leave a line marking its track1 and all the men of the opposite side through which the track passes count as dead4 ,each player plays alternately1 and he wins who first kills all the men on the opposite side4 ,the track of the pencil must be rapidly made and must be either straight or curved2 any track in which there is an angle does not count4 ,sometimes the players turn their heads or close their eyes when making the track4 ,,thirty-,,one4 ,illustration ,although this game is usually played upon a board similar to the one in the cut1 and with small wooden blocks made for the purpose1 a slate properly marked off would answer very well for the board1 and bits of pasteboard1 marked with the necessary figures1 do equally well for the blocks4 ,the game consists of playing these bricks or squares of pasteboard1 so that the column added up makes just thirty-one4 ,as only two persons play together1 suppose ,william and ,mary are contestants4 ,mary commences the game by playing a six2 that is1 she slides one of the blocks numbered six over to the right-hand side of the board4 ,then ,william plays block ,no4 #d4 ,this makes ten4 ,mary then plays two1 and ,william follows with a five1 making seventeen total4 ,now1 some calculation is necessary if either will win4 ,mary1 after some study1 ventures a five1 and ,william plays a six4 ,it is now only necessary for ,mary to slide ,no4 #c over to the right side1 to make the total thirty-one and beat4 ,that move of ,mary's--which was made after considerable deliberation--was not a safe one1 as ,william could have moved over a one and made the total only twenty-three4 ,this would require eight more to complete the required thirty-one1 and as six is the largest number on the blocks1 ,william would have had the last play and gained the contest4 ,rules for ,thirty-one4 ,the object of each player is to gain thirty-one1 or nearer thirty-one than his opponent1 without going over that number4 ,put the blocks or bits of pasteboard on the left side of the board2 and each in turn moves any piece they like to the other side4 ,each player moves alternately one piece at a time4 ,add together the numbers on all the blocks moved1 until one or the other gains thirty-one1 without going over that number4 ,the player gaining this number by his individual block wins4 ,the final honor is given to him who wins three out of five single games4 ,,solitaire4 ,illustration ,during the long winter evenings1 we cannot have too many games to amuse the younger members of the household1 and a variety is always acceptable4 ,where the family is large and the means small1 and especially in the country where boys are forced to rely upon their own devices in the way of amusement1 few of the ready-made games find their way into the household4 ,now boys1 and girls1 too1 let me whisper to you so softly that your city cousins may not hear--you are no losers because of that fact4 ,a great part of the enjoyment of a thing consists in the making of it4 ,and many of the games which are best enjoyed by children all over the land you can1 with a little ingenuity and some trouble1 perhaps1 make for yourself4 ,among the many things which a boy can make1 there are very few more interesting or fascinating than the simple game of ,solitaire1 or1 as it is more frequently called1 ,the ,peg ,puzzle4 ,take a piece of smooth board1 from nine inches to a foot square1 cut out the corners as indicated in the illustration1 and bore holes in the positions indicated by the dots4 ,out of soft pine or other suitable wood whittle thirty-two pegs1 which are to fit into these holes2 the middle or thirty-third hole is to be left empty4 ,the game consists in removing all the pegs excepting one from the board1 and that one is to be left in the middle hole4 ,this is effected1 as in 8checkers10 by a series of captures2 that is1 when taken off the board1 the peg removed must first have been jumped over by another peg4 ,in beginning the game1 peg ,no4 #a jumps over peg ,no4 #b1 and is placed in the central hole4 ,no4 #b is then removed from the board4 ,as the hole occupied by ,no4 #b is now empty1 peg ,no4 #c jumps over ,no4 #d1 and is placed in the empty hole ,no4 #b4 ,no4 #d is removed1 and the moves continue in like manner as those described4 ,the following is a key to the solution of the puzzle1 but should not be consulted until you find it impossible to accomplish the feat without its aid4 ,,key4 #a to centre #c to #b #e to #d #b to #c #g to #d #h to #f #i to #g #aa to #c #g to #d #f to #h #ac to #b x to #a #ae to #b #af to #ad #b to #ac #ah to #aa #bj to #ai #h to #ba #bb to #bj #bj to #ai #aa to #ah #bd to #ad #bf to #be #be to #ag #bh to #ad #ag to #be #bi to x x to #bg #cj to #bd #cb to #be #bg to centre4 ,,battledore ,,and ,,shuttlecock4 ,illustration ,if any of my young boy friends wishes to make a useful1 and at the same time acceptable1 present to a sister or girl friend1 he cannot do better than make a set of this pretty and amusing game4 ,the battledore is readily made with a hickory stick and a piece of hoop1 and the shuttlecock with a cork and a few short feathers4 ,the forms of the two are shown in the illustrations4 ,the game is played by two players1 each having a battledore1 and each bats the shuttlecock from one to the other1 the one failing to return it when it is batted to him within possible reach losing a point in the game4 ,a game consists of twenty points1 and the best two out of three games gains the match4 ,,ring ,,toss4 ,illustration ,this light pastime for the summer lawn1 or for the parlor on a winter's evening1 is one of the most graceful and pretty games ever invented4 ,although particularly intended for the fairer sex1 boys are generally the most skillful1 if not the most graceful1 competitors in the game4 ,this game is played with a target-post1 more or less ornamental1 as the skill and taste of the maker may decree1 and a number of light rings or small hoops1 ranging from five to ten inches in diameter4 ,the rings are nicely made of old hoop-skirt wires1 bent in the desired shape1 and strongly fastened with cords1 the whole covered with bright silk or ribbon2 the greater variety of colors used the brighter the effect of the game4 ,the ribbons need not necessarily be perfectly fresh1 as in winding the rings any soiled spots can readily be hidden4 ,it is also better to have the rings divided into three sets or sizes1 and all those of each set as nearly as possible of the same size4 ,for instance1 if eighteen rings are to be used1 let six be about five inches in diameter1 six more be seven or eight inches1 and the remaining six to be ten inches across4 ,the game is simply to toss the rings so as to fall on the target-post4 ,the smaller the rings the higher the count4 ,for the large rings one point is scored1 for the next in size two points1 and for the smallest or five-inch rings1 three points--fifty points being a full game4 ,the distance on a lawn which the player stands from the target-post is twenty-five feet4 ,in the parlor it is fifteen feet4 ,,checkers4 ,illustration ,as ,i write the above title1 ,i wonder if there is a boy or a girl in this great ,american land who does not own a checker-board1 or does not know how to play this delightful game4 ,the game was brought to us from ,england1 we cannot say how many years ago1 probably by the first settlers in these then lonely wilds4 ,this game of checkers is a scientific one and is governed entirely by calculation4 ,so1 in order to become a good player1 one has to give considerable time and thought to the subject1 which is perhaps as good mental discipline as many of our less interesting school studies4 ,the game is played upon a board or table1 divided off into thirty-two white and thirty-two black squares1 with twelve white and twelve black men or checkers4 ,the board can be made out of thin wood1 or upon a strong piece of pasteboard1 the white squares left the original color of the material used1 and the black colored with ink or paint1 whichever is most conveniently at hand4 ,for the checkers1 small pieces of wood may be used1 or black and white buttons be substituted in their place4 ,the table or board should be so placed that each player shall have a black square at his right hand1 if playing on the white squares1 or a white square1 if playing on the black4 ,the men move obliquely forward until they arrive at the last1 or the adversary's head row1 when they are made kings and can then move backward as well as forward4 ,to distinguish a king from a common man he is crowned1 by placing another checker of the same color on top of him1 as soon as he reaches the king's row4 ,the adversary's men are taken by leaping over them1 and must be taken whenever offered or exposed4 ,no move can be recalled after the man has been quitted2 that is1 after the finger has been removed from him4 ,the players have the first move in each game alternately4 ,checkers may best be learned by playing1 for awhile at least1 upon a board on which the white squares are numbered1 some authorities advising the placing of permanent numbers in a corner of each white square1 so as to be seen when the men are placed4 ,the numbers are arranged as follows3 #a being on your right hand and #d on your left2 number #e the right hand of the second row1 and #h the left1 and so on4 ,see illustration4 ,the black men are placed upon #a to #ab2 the white on #ba to #cb4 ,in order to understand the game more readily1 it may be of some assistance to beginners to show how a simple game might be played4 ,suppose ,b41 who has the black men1 makes the first move from #aa to #ae4 ,w4 follows him with #bb to #ah4 ,b4 now moves from #ae to #bb1 jumping over #ah1 and capturing it by the move4 #bb is now exposed1 so ,w4 is obliged to take it1 and to do so moves from #be to #ah4 ,b4 now commences a new line of moving1 and passes #h to #aa4 ,w4 moves #bi to #be thus breaking his king's row4 ,b4 #d to #h2 ,w4 #be to #bb2 ,b4 #ab to #af2 ,w4 #bd to #bj2 ,b4 #aj to #ae4 ,now ,w4 moves #bg to #bd1 and loses the game by so doing4 ,b4 follows with #af to #ai1 thus exposing #ai4 ,as it is a law in the game that the opposite side must take up the exposed men1 ,w4 is obliged to jump #ai1 and moves from #bc to #af in so doing4 ,b4 moves from #ae to #ai2 ,w4 #bd to #ae to jump #ai2 ,b4 #i to #ad2 ,w4 #ah to #i1 and captures #ad4 ,b4 now sees #ae and #bb exposed1 and moves from #aa to #be1 thus capturing both men by the act4 ,w4 #cb to #bg2 ,b4 #e to #ad1 jumping #i4 ,w4 #bg to #bc2 ,b4 #f to #aj4 ,w4 #af to #ab2 ,b4 #h to #aa4 ,w4 #bh to #bd2 ,b4 #be to #bi1 and is made a king4 ,w4 now moves #cj to #be1 but as #bi is a king and can move backward as well as forward1 ,b4 moves from #bi to #bb and jumps #be1 but exposes the king1 which is quickly captured by ,w41 who moves from #bf to #ag4 ,now both sides proceed in a quiet manner for a time1 ,b4 moving from #aa to #ae1 ,w4 #bj to #af1 ,b4 #ae to #ah1 ,w4 #bd to #bj4 ,b4 captures #bh by moving from #ah to #bg1 and ,w4 takes #bg by jumping from #ca to #bd4 ,b4 #ad to #ah2 ,w4 #af to #aa1 which is taken by ,b4 who moves #g to #af4 ,w41 in turn1 takes #af with #bj1 which he jumps over to #aa4 ,b4 #ah to #bc2 ,w4 #aa to #h4 ,b4 #bc to #bg1 and ,w4 now gains another king by moving #h to #d4 ,b4 moves #bg to #ca and also gets a king4 ,the king1 you remember1 can move backward1 so ,w4 moves from #d to #h2 ,b4 #ca to #bg4 ,w4 #bd to #bj2 ,b4 #bg to #bc4 ,w4 #h to #aa2 ,b4 #bc to #ah4 ,w4 #aa to #h1 and ,b4 #ah to #ae1 which shows the game is lost to ,w4 ,illustration3 ,figs4 #a1 #b ,the two following problems are given for practice1 and are intended to materially assist the learner in gaining some knowledge of the intricacies of the game4 ,,solution ,,to ,,no4 #a4 ,black to move and win4 ,black4 ,white4 #ast move #f to #a #e to #i #b;d move #aj to #ae #i to #e #c;d move #ae to #ah #e to #i #dth move #a to #e #i to #f #eth move #ah to #ae #ba to #ag #fth move #e to #a #f to #i #gth move #ae to #ah #i to #e #hth move #ah to #bb #ag to #ad #ith move #a to #f #e to #a #ajth move #f to #b #ad to #aj #aath move #bb to #ah #a to #e #abth move #ah to #ad ,white loses4 ,,solution ,,to ,,no4 #b4 ,white to move and win4 ,white4 ,black4 #ast move #ah to #ad #e to #a #b;d move #ad to #i #a to #e #c;d move #bb to #ag #e to #ad #dth move #ag to #aj #ba to #be #eth move #aj to #ae #be to #cj #fth move #ae to #ai #cj to #be #gth move #bg to #cb #be to #bb #hth move #ai to #bd #bj to #bg #ith move #cb to #bc ,white wins4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,jew',s-,,harp4 ,during the ,christmas holidays1 when families are home for the season1 and entertainments are the principal things desired in the long bright evenings1 perhaps a few more tricks may not come amiss4 ,among these the spirit jew's-harp will be sure to amuse and at the same time mystify both the older and younger members of the company1 who will probably form the audience on these ,christmas or ,new-year's evenings2 and will form a pleasant entertainment between the acts of a charade or the lapses in the music4 ,briefly described1 the trick is as follows3 ,a jew's-harp is placed in the mouth1 and played upon for awhile with the finger in the ordinary way4 ,gradually1 however1 the performer moves his hand away1 but continues the motion of playing some distance from the mouth1 while the instrument continues to play quite as clearly and distinctly as before4 ,the hand may wave above the head1 or in any position1 to show the audience that no thread or string is connected with the tongue of the instrument1 but must keep up the motion of playing as long as the sound continues to come4 ,procure a jew's-harp with a very flexible tongue1 and cover the end with a smooth ball of sealing-wax4 ,now place the instrument in your mouth with its tongue pointed inward1 and if your tongue is placed against the ball of sealing-wax and suddenly pushed out1 and as suddenly released1 a sound will be produced much as if it was pushed out in the ordinary way with the finger4 ,after a time you will find it possible to produce different notes upon it1 and with some practice will find it as possible to play tunes as by the common method4 ,it will now be seen that during the whole performance the music is elicited by the tongue1 and not by the finger as at first appears2 the placing the forefinger of the right hand to the mouth1 and moving it as if playing in the ordinary way1 is simply a little ruse to mislead the audience4 ,the performer should so stand that the light does not shine too strongly upon his face1 and thus expose the absence of the tongue of the jew's-harp1 and a complete mastery of the instrument in the inverted position should be acquired before one attempts the trick in public4 ,a ,,new ,,way ,,to ,,kindle ,,the ,,fire4 ,there are many ways given for producing fire1 but the following is the most unique1 and at the same time convenient1 of all these various methods1 as it consists in simply blowing the flame from the mouth1 and so igniting the camp-fire or whatever else one wishes to burn4 ,to all appearances you fill your mouth with raw cotton1 and then1 taking a fan in your right hand proceed to make the fire4 ,first a stream of blue smoke will be seen curling from your lips1 and after a moment or two a bright spark will appear in the mass of cotton in the mouth4 ,this spark is quickly followed by others until at last a clear bright flame bursts forth4 ,many of the audience may not believe that it is a genuine flame1 but a paper may be lighted from it and passed around the room1 which will soon convince the most skeptical that it certainly is bon fide fire4 ,to perform this trick1 procure from a chemist a piece of amadon or ,german tinder4 ,this is an inexpensive material1 brown in color1 and soft and silky to the touch4 ,tear off a small piece--perhaps as large as a dime--and roll it in a small bit of cotton wool1 having already lighted one end of the tinder4 ,place this with other cotton in your hand1 and you are ready to produce all the fire your audience may demand4 ,first place the cotton which conceals the lighted tinder in your mouth--it will not burn you--and then some of the loose cotton you have in your hand2 and remember to draw the breath in through the nostrils1 but breathe it out through the mouth4 ,this will fan the tinder and in a moment light the cotton in front of it1 so that the smoke will begin to pass out with the breath2 then the sparks will appear1 and finally the flame1 as described above4 ,while placing fresh cotton in the mouth1 you may take advantage of the fact that your hand is before your mouth to let some of the burnt cotton fall out4 ,by exercising a little tact your audience may be mystified for a long time1 and1 in fact1 will probably be unable to guess the secret at all1 unless you yourself divulge it to them4 ,a ,,home-,,made ,,compass4 ,break a knitting-needle in two pieces1 and magnetize one of the pieces by passing it two or three times over one of the poles of a strong magnet4 ,insert this piece through a small cork4 ,fix an ordinary needle in the end of the cork with the end projecting4 ,illustration ,break the other piece of the knitting-needle into two equal parts2 and having wound one end of each with thread pass the other end into the cork1 as seen in the illustration4 ,next procure a small brass thimble1 deeply indented1 and balance the cork upon it by dropping melted sealing-wax upon the thread-covered ends1 first on one side and then on the other1 until the equilibrium is established4 ,a small round box is next needed1 and having fitted the top with a disk1 like that seen in ,fig4 #b1 cut the central hole large enough for the easy movement of the cork4 ,illustration ,now place the thimble on the bottom of the box1 holding it in place with a few drops of glue4 7,le ,page's liquid glue is best for this1 as for all occasions in which glue may be required in constructing the objects described in this book47 ,balance the cork upon it1 with the needle-point resting in one of the indentations on top of the thimble1 the magnetic needle having been temporarily taken out4 ,now adjust the cardboard disk in place4 ,lastly1 insert the magnetized needle1 and your compass is completed4 ,this compass can be made very useful upon the various excursions into the woods which boys are always fond of taking1 and1 as a simple mechanical toy1 much amusement may be derived from it4 ,by presenting the south pole of the magnet to the north pole of the compass1 and jerking it quickly away1 the momentum of the needle will carry it around several times before the impulse is exhausted4 ,the same experiment may be tried with the magnetized blade of a jackknife4 ,the magnetic needle does not point to the north pole of the earth1 but to a point called the magnetic pole4 ,this variation1 or declination1 is1 from the ,atlantic region of this continent1 a few degrees westward of the direct north4 ,the arrow indicates about the average variation2 and if the compass be so placed that the needle will rest directly over it1 the line ,n4 ,s4 will more nearly indicate the true north and south4 ,the card should be held in place not by glue1 but by a few very short pins 7filed off and re-sharpened74 ,then if the needle is shaken from its perch1 the card can be removed to permit its re-adjustment4 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,a ,,circle4 ,many of the operations described in this book require the making of circles of various sizes4 ,those readers who own a pair of dividers1 especially if they are furnished with a pencil-holder1 will find this an easy matter4 ,those who are not as fortunate may be glad to learn the following ready way of describing circles accurately to any size desired4 ,one of the common substitutes for dividers is a loop of string or thread passed around the pencil-point1 and a pin inserted in the center of the proposed circle4 ,this is a tiresome and vexatious method1 as it is difficult to tie the loop at just the right length when a circle of a specified size is to be made1 the stretching of the thread adding to the perplexity4 ,the loop is also very ready to slip up and down on the pencil or pin1 making it altogether a matter of unusual good fortune to obtain a satisfactory result4 ,the better way is to take a strip of stout paper or thin card1 about half an inch wide and a little more than half the length of the circle's diameter4 ,a strip cut from a postal card will serve the purpose admirably4 ,near one end of this make a hole large enough for the insertion of the pencil-point4 ,toward the other end make a pinhole1 the distance of which from the first hole must be half the diameter of the circle required4 ,stick a pin through this hole into the center of your proposed circle2 place the pencil-point in the other1 and you can achieve your result with accuracy and ease4 ,,the ,,magnetic ,,circus4 ,illustration ,this mechanical toy is comparatively simple in its construction1 and will serve as the foundation for one of the many ,saturday shows1 which are so dearly prized by most of the bright1 active boys in our land4 ,a good-sized soap-box serves as a table on which the toy is to rest4 ,the back is removed1 and a hole cut in the top admits the passage of the crank4 ,it is perhaps unnecessary to add that the exposed surface of this box should be papered1 or covered with a cloth curtain1 in such a manner as to give it a decorative effect4 ,the attraction of a magnet or iron is the principle on which the 8circus0 is made to work4 ,procure or make from thin wood a box about a foot square1 and five or five and a half inches deep4 ,cut a hole through the central point of the bottom1 to allow of the passage of the crank4 ,illustration ,now from a board cut a round disk which shall revolve easily inside the box1 and pass through its center an axle which shall be long enough to form a support for the ring-master on the top or stage1 and extend down through the top of the soap-box1 where it ends in a crank by which the whole machinery is worked4 ,on the top of this disk1 and a short distance from the edge1 fasten a common horseshoe magnet1 which should be about four inches long1 and can be bought at almost any toy store for ten cents4 ,this must be fastened in an upright position by means of staples1 as seen in the illustration4 ,after the magnet is arranged so that it will revolve easily1 fit the top of the box with a stiff pasteboard cover1 which shall just clear the magnet2 and mark upon this a circle which is to represent the ring of the circus4 ,illustration ,out of stiff pasteboard cut the ring-master1 and with a small nail or strong pin fix him in place4 ,now from four thicknesses of pasteboard cut out a horse and rider1 something like that represented in ,fig4 #c1 and insert between the layers which form each forefoot1 a nail1 the head of which extends slightly below the pasteboard4 ,file these nail-heads so that they shall be smooth and rounded4 ,glue the two layers together to form the legs of the animal1 and spread them slightly apart1 as seen in ,fig4 #d 7which gives an end view of the object71 having already glued all four layers to form the body of horse and rider4 ,illustration ,various horses of different colors1 forms1 positions1 and with or without riders1 may be made in a similar manner2 and elephants or other animals may be substituted for the horses1 and made to move around the track1 as if subject to the master's whip4 ,after the glue is dry1 the outside edges should be rounded and the roughnesses removed by the use of a rasp and sand-paper4 ,the ring-master should be so fastened1 facing the horse1 as to turn with each revolution of the axle4 ,the back of the box is fitted with a pasteboard or cloth screen1 painted to represent stage scenery1 and supported on either side by uprights1 from the top of which float banners4 ,for further decorations the twigs of evergreen trees are added1 those of the larch or spruce1 or perhaps best of all the small branches of the juniper or cedar tree1 are best for the purpose4 ,when these tiny stage trees become brown and faded1 they can be easily exchanged for fresh ones1 or may be painted with green paint1 if a new supply is not readily obtainable4 ,the front of the box may be papered with fancy wall-paper1 or otherwise decorated to suit the fancy of the maker2 and the one who supplies the motive power1 or1 in other words1 turns the crank1 should be kept out of sight of the audience if possible4 ,as the horses are not connected with any visible motive power1 the cause of their revolution will be enveloped in a mystery which will add vastly to the entertainment of the little folks4 ,,to ,,produce ,,raised ,,figures ,,on ,,an ,,egg4 ,melt some tallow1 and with it paint on the shell of an egg1 making letters1 numbers1 profiles1 or any outline which your fancy may suggest1 or the fineness of the brush may permit4 ,then immerse the egg in strong vinegar4 ,after the lapse of a few hours1 whatever is covered with the lines of tallow will project slightly1 the vinegar1 which is mainly acetic acid1 having dissolved away the unprotected surface4 ,by painting with a fine brush an intricate scroll or vine pattern1 carrying it all around the egg1 the result is very pretty1 giving somewhat the effect of carved ivory4 ,,an ,,arithmetical ,,curiosity4 ,write the nine digits in their order1 and multiply them by #i2 the result will be composed of units1 excepting the next to the last1 thus3 #abcdefghi #i ---------- #aaaaaaaaja ,multiply by #ah1 instead of #i1 and the product will consist of #b's4 ,by #bg1 and it will be #c's4 ,in this manner all the digits may be obtained by multiplying by the multiples of #i2 as #cf1 #de1 #ed1 etc4 ,,one ,,way ,,to ,,find ,,the ,,number ,,of ,,days ,,in ,,the ,,month4 ,count the knuckles of the hands1 with the spaces between them2 all the months with thirty-one days will fall on the knuckles1 and those with less than thirty-one in the spaces4 ,thus1 beginning with the forefinger of the left hand1 ,july will come on the knuckle of the little finger2 then beginning with ,august on the forefinger of the right hand1 ,december will be reached at the knuckle of the third finger4 ,,some ,,electrical ,,experiments4 ,considerable amusement may be derived from the electrical phenomena manifested by a sheet of stout brown paper1 when friction is applied to it4 ,having warmed such a sheet1 and rubbed it with the dry palm of the hand1 or some woolen fabric1 giving six or eight smooth1 steady strokes1 with considerable pressure1 and all in one direction1 away from the body1 then place a bunch of keys in the center of the paper1 and lift it by the ends2 a spark of electricity may now be taken from the keys4 ,if ordinary unglazed paper be immersed in a mixture of equal parts of sulphuric and nitric acids1 then well washed with plenty of water and dried1 it becomes extremely electric4 ,if placed on a wooden table1 or1 better still1 on a waxed cloth1 and rubbed with the hand1 it attracts feathers1 pith-balls1 fragments of paper1 or other small light objects4 ,when suddenly stripped from the waxed cloth in a darkened room1 the entire surface will have a luminous phosphorescent appearance4 ,a spark can be taken from it by holding the finger about half an inch from the surface4 ,if placed against the wall it will adhere to it and keep its place for several minutes4 ,this paper retains its electrical properties a long time4 ,when weakened1 it is sufficient to slightly heat it to restore all its energy4 ,,the ,,electrophorus4 ,illustration ,this instrument1 whose name1 derived from the ,greek1 means bearer of electricity1 consists of two parts2 first1 a cake or disk of resin1 or of shellac and wax1 these substances being melted and poured into a tin mold2 second1 a disk of brass1 or sometimes of thin1 well-dried wood1 covered on each side with thin sheet-brass or even thick tin-foil4 ,this should be fitted with a glass handle1 to insulate it2 a stout1 round bottle of moderate size will answer4 ,the cake of resin is rubbed vigorously2 a surface of fur is the best to use for this1 such as a cat-skin or fox-tail4 ,the disk is then taken by the handle and rested on the cake1 and its upper surface touched a moment with the finger2 then1 on withdrawing the disk from the resin1 a bright electric spark can be obtained from it4 ,by resting it once more on the resin1 again touching and withdrawing it1 another spark may be elicited1 and so on for eight or ten successive trials4 ,the scientific explanation of this phenomenon is1 that negative electricity is excited in the cake by friction4 ,when the disk is applied1 the electricity does not pass into it from the cake1 but is induced in the disk by the law of electrical polarity2 the lower surface being covered with positive electricity1 while the negative is repelled to the upper side1 from which it is drawn by the finger4 ,then1 when the disk is lifted1 the spark of positive electricity may be drawn4 ,if the construction of the instrument just described appears too formidable a task to my young readers1 perhaps they may yet be inclined to experiment with ,a ,,simple ,,electrophorus4 ,illustration ,take a lacquered iron 8tea-tray20 cut a sheet of stout brown paper so as to fit the flat part of the tray1 and fix two strips of paper at each end by means of sealing-wax4 ,these strips serve as handles by which to lift the paper1 and the sealing-wax1 being a non-conductor1 prevents the electricity from passing off4 ,the tray is also insulated by placing it upon two tumblers4 ,the sheet of paper is now heated quite hot1 placed on a wooden table1 and rubbed with a hard and very dry clothes-brush4 ,then it is lifted and placed on the tray4 ,the paper is negatively electrified2 it induces a similar state in the lower side of the tray1 which should be touched a moment with the finger2 then lift the paper from the tray4 ,an electric spark can now be taken from the latter4 ,the strips by which the paper is lifted can be brought together1 and held by the thumb and finger of one hand1 leaving the other free to take the spark4 ,the paper may now be replaced4 ,by touching the lower surface of the tray1 and lifting the paper as before1 another spark may be obtained1 and so on for several times1 if the air be dry4 ,,the ,,ebonite ,,electrophorus4 ,this piece of apparatus1 also called ,pfeiffer's electrophorus1 is composed of a thin sheet of ebonite1 measuring about six by eight inches4 ,a small sheet of brass1 about five by three inches1 is fixed on one side4 ,with this1 electricity may be evoked with unusual readiness4 ,it is placed flat on a wooden table1 and rubbed successively on both sides with the open hand2 if lifted in the left hand1 and the right hand is presented to the brass1 a spark will be received4 ,a ,,leyden ,,jar4 ,illustration ,this may be made as follows3 ,fill a plain glass tumbler two-thirds full of shot2 insert the bowl of a spoon in the shot1 leaving the handle projecting4 ,hold the tumbler in the hand1 and bring the handle of the spoon near to the electrophorus--previously prepared for action--so as to receive its spark4 ,on repeating this a few times1 the electric fluid will be accumulated in the 8jar10 and the many small sparks may be obtained as one large one1 by approaching the finger to the spoon1 still holding the tumbler in the other hand4 ,this idea may be varied by using a large wide-mouthed bottle or small jar1 instead of the tumbler1 and covering the outside nearly up to the top with tin-foil4 ,if that rare treasure1 a bullet-mold1 is to be had1 a ball may be formed on the end of a stout wire1 and used instead of the spoon1 the end with the ball being the projecting one1 thus making an article corresponding more nearly to the regular professional pattern4 ,,the ,,pith ,,dancer4 ,illustration ,this fastidious little skipper never dances except to piano music4 ,it is fashioned from pith1 cork1 or other light material4 ,generally it has a human head and body2 but when we consider its dancing extremities1 we must regard it as a quadruped1 or even a tripod1 as the case may be2 for it stands on three or four stout hog's bristles4 ,these may be borrowed from the floor-brush1 and should be even at the lower ends1 that the dancer may stand erect4 ,it should be painted in a gay and conspicuous manner1 to compensate for its diminutive size1 and a mantle of colored tissue-paper may add to its consequence4 ,when the image is complete1 stand it on the sounding-board of the piano1 which should be operated with vigor4 ,the dancer will respond to the lively notes with edifying briskness and vivacity4 ,,the ,,obedient ,,bottle4 ,illustration ,fashion a shape like a small bottle1 out of pith1 paper pulp1 or some other light substance4 ,cut a bullet in two1 and fasten the base of the bottle to the flat portion of one of the halves4 ,a straight piece of large wire1 the length of the bottle1 should be provided1 and a hole made down through the center of the bottle1 into which it will slide readily1 and remain with the end out of sight4 ,this hole may be made with greater ease before attaching the bullet4 ,this object can be made to yield apparent obedience to the commands of its maker4 ,if he orders it to remain upright1 he will place it on the table without inserting the wire1 when nothing but constant pressure will induce it to lie prostrate4 ,then1 taking it into his hands1 and skillfully introducing the wire while the attention of the observers is directed elsewhere1 he next orders it to lie flat2 and1 as the weight of the wire overbalances it1 it will tumble over as often as it is set up4 ,the bullet should be covered with thin paper as smoothly as possible1 and the whole affair painted1 to better conceal the modus operandi4 ,,the ,,immovable ,,card4 ,if a card1 such as an ordinary visiting card1 is turned down about a quarter of an inch at each end1 at right angles to the rest of the card1 and then placed on a table so as to rest on the turned edges1 you may safely challenge most persons to blow it so as to make it turn over on the other side4 ,it would naturally seem easier to overturn a card so prepared1 than one whose shape remained unchanged2 but whoever tries it will find that the facts are otherwise4 ,the card can be overthrown1 however1 by blowing on the table1 toward the card1 as the stream of air is then reflected against its under side4 ,a ,,triple ,,bridge4 ,illustration ,this may be constructed by means of three table-knives1 in the manner illustrated in the figure4 ,three goblets or tumblers will serve as the piers2 these are to be arranged in a triangle1 a little farther from each other than the length of the knives4 ,lay two of the knives on the table1 with the blades crossing each other4 ,then pass the blade of the third knife over the uppermost blade of the other two1 and under the undermost2 then take them up and place them with the ends of the handles on the rims of the glasses4 ,the bridge now sustains itself1 and if a moderate weight be placed upon it1 it will be all the firmer4 ,,an ,,illustration ,,of 8,,inertia40 ,inertia is defined as the tendency of a body to persevere in its state either of rest or motion4 ,it is generally used in the sense of persisting in a state of rest4 ,among the many illustrations of this property of matter1 is one which figured in the text-books of thirty or forty years ago1 and which the boys of that time adapted to their amusement by constructing the apparatus here illustrated4 ,it consists of three parts3 the board which forms the base1 a post about six inches high1 and a strip of stout whalebone1 or dry1 elastic wood4 ,the board should be as much as seven-eighths of an inch in thickness1 and the elastic strip or spring should be firmly inserted in an inclined slit cut through the board4 ,the places of the spring and post should be so adjusted to each other1 that when the latter is secured solidly by a good-sized screw passing up through the board1 the former will press with its upper end against the top of the post 7as shown by the dotted line7 with some degree of force4 ,illustration ,the top of the post should be hollowed slightly1 to retain the ball2 and the appearance of the whole will be improved by a coat of shellac or paint4 ,now place a card on the top of the post2 and if it is sufficiently level1 a marble or bullet may be induced to remain on it1 directly over the column2 if not1 a large bean1 a spool1 or a coin1 will prove more tractable4 ,draw back the spring with the thumb and finger1 as in the illustration2 let it go suddenly1 and it will snap the card away1 leaving the superimposed object resting quietly on the top of the column4 ,the same principle is sometimes illustrated by balancing a card on the finger1 placing a coin on the card1 and snapping away the card with the other hand1 the coin remaining on the finger4 ,another way is to pile up a small tower with 8checkers0 or 8draughts40 ,by a quick blow with a ruler1 one checker may be knocked from between the others1 without overturning the tower4 ,,other ,,christmas ,,holiday ,,amusements4 ,perhaps one evening of this ever delightful season might not be more entertainingly spent than in witnessing an exhibition of some feats in ,magic1 if any lad of the company could become sufficiently expert in the art to render them with a fair amount of skill4 ,there are many of these mysterious tricks performed by the professional 8,thaumaturgist0 or 8,prestidigitateur10 but as most of them require a complicated or expensive apparatus1 ,i shall only call your attention to such as are comparatively simple1 and require but few 8aids0 or materials for their fulfillment4 ,,how ,,to ,,palm ,a ,,coin4 ,as it is necessary for any boy or girl who intends to become an expert sleight-of-hand performer to be a successful palmer1 this is naturally the first lesson to be learned4 ,indeed1 very few of the tricks performed by an expert prestidigitateur would be effective without its use4 ,to explain this art is difficult1 although it is an easy matter to show how the thing is done4 ,by the aid of an illustration may be seen1 however1 the final position of the coin1 or how it is held while it is palmed4 ,if possible1 balance a half-dollar on the tip of the second finger of the right hand2 but if not at first easily accomplished let the coin rest on the tips of the second and third fingers1 steadying it1 in this position1 by touching it lightly with the thumb4 ,close the hand quickly and the coin will rest in the palm4 ,then1 by throwing the thumb forward1 the ball of the thumb will hold the silver piece on one side1 and that part of the palm which lies between the second and third fingers holds it securely on the other4 ,illustration ,practice this well1 and be sure you can depend upon yourself to accomplish it perfectly with the left as well as the right hand1 before you try any of the following tricks in the presence of a critical audience4 ,,how ,,to ,,pass ,a ,,coin4 ,borrow of your audience two half-dollars and lay them on your table4 ,next shake your sleeves and let your friends see that you have no coins hidden about you4 ,when they are convinced that such is the case1 pick up one half-dollar with the thumb and second finger of your right hand4 ,palm this in your right hand while you pretend to pass it to your left1 of course making a motion with the left hand as if it received and still held the coin4 ,the right hand will then seem to be empty1 although still holding the half-dollar4 ,next pick up the other coin with the right hand1 and place the hand behind you1 being careful to keep the left well in front1 and always in sight of your audience4 ,make some few remarks concerning the difficulty of the trick1 and at last pronounce the magic word 8,pass02 at the same time clink the two coins together1 as if one had hit the other in the meeting4 ,then bring the right hand forward1 and1 opening it and the left at the same time1 show that the coin has actually left the latter and entered the former1 as you promised it should do4 ,,how ,,to ,,rob ,,peter ,,and ,,enrich ,,paul4 ,twenty pieces of money are necessary for this trick2 and two-cent pieces1 or quarters1 are perhaps the most convenient sizes to use4 ,of these1 borrow fifteen from your audience1 the other five have at hand1 but concerning which your friends are to know nothing4 ,having borrowed them from the company1 count out five1 and give them to one of your audience1 while to another you give ten1 and after having seen that the latter counts his carefully1 take those given to the first1 mutter some cabalistic nonsense1 and order them to pass into the hands of the one who has the ten pieces4 ,finally1 request him to count them again1 when1 strange to relate1 he will find that he has fifteen1 instead of the ten pieces which he was supposed to have4 ,the trick is performed in this manner3 ,upon receiving the money1 throw it upon a plate or box cover--the plate is the best--and passing it to the first person1 request him to take five of the pieces away4 ,now give the remaining money1 with the plate1 to the second1 and ask him to drop each coin as he counts it1 on the plate1 that all may know he has counted correctly4 ,then comes the only difficult part of the trick4 ,ask the one who has counted the coins to hold both his hands1 while you pour the money into them1 and taking the plate in your left hand1 pour the contents into your right1 where you have already five more palmed 7the five the audience have not seen74 ,now pour the fifteen into the hands of number two1 and impress upon him the importance of keeping his hands well closed over the money4 ,this will prevent his noticing that an addition has been made4 ,take the five from person number one1 and pretend to place them in your other hand1 but instead palm them4 ,do your talking and command the money to pass4 ,if you have taken proper care in palming your coins1 the audience1 as well as the one holding the money1 will be greatly amazed by the trick4 ,,danger ,,of ,,repetition4 ,in almost any performance of this kind1 the audience1 especially if of one's intimate friends1 are anxious for the performer to try again whatever strikes them as strange or mysterious1 being of course on their guard to watch certain movements1 at points in the performance which they had scarcely noticed before4 ,so it is very unsafe to try any trick over again immediately after it has been once performed1 or in fact during the same evening2 although perhaps it might be safely done if a number of different ones intervened4 ,if beseeched to try it 8just once more10 make as graceful an excuse as you can1 and suggest in its place something equally interesting4 ,,the ,,inexhaustible ,,hat4 ,for this trick1 seven half-dollars are required1 and are concealed in the right hand by 8palming10 as the five two-cent pieces were hid in the former trick4 ,first1 borrow of one of your audience a tall silk hat1 promising to return it 8as good as new0 at the end of the performance4 ,let the audience examine it to see that the owner is not in league with yourself1 and then1 walking to the back of the room1 place it upon a table4 ,while walking toward the table1 with the back toward the audience1 palm your coins1 which should be held in some convenient pocket1 readily accessible when the moment comes for using them4 ,next1 turn to your audience1 having your coins well concealed in your right hand1 and request some one to lend you six half-dollars2 but immediately1 under the pretense of disliking to trouble them1 step forward1 and1 excusing yourself for the liberty1 take a coin from the folds of a lady's dress1 by simply letting one of those concealed in your hand slip to the end of your fingers4 ,if you have had sufficient practice in 8coining0 you will find no difficulty in doing this1 and your audience will be inclined to believe you actually found the money secreted in the fabric1 although they may believe you had some hand in placing it in its hiding-place4 ,if you have been thus far successful1 go to the hat1 and1 calling attention to the fact1 drop the half-dollar into it2 then1 as if you imagined some one was doubtful whether the coin was really in the hat1 make some remark to the effect that if they do not believe you dropped it you will do so again1 at the same moment thrusting your hand down to the crown to take it in sight again4 ,at the moment the hand is in this position1 carefully place the six half-dollars on the bottom1 and let one remain in the palm4 ,pick up one of these six1 and holding it high1 let it drop1 being careful1 however1 that it does not hit the other five4 ,the coin in your hand you proceed to take from any unusual place which may occur to you--the window curtain1 portire1 a gentleman's beard1 or a lady's coiffure1 are those most naturally suggested4 ,as soon as you take a half-dollar from its hiding-place1 you pretend to place it in your left hand1 and from there command it to pass to the hat1 but in reality you palm it in your right where it is ready for the next position from which you desire to take it4 ,proceed in this way until you have gathered in six half-dollars4 ,as these have been lying quietly in the hat during all this time1 you have no anxiety about sending them there1 and must simply avoid going near it while apparently filling it with the money4 ,when the last silver piece has been sent to its destination1 request the audience to select some one of its members to count the money in the hat1 and see that none has been lost in its flight hence4 ,it will1 of course1 be found all right1 and great will be the curiosity to know how you placed it there2 but do not allow yourself to be influenced into trying it a second time1 for with the close watching you will undergo your secret will be discovered4 ,,another ,,hat ,,trick4 ,the hat may well be called 8inexhaustible10 for all manner of things may be made to come from its prolific crown1 and in such profusion1 that a receptacle of double its size would hardly contain them4 ,if two boys have learned the art of palming well1 they may assist each other1 and1 if at all ingenious1 invent a variety of tricks for an evening's amusement4 ,the following is but a suggestion1 which may be varied by different materials3 ,let them borrow from the audience two tall silk hats1 and place them upon chairs standing some distance from each other4 ,each having provided himself with a small rubber ball--the one resembling the other as nearly as possible--they are ready to proceed4 ,the hats were of course empty when passed to the stage1 but as the first boy takes his place1 back of the chair which contains a hat1 he should glance down into it1 and with surprise1 draw out a ball which he has had concealed in his right hand1 show it to the audience and then pretend to put it in his left hand1 but instead palm it in the right2 at the same time extending his left toward his partner4 ,the second boy stretches out his right arm as if to receive the ball1 and at the moment his hand touches the fingers of ,no4 #a1 he lets that which he has been palming in his right hand slip down to his fingers1 as if he had just received it from his friend4 ,now1 pretending to change it to his left1 he palms it1 as ,no4 #a has done1 and finally drops his left hand1 which is supposed to hold the ball1 into the hat in front of him1 at the same time giving the side or crown a rap with one of his fingers1 to imitate the falling of the ball4 ,this same thing may be repeated indefinitely1 until you have balls enough to stock the village4 ,when you see the audience is beginning to tire1 let ,no4 #a say1 8,my hat is empty2 shall ,i help you count the balls in yours80 ,no4 #b nods assent1 and looks down1 as if expecting the hat to be full4 ,he must then pretend great surprise1 and taking up the hat must turn it upside down1 gently shake it--remembering it is borrowed--and with the audience wonder what has become of all the balls4 ,eggs1 small lemons or oranges1 little china dolls1 and a number of small toys may be substituted for the rubber balls above given4 ,,the ,,perambulating ,,egg4 ,this trick is one of the easiest1 while at the same time one of the most pleasing1 of the magician's arts4 ,in it an egg1 apparently without any impulse beyond that which resides within itself1 travels over a hat1 and after reconnoitering it in its every nook and corner1 passes gracefully over to another1 and commences its journey of discovery around the second in much the same manner it has traversed the first4 ,two hats are borrowed from the audience1 and a dish of eggs is placed upon the table by their side1 when the performer requests the lady stationed at the piano to give some music1 and the exhibition commences4 ,the egg which is used is merely a shell1 the inside having been sucked or blown out through tiny holes made at either end4 ,a slender silken thread is tied to the upper button of the performer's waistcoat1 while attached to the other end is a small piece of wax or other sticky substance4 ,just before the performance commences1 show the dish of eggs1 and then pass away from them and back of your audience1 to show that they 7the eggs7 are in no way attached to your person4 ,as the music strikes up1 walk to the table1 take the shell from the dish1 making it appear that you had no choice1 but took the first one you chanced to touch1 and place it inside the hat1 at the same moment pressing the bit of wax to its side4 ,as the egg is in the hat it is necessary for it to pass out upon the outside surface4 ,to do this the hat is slowly moved downward until the egg is even with the brim2 then by careful management and a little practice1 the effect is produced of the egg walking up the hat instead of the hat being lowered to the egg4 ,you may now take the egg in your hand and1 holding the hat with the crown upward in a horizontal position1 place it beneath the egg1 and turn it slowly away from yourself4 ,the effect will be that the egg is traveling up hill4 ,by placing the other hat close to the one upon which you are performing1 and slowly drawing it under the egg1 the latter will appear to pass over to the crown of the second hat1 and very much the same movements may be repeated on this as on the first4 ,,the ,,magic ,,dispatcher4 ,borrow a quarter or half-dollar from your audience1 and ask the owner to place some mark upon it by which it may be identified4 ,wrap this in the corner of a handkerchief1 and give it to some one to hold4 ,next take a ball of yarn1 and having placed it in a tumbler1 ask some other person in your audience to hold his hand over the top of the tumbler in such a way that the ball will be kept in place1 and the yarn will run smoothly through the fingers4 ,hold one end of the yarn some distance from the tumbler1 or near where the coin is held1 and inform your audience that1 as your dispatcher is in good working order1 you will proceed to send the coin your friend has in his hand into the very center of the ball of yarn4 ,take the opposite corner of the handkerchief from the one holding the money in your right hand1 and having counted one1 two1 three1 command the coin to pass1 at the same instant snatching the handkerchief from your friend's hand4 ,next commence to unwind the ball1 being careful to keep some distance from the tumbler while so doing4 ,illustration ,as the yarn is nearing its end1 the silver piece will drop upon the bottom of the tumbler1 and nothing is left for you to do but to request the owner of it to step forward and see if it is the one he lent you4 ,in this1 as in many of the tricks you have already learned1 very little preparation is required4 ,first1 a coin of the same denomination as the one borrowed is sewed in a corner of the handkerchief4 ,the ball is wound upon a stick of a particular shape1 which is drawn out when the coin is to be substituted in its place4 ,this stick should be about two and a half inches long1 one and a quarter inches wide1 and an eighth of an inch thick1 rounded off at one end1 and scraped until it is perfectly smooth4 ,when winding your ball1 be careful to have the rounded end of the stick in the center of the ball1 and the other end projecting slightly on one side4 ,after you have procured your coin1 palmed it1 and given the handkerchief containing the other into the hands of some person to hold1 go for your ball1 which should be at some distance from your audience1 that you may have time to draw out the stick and insert the coin in its place1 while you are walking back to the table upon which is your tumbler4 ,the trick is now done1 but the audience must be kept ignorant of the fact1 while your conversation and subsequent acting should shroud it in all the mystery possible4 ,,the ,,turkish ,,ring ,,trick4 ,a few years ago ,i had the good fortune to see a famous magician perform4 ,many and wonderful were the things he did1 and at times it seemed as if other than human skill must be aiding him in his craft4 ,among others1 he gave the following trick1 which was as enthusiastically applauded as many of the others4 ,it had for me no element of strangeness1 as ,i was already initiated into its secret4 ,since it has ever been a favorite in the little amateur performances we have from time to time been in the habit of giving1 ,i hope it may gain a wider popularity in the larger circle of friends to whom ,i am about to disclose it4 ,illustration ,to the public it appears as follows3 ,a plain gold ring is borrowed1 placed in a handkerchief1 and given to a person to hold4 ,a small stick is held by two others1 in such a position that its center is hidden by the handkerchief2 each person holds an end4 ,the magician commands the ring to pass1 at the same moment snatching the handkerchief1 a corner of which he has taken1 away from the one holding it--when behold6 the ring1 which a moment ago was in the spectator's hand1 is now whirling around the stick1 which it evidently has just reached4 ,it is performed as follows3 ,when the ring is taken from its owner1 it is palmed1 and not placed in the handkerchief1 as one is led to suppose1 the handkerchief being supplied1 as you probably have already guessed1 with a ring which is sewed in its end4 ,in passing the stick to the holders1 you have simply to pass it through the right hand1 in the center of which your ring is palmed1 and1 of course1 through the ring itself4 ,then1 holding it until it is hidden by the handkerchief1 is not difficult to do4 ,when you first take up the stick1 be sure and use your left hand1 so that you will have it ready to pass through your ring without any awkward or suspicious movements4 ,finally1 pulling the handkerchief suddenly and quickly across the stick1 causes the ring to whirl upon it very much as if it had just dropped in its place4 ,it is always well1 when performing with the handkerchief1 to have a second and similar one in your pocket1 to show in case suspicion should be aroused concerning it4 ,,how ,,to ,,melt ,,and ,,re-,,coin ,a ,,half-,,dollar4 ,supply your table with a candle in a light candlestick1 and a glass of water4 ,when ready to perform1 request some one of your audience to lend you a half-dollar1 suggesting at the same time1 that a new bright coin would best suit your purpose4 ,have it marked that the owner may be sure of its identity4 ,if nothing but dull coins are to be found1 have a small bottle of ammonia at hand1 and holding the piece in your hand1 pour a few drops of the liquid upon it2 let it stand a few moments and then wipe with a bit of cloth4 ,treat both sides in the same way1 and brighten up the edges in like manner4 ,all this while you may be talking of this treatment1 as if it were intended to render the metal more fusible1 but be careful not to mention what the fluid is1 or for what it is really intended4 ,this treatment is1 of course1 not necessary in the case of new coins1 in which case it can be omitted4 ,when the silver is bright1 and presents the appearance of a new coin1 take it between the thumb and forefinger of your right hand1 look at it carefully1 and then pretend to drop it into your left hand1 but instead palm it in your right4 ,now continue to move your left hand as if working the coin around in it1 keeping up a continual flow of small talk during the whole performance4 ,the difficulty of melting silver1 the amount of heat required1 and the comparative hardness of different metals1 forming good subjects1 with which you will become familiar before your public exhibition4 ,to render the idea of palming an apparent impossibility1 take up the candle in your right hand4 ,this will render the holding of the coin less troublesome1 and appear to your audience as a conclusive evidence that the half-dollar is in your left hand4 ,after you have pretended to place the coin in your left hand1 do not for an instant forget to appear as if it really was there1 and keep that hand always in sight of your audience4 ,having taken the lighted candle in your right1 hold the left hand above the flame1 and move the fingers as if allowing the silver to pass down1 drop by drop1 into the candle itself4 ,if1 just before this1 previous to taking the candle1 you could catch up the glass for a drink and drop a spoonful of water into the hollow of your left hand1 the dropping of it into the candle-flame would add to the impression of melting silver4 ,you can wet your hand slightly in many natural ways1 as no one would imagine the water had anything to do with the trick4 ,continue to pretend to drop the silver1 until it would naturally be gone2 then1 without removing your hand1 open it and announce that the half-dollar is melted1 and can be found in the candlestick2 assuring the donor that he need not be alarmed1 as you can bring it out as it was before it went in1 if he will but have patience4 ,put the candlestick down upon the table1 and pretend to pick out bits of silver from the various parts of it with the right hand1 placing them as they are gathered in the palm of the left hand4 ,at a convenient moment1 when the right is exactly above the left hand1 drop the half-dollar into it1 and the trick is done4 ,but it would not do to let the audience know this1 so you must continue to work the left hand as if molding the coin in shape1 blowing with the mouth into the palm as if cooling the heated mass2 toss it from hand to hand as if to cool it more rapidly1 and finally return it to the spectator from whom it was borrowed4 ,,burning ,,the ,,center ,,from ,a ,,handkerchief4 ,the young performer will find but little difficulty in performing this simple sleight-of-hand trick successfully4 ,a lighted candle1 a small stick1 or magic wand1 and a piece of thin cambric or muslin about six inches square1 are the materials required4 ,place the lighted candle on your table1 and the wand on another table or shelf some distance from the former with the bit of cambric behind it4 ,now borrow of some lady present a handkerchief1 a gentleman's being inconveniently large4 ,take the handkerchief by the center1 pull it carefully between the fingers and thumb of left hand1 and advance toward the candle4 ,just as you are about to burn it1 stop and say1 as if in answer to some remark overheard1 8,oh1 no1 ,i have not changed the handkerchief4 ,see60 and at the same time allow another inspection of it4 ,suggest now to its owner1 if1 in case her handkerchief is burned1 she would like it restored again to its proper condition2 and1 upon her answering in the affirmative1 announce the necessity of the magic wand for that purpose4 ,walk to the spot where the wand is lying1 and take it up1 managing to pick up at the same time between the left thumb and forefinger the bit of cambric2 the center of this piece should be pointed outward so that it may be readily pulled out at the desired moment1 the remainder being neatly rolled up and palmed under the thumb4 ,this piece should have been rolled up with the central point slightly projecting when first placed on the shelf1 and the performer should manage to turn his back toward the audience for a few moments when taking up the wand4 ,place the wand in one of your coat pockets as you advance toward your candle1 and again take the handkerchief1 putting it this time into the left hand1 and pull up the small piece of material1 completely hiding the center of the real handkerchief between the second and third fingers and the palm of the hand4 ,the portion of the cambric extending beyond the thumb and forefinger may now be safely burned1 and the audience may be sure the handkerchief is burned1 as you can make some display of rolling it up in a ball1 taking care1 however1 to separate the burned piece from the real article4 ,now take the wand from the pocket1 and at the same time manage to drop the small semi-burned piece of muslin unperceived into the pocket2 touch the handkerchief with the wand1 and1 after some magic word or words1 return the handkerchief to the owner to be examined1 remarking that you hope not even an odor of smoke is noticeable about it4 ,whenever displaying feats in magic1 it is better for the performer to go forward among the audience if he has anything to show or have examined1 than to allow the latter to come to his portion of the room4 ,his table has often some things upon it which if seen near by would do much toward dispelling the mystery connected with his works4 ,a wide space should be left between his table and the front row of spectators1 as he often has occasion to step between the two in some of his feats4 ,the lights also should be judiciously arranged1 so as not to shine too directly upon his hands or person1 or even upon his table4 ,always have everything you can possibly need in some easily accessible place1 and in just the position most convenient to be taken4 ,decide beforehand what tricks you will perform1 and in just what order they are to be given4 ,of course1 all the materials are not to be spread on the table at the commencement of the entertainment1 as they would be in the way1 and confuse you in your first acts2 but they should all be at hand1 and while articles are being examined which have passed through the various vicissitudes in a former trick1 you can utilize the time when the attention is thus carried away from yourself to gather together and properly place the materials for your next feat4 ,never be induced to perform a trick a second time1 unless nearly a whole evening's performance intervenes4 ,even then it is pretty sure to be detected4 ,,the ,,magic ,,rope4 ,take a piece of clothes-line1 six or seven yards long1 and pass it among your audience for inspection4 ,while it is going its rounds1 have your hands securely tied with a handkerchief1 which should be passed around the wrists and knotted on one side4 ,when the rope is returned to you1 drop one end between your arms1 or inside the handkerchief1 and request some one to take both ends of the rope and pull1 to make sure your hands are firmly tied4 ,it would now seem impossible to get the rope off1 unless the hands were untied or the ends released4 ,after two or three rapid motions1 however1 the rope drops to the floor1 while your hands remain tied as at first4 ,illustration ,first1 do not have your hands tied so tightly that you cannot move them2 this can be arranged by holding them slightly apart while they are being tied4 ,after the rope has been pulled by the holder1 it is somewhat relaxed2 and then1 by rubbing it between the wrists a loop may be formed1 into which the second finger may be slipped4 ,the whole hand is now readily thrust through1 and only a jerk is necessary to send the rope upon the floor4 ,in performing this trick1 work as quickly as possible1 that your movements may not be easily followed4 ,a ,,camping-,,out ,,cooking-,,stove4 ,although the winter season is now well upon us1 and its reigning king1 ,jack ,frost1 jealous if we but mention the 8camp-fire10 has covered its very site with ice and snow1 we need not fear incurring his displeasure by the following exhibition4 ,procure an old silk hat if possible1 and pass it among your audience for inspection4 ,have upon the stage1 or at your end of the room1 a table1 with a drawer open at the back4 ,in this drawer have a small cake in the tin in which it was baked4 ,let it be made in a patty-pan if convenient4 ,beside this cake have a small tin cup1 which will fit rather tightly into the mouth of a china jar you have also provided4 ,on the top of the table have an unlighted candle1 the jar1 which should be porcelain if possible1 a basket containing a few eggs1 a pitcher of water1 some flour1 and a box marked sugar4 ,the hat1 after having been examined1 is returned to you2 and the cake1 along with the cup which is to receive the eggs and flour1 are put into it4 ,this is effected as follows3 ,take the cake and cup in your left hand1 keeping it down behind the table1 and your hat in the right hand2 bring the cake and cup up to the edge1 and immediately cover it with the hat1 which you begin brushing with your right4 ,keep up a running discourse all the time1 so that the movement will seem natural1 and not be suspected4 ,in a moment or two partly withdraw the left hand1 and grasping the brim of the hat1 turn it upside down upon the table4 ,if the tin is not in a good position to catch the eggs and flour which you are to drop into it1 palm a penny and pretend to find it in the hat1 chiding your audience for carelessly overlooking it1 remarking that although a useful thing to have1 it is not exactly a proper ingredient for cake4 ,of course1 while pretending to pick up the coin1 you can arrange the tin cup on top of your cake in the middle of the hat4 ,be sure that it stands firm4 ,now proceed to break one or more eggs1 and drop the contents into the hat1 taking especial care that they drop into the cup4 ,next throw in a spoonful of sugar1 and then pour a few drops of water and one or two spoonfuls of flour into the jar1 and stir well with a spoon4 ,pour the contents of the jar into the cup1 and then1 under pretense of draining the last drop into the hat1 force the jar down over the cup1 and work it around until the cup is well pushed up into the mouth of the jar4 ,it is needless to add that you must pretend all the while that you are scraping or shaking out the mixture4 ,the jar can now be taken out and carelessly placed behind the sugar-pail or any other object1 to prevent the edge of the tin cup from being seen4 ,the trick is now completed1 the only necessary thing to do is to keep up the acting until the cake is supposed to be finished4 ,first1 stir it well by moving the spoon around quite actively in the hat2 then light the candle1 and1 informing your audience that the cake is ready for baking1 take the hat in one hand and hold it over the candle for a minute or two1 occasionally glancing in to see if it is doing well4 ,in a short time announce that it is baked2 and after blowing out the candle1 take the cake from the hat1 turn it out upon a plate1 and placing a knife by its side1 pass it to some one to cut1 and politely request your friends to try it1 and judge upon the efficacy of your camp-stove4 ,if the hat was borrowed1 return it with thanks to its owner1 and congratulate him upon having such a useful article always on hand4 ,,necessity ,,of ,a ,,sober ,,countenance4 ,in most1 in fact all1 of these exhibitions1 it is absolutely necessary that one should keep a sober countenance while performing4 ,no matter how hard your audience laugh1 do not allow the shadow of a smile to flit across your face4 ,if you do it will take away much of the effectiveness and half the mystery1 from whatever you are doing4 ,i once had a young friend1 a quick bright boy1 who was very successful in palming1 and in many of the other elements in sleight-of-hand tricks1 but he had a ridiculous and unconquerable habit of laughing whenever his audience laughed1 and1 in fact1 of sometimes anticipating the laugh1 and commencing before his friends saw anything worth laughing about4 ,he was of course not successful1 and was never watched with as much interest as his brother1 who1 although not as clever1 was as sober as a judge from the beginning to the end of the performance4 ,no amount of hilarity in the audience affected him in the least4 ,if he found it was impossible to make himself heard1 he stood still and waited2 but always with the same quiet1 calm countenance he would have worn had he been walking up the aisle of a church4 ,learn to command your countenance1 as one of the most important requisites of a successful magician4 ,,the ,,great ,,chinese ,,rope ,,feat4 ,many years ago this trick was exhibited in a show-window on ,broadway1 but as probably most of the people who then saw it have long since forgotten how it was performed1 ,i give the following account3 ,two ropes1 each about three yards in length1 are given to the audience to examine1 which of course are pronounced perfect2 then they are passed through the sleeves of a coat1 in such a way as to suspend it2 the ends are then given to two boys to hold4 ,the performer then places his hand inside the coat1 and having requested those who are holding the ends of the rope to pull1 the coat falls to the floor1 having in some mysterious manner worked off the ropes4 ,illustration ,of course1 the whole secret of this trick depends upon the arrangement of the ropes1 which are of themselves perfect4 ,after they have been examined1 and are returned to the performer1 he pretends to measure them1 and while so doing manages to bend each rope double2 that is1 he brings the two ends of each together2 while still holding them he contrives to slip a small elastic band over the center of one1 and bringing the middle of the other alongside of it1 he slips the band over both1 thus tying them together1 as shown in the illustration4 ,illustration ,now holding this juncture carelessly in his left hand1 over which arm a coil or two of the rope is thrown1 he passes the ends marked ,a through one sleeve of the coat1 and the end marked ,b through the other1 and these are the ends he gives to the two persons to hold4 ,if he now slips off the rubber band1 the coat will fall2 but each person will have both ends of the same rope in his hand1 and the mystery would be easily solved4 ,to remedy this1 however1 the performer1 under pretense of making the trick still more difficult1 takes an end from each of the holders1 and proceeds to tie a single loop1 as seen in the illustration1 thus reversing the ends1 which he then returns to them4 ,of course1 when the band is taken off1 each person has but one end of either rope in his hand4 ,,to ,,pull ,a ,,string ,,through ,a ,,button-,,hole4 ,tie together the ends of a piece of string about two feet long2 pass it thus tied through a button-hole of your coat4 ,hitch the two ends on your thumbs1 and catch up with each little finger the upper string on the thumb of the opposite hand2 then1 stretching the hands apart1 the string will appear in a very complicated tangle4 ,if the hold of the right thumb and left little finger1 or vice vers1 be then loosed1 and the hands quickly separated1 the string will come away from1 and appear as if it had passed through1 the outside edge of the button-hole4 ,,to ,,unite ,a ,,parted ,,string4 ,take a piece of string about four feet long2 hold the ends1 pointed upward1 between the first and second finger and thumb of the left hand1 and the first finger and thumb of the right hand1 letting the remainder of the string hang down in a loop4 ,now bring the right hand close to the left1 crossing at right angles that end of the cord held in the left hand1 and continue to pull until half the length of the string has passed the left hand1 at the same time slipping the third finger of the left hand between the two parts of the string4 ,the first finger and thumb of the right hand should then seize the string at a point just below the little finger of the left hand1 the third finger of that hand at the same time drawing back the string toward the palm of the hand4 ,the part of the string now held horizontally between the two hands is only the continuation of the end held in the left hand1 though it will appear to be the middle of the string4 ,this piece of the string some one of the audience should be invited to cut1 and thus apparently divide the string in halves1 although in fact he only cuts off two or three inches4 ,place all the ends of the string between the teeth1 withdraw the short piece with the tongue1 and show the remainder1 apparently as the string was at the commencement4 ,of course1 the string must not be measured1 or the trick will be detected4 ,a ,,mineral ,,garden4 ,fill a clear glass jar--a fruit jar will answer the purpose--with sand1 to the depth of two or three inches2 insert a few pieces of sulphate of iron1 sulphate of copper1 and sulphate of aluminum1 so that they will be barely covered with the sand4 ,now fill the jar to within about three inches of the top with a solution of silicate of soda1 commonly known as 8water-glass10 which can be procured at most large city drug stores4 ,this should be diluted with three times its bulk of water before it is poured in2 and care should be taken not to stir up the sand and disarrange the chemicals4 ,after standing about a week1 the silicates of the various bases will appear in a luxuriant and variously colored growth1 resembling vegetation4 ,now the silicate solution may be displaced with clear water1 which should be poured in very carefully1 so as not to break or disturb the vegetation4 ,this permanent miniature forest will be found to present a very attractive appearance1 and as no pruning or weeding are required1 the young gardener will probably feel that his trouble is well repaid4 ,its development from day to day will be watched with interest by all the members of the household1 although it will be of especial value to the invalid1 to whom any new and interesting object to watch is a blessing indeed4 ,another pleasing and ingenious device ,i insert for the benefit of this class of my readers1 wishing1 in the meantime1 that it might be in my power to make their in-door life so bright and full of interest1 that they would forget the more active sports of their sturdy brothers and sisters1 or at least cease to regret their enforced confinement4 ,this little affair ,i shall call ,,the ,,crystal ,,vase4 ,this sparkling ornament will almost make itself1 so little trouble is required4 ,you have only to half fill a tall glass tumbler with water1 and put in half a teacupful of table salt1 then let it stand4 ,as the water dries out1 put in a little more1 adding salt also in due proportion2 and keep this up for five or six months4 ,by degrees an incrustation of crystals will fill the tumbler1 and spread gradually down the outside2 extending and thickening till the whole vessel is covered with an irregular glittering mass1 which might well be the work of the ice-sprites in the kingdom of ,jack ,frost4 ,as the crystals approach the bottom of the tumbler1 the latter should be set in a saucer2 when the tiny stalactites have enveloped this also1 the vase is complete4 ,should it be desired to enhance still further the decorative effect of this by the use of color1 a blue tint can be communicated by adding a little indigo blueing to the salt and water4 ,should other colors be desired1 almost all of those employed in coloring alum crystals 7see page #be7 may be used with equal success in this case4 ,by adding different colors at different times1 a variegated effect may be produced4 ,the gradual growth of the crystals1 and enlargement of the mass1 is a very interesting spectacle4 ,,three ,,christmas ,,or ,,birthday ,,gifts4 ,when speaking of ,christmas presents in an earlier portion of this book1 ,i unintentionally omitted three quite interesting and easily made puzzles1 which are always pleasing sources of amusement to the young folks1 and sure to while away many half-hours on stormy days4 ,such presents are always valuable additions to the nursery closet1 and in an indirect way are as gratifying to mamma and nurse as to the little recipient himself4 ,the first of these is called the ,,octagon ,,puzzle4 ,this puzzle consists of twelve irregular pieces of stiff pasteboard or wood1 which are to be arranged in the form of an octagon4 ,although these pieces can be cut from pasteboard1 they are more lasting1 stronger1 and better every way if made of wood4 ,white holly1 such as is employed for brackets1 is a nice material to use4 ,illustration ,with a jig-saw cut four pieces in shape like that represented in ,fig4 #a1 four like ,fig4 #b1 and four more like ,fig4 #c2 rub the edges down with sand-paper1 and1 if you like1 paint each set a different color4 ,when the paint is dry1 varnish them4 ,pack them in a small pasteboard box1 which you can neatly cover with paper--any fancy color will do--and you will find your little brother or sister will be as well pleased with them as with many toys which have come direct from the store4 ,another puzzle of the same character as this is ,,the ,,cross ,,puzzle4 ,in this1 as in the ,octagon1 the pieces composing the cross may be made of pasteboard1 but are better and stronger if made of the white holly or other thin 8bracket wood40 ,illustration ,cut three pieces--with the jig-saw1 of course--in shape like ,fig4 #a1 one piece like ,fig4 #b1 and one like ,fig4 #c4 ,these pieces may be of any size1 but relatively each one must correspond with the sizes and shapes indicated in the diagram4 ,paint as fancy may dictate1 after smoothing the edges off with sand-paper4 ,pack in a box treated like that used for the 8,octagon ,puzzle40 ,the last of these interesting puzzles is known as the ,,square ,,puzzle4 ,of the pasteboard or white holly cut out eight squares of whatever size desired2 divide four of them into halves by cutting them from corner to corner1 so there are in all twelve pieces4 ,illustration ,the puzzle is to form a square of these twelve pieces4 ,the illustration shows how this is done4 ,when these puzzles are given to the little folks1 no 8key0 should accompany them1 but the children should try to put them together without help4 ,if1 however1 you find they begin to lose interest1 show them the first step1 and encourage them to try to finish it by themselves4 ,there are great differences in children in this respect2 some persevering and unwilling to be helped at all1 while others become discouraged at the smallest obstacles and refuse to try4 ,the latter should be encouraged by a little help1 care being taken1 however1 that they do a considerable portion of the work themselves4 ,no doubt this 8indolence10 as it is sometimes erroneously called1 is generally due to a weak physical condition1 rather than to inferior mental powers4 ,a child of this temperament1 instead of being ridiculed by his more vigorous companions1 should be encouraged and stimulated to action2 and such games or puzzles as those contained in this book are just the things to accomplish this end4 ,a ,,simple ,,fountain4 ,take a bottle holding eight or ten ounces1 and insert a tube in the cork4 ,a fine glass tube or even a pipe-stem will answer4 ,the tube should reach nearly but not quite to the bottom of the bottle1 and should fit air-tight in the cork4 ,fill the bottle about three-fourths full of water1 and blow with considerable force down the tube4 ,upon removing the mouth1 the water will spurt out1 forming a miniature fountain2 which will continue to play as long as any water remains in the bottle4 ,,the ,,fan ,,from ,,nagasaki4 ,a few months ago1 a friend who had been for several years a resident of ,japan1 came home to ,america for a visit1 and brought with her a bright little son and daughter1 neither of whom had ever set foot on our ,american shores before4 ,the children were delighted with their ,american cousins2 and evidently could not find words strong enough to sound the praises of the new games and sports which they were constantly learning4 ,their lives had been spent with ,chinese or ,japanese nurses2 and although kind-hearted and devoted as my friend assured me these people were1 the little exiles must have had a sorry time of it in their foreign play-room1 when compared with our own boys and girls4 ,the respect and almost reverence with which they regarded ,jack1 the most daring scapegrace in our family1 would have been very amusing had it not been pathetic4 ,what ,jack did was always marvelous in their eyes1 and into many an unsuspected trap they were beguiled by his mischievous pranks4 ,they were what most of you boys and girls would call very green1 when they first reached us1 but under ,jack's tuition1 ,i fear that next winter--in fact1 at the very time you are reading this--perhaps they will be trying the same tricks upon their innocent ,japanese nurse that ,jack tried upon them4 ,it will not be strange if that long-suffering personage does not in his secret heart have less respect for this illustrious nation than he has been wont to have before4 ,but if so ignorant in most things1 these children were very ingenious and uncommonly happy in making things of paper4 ,one rainy morning1 about a week after they came to us1 ,i had occasion to go into the nursery for something1 and was quite surprised to find the children busily engaged in folding paper4 ,edith had brought down some rice-paper from her trunk1 and with the help of her brother1 was fashioning all sorts of odd things from it2 while the younger members of my own family were looking on with intense interest4 ,i left the room1 after watching them for a few minutes1 but an hour later1 upon entering it again1 found them still employed in the same amusement4 ,it seems that their nurse had been in the habit of teaching them many ,japanese arts to keep them still while under his charge4 ,their nurse was a man1 strange to say1 as very few female servants are employed in either ,china or ,japan1 and now they in their turn were teaching these to us4 ,i confess the graceful1 pretty things they were making had quite a fascination for me1 and ,i even left off what ,i had been doing1 and became a pupil with the youngsters4 ,i took up the article which they were just beginning to learn1 and1 following my little teacher's directions1 ,i made what ,i have styled 8,the ,fan from ,nagasaki10 because my little instructress was born and lived in that city1 and learned her art from a native ,jap1 and not because the fan itself1 if it can strictly be called a fan1 came from that region4 ,the children called it by a delightfully odd ,japanese name1 which you would find it hard to pronounce even if ,i should invent a way of spelling it4 ,edith used ,japanese or rice paper for those she made2 but we found a stout quality of brown wrapping-paper1 not too stiff1 answers nearly as well4 ,if brown paper is used1 a rectangular piece about two feet long1 by one and a half feet wide1 is a good-shaped piece to use4 ,mark off each of the edges which measure eighteen inches into six equal parts1 each division being of course three inches long 7see ,fig4 #a74 ,now double the paper on the line at x1 and you have a shape like ,fig4 #b4 ,fold the uppermost half under at the line a a1 and again outward at the line b b2 then fold the under half in precisely the same manner1 and your paper is like ,fig4 #c4 ,illustration ,upon examining the edge a a a1 two openings between the folds will be seen2 whereas at the edge b b b1 three openings will be found4 ,the hand has next to be placed in the middle of these three openings1 and the paper spread out toward the right and toward the left2 that middle fold lying flat or unfolded for the time being4 ,another figure is now made like ,fig4 #d4 ,now commencing at one end of this long strip1 crinkle it the whole length as you would a lamplighter top1 making the folds even1 about a quarter or half an inch wide4 ,be careful not to make these folds wider than this1 as the fan does not work as well when they are wide4 ,yon have now a figure like that seen in ,fig4 #e2 and if your folds have been carefully and firmly creased1 your paper is prepared to make all sorts of strange shapes4 ,i think ,edith told me her nurse could make sixty-five different forms from a similarly folded bit1 and most of these she was able to reproduce2 but as it is some time since the children left us to visit other friends1 and ,i have not given the subject a second thought till now1 ,i find ,i have forgotten how many of the more intricate ones were formed4 ,perhaps with the directions for these my readers will catch the knack1 as we ,yankees call it1 and can improvise some forms unlike any of these1 for themselves4 ,whatever you succeed in making1 you may be quite certain that the ,nagasakian nurse1 away off on the other side of the earth1 is ahead of you1 and has made the same form before2 for his sixty-five must include about everything one could possibly fashion from its folds4 ,in ,fig4 #f1 the lower edge of ,fig4 #e is held between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand1 while the top is spread out like a fan4 ,for ,fig4 #g1 take ,fig4 #f1 insert the fingers at a1 and pass them round to b1 raising the paper outward4 ,fig4 #h is a continuation of #f and #g1 as the upper layer of the overhanging edge in ,fig4 #g is raised by passing the finger under it at c1 and bringing it out at d4 ,fig4 #i is a reverse of ,fig4 #h4 ,catch the paper by the part now uppermost1 pinch that part well together1 and loosen the part which was confined in ,fig4 #h4 ,illustration ,it must be remembered that every time the fan is changed1 the paper must be pinched into its original form1 ,fig4 #e4 ,it will now be necessary to make that change4 ,after creasing the folds firmly in place 7,fig4 #e71 lift up the upper part a1 bring the lower plaits b well together1 and hold them for the handle4 ,with the disengaged hand1 arrange the upper part in the form of a sunshade4 ,another form may be got by raising the upper layer of the sunshade cover1 a species of cup or goblet4 ,by drawing out b until it is at right angles with the upright1 the goblet form is nearer correct4 ,now reverse the paper1 and spread out the lower part so that it may represent the body of a wine-glass2 that which in ,fig4 #aj was the top of the sunshade1 is now the foot of the glass1 as seen in ,fig4 #aa4 ,illustration ,the ,chinese lantern 7,fig4 #ab7 is as easily made4 ,open out all the paper1 and twist it around2 catch it now by the central part1 and by compressing the central folds well together1 these wheels are produced 7,fig4 #ac74 ,the hat1 or cup and saucer 7,fig4 #ad71 is readily made by opening the paper out again1 and catching it at the two ends4 ,we now come to a new form of subjects1 so the original form 7,fig4 #e71 must once more be reverted to4 ,if the paper is caught at both ends1 it can easily be folded so as to form ,fig4 #ae1 and a table-mat may be made by drawing it out like ,fig4 #af4 ,illustration ,a 8nappie0 dish1 oval in form1 and resembling ,fig4 #ag1 may be made from ,fig4 #af1 by simply raising up the sides a and b4 ,by pressing the paper inward1 ,fig4 #ah is obtained4 ,fig4 #ai is made by drawing the paper out again1 and letting it loose at the end4 ,thus you see1 by pulling out some parts and drawing in others1 a quantity of things could be made other than these ,i have shown4 ,it would be quite interesting if every boy and girl who reads this1 would try on some rainy day to see how near to the sixty-five he or she could come4 ,if two or three friends in the same neighborhood should unite their forces1 and count all which are unlike1 without reference to the maker1 they might not fall so far short of the illustrious ,japanese--,i wish ,i could remember his name--after all4 ,,the ,,miniature ,,yacht ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,rig ,,her4 ,boat making and sailing are most fascinating pursuits1 and we do not know but the old saying1 8,when a man has taken to boat-sailing1 he is a sailor to the end of his days10 is to a certain degree applicable to the boy who intelligently fits out his tiny craft1 and sends her on little voyages across the neighboring pond4 ,if the sailing is to be done on water of any depth1 there is one caution we should like to give at the very outset3 ,learn to swim before you sail her4 ,no mere pleasure is worth risking one's life for1 and accidents will happen even to the most careful boys4 ,after this1 you may play on or near the water with as much safety as on the land4 ,aside from the pleasure1 one learns an extremely useful lesson in making a miniature model yacht1 and in sailing her4 ,a certain familiarity with the rigging1 and the looks of the thing1 will thus be obtained1 and if your fingers have patiently set up shrouds and stays1 and rove the mimic halyards1 they will be less at sea with the ropes and stays of a real vessel4 ,many boys living near the sea1 and accustomed every day to see vessels lying at anchor1 or sailing in and out of the harbor1 have very hazy ideas concerning the rigging of any kind of craft4 ,well ,i remember in my early days of being obliged to run down to the wharf to see where to attach my topmast4 ,whether it belonged forward or aft of my mast ,i had not the slightest remembrance1 and yet scarcely a day went by without my seeing a vessel in some form or other4 ,boys are not the only persons1 however1 who look at things and do not see them4 ,the power of minute and careful observation is a rare quality1 and the majority of people go through life without forming the habit1 or indeed dreaming they have not made the best use of their sight4 ,for the benefit of the boys who belong to this class1 and those less fortunate ones living inland where yachts are unknown1 ,i write this chapter4 ,in several of our large cities1 ponds are set apart for the especial purpose of sailing toy vessels4 ,they are the exclusive property of the boys1 and any fine afternoon in season1 and frequently out of season1 if the ice does not interfere1 crowds of boys may be seen sitting on the edges of these 8lakes10 intently watching the graceful fleet as it skims lightly over the water4 ,the sixty-acre lake in ,prospect ,park1 ,brooklyn1 and ,conservatory ,lake1 ,central ,park1 ,new ,york1 are both set apart for the owners of these miniature yachts2 and it is wonderful how many older people1 as well as the boys themselves1 take interest in this amusement4 ,illustration ,the building and sailing of tiny yachts is carried to a much greater extent in ,england than in this country4 ,there the ,prince of ,wales is deeply interested in the sport1 and has instituted a 8,royal ,yacht ,club10 presided over by himself1 which has regular yacht regattas4 ,these regattas take place on ,serpentine ,lake1 in ,hyde ,park1 every summer1 and are considered quite important events4 ,the yachts belonging to this club are very elegant affairs1 one of them being valued at #e1jjj1 yet none of them are over five feet in length4 ,we do not expect our boy readers to emulate their ,british cousins1 but with the following simple directions we feel confident they can1 with a fair amount of skill in the use of tools1 and careful labor1 make a very respectable miniature yacht1 which shall be correct as far as she goes in both form and rigging4 ,in the fashioning of a miniature boat1 the hull is the first thing which claims our attention2 and in making this1 two elements are to be considered1 rapidity and stability4 ,the rapidity or ease with which a vessel moves through water1 is gained by a narrow hull--that is1 narrow in proportion to its length--which1 to be sure1 renders the vessel somewhat unstable2 but this instability may be overcome by loading the keel with lead4 ,there is danger1 however1 of carrying this to too great an extent1 by lowering the vessel so much that the friction against her sides more than counteracts the fine proportions of her build4 ,hence a skillful designer reconciles these two points4 ,there are two types of model recognized in yacht building3 ,first1 the ,english cutter model1 which is narrow1 and quite deep in proportion to width1 with its keel heavily weighted to secure the necessary stability4 ,this model is best adapted to rough cruising in strong winds and heavy seas1 such as prevail on the ,english coasts4 ,second1 the ,american3 ,this1 our model1 is much wider1 or1 in nautical phrase1 has much more beam in proportion to length and depth4 ,indeed1 it is often so shallow as to merit the term 8skimming-dish10 ofttimes applied to this class of vessels4 ,these boats are usually fitted with center-boards1 which can be lowered or raised according to the need of the moment1 instead of the deep keel of the ,english model1 ,american vessels having the advantage of smoother water in which to make their cruises4 ,the sheltered surface of ,long ,island ,sound and the bays which adjoin it at either end1 afford excellent sailing grounds for those owned in ,new ,york and the vicinity4 ,for the toy boats our boys may desire to make1 a medium between these two types will probably be found preferable in practice4 ,the center-board may be ruled out at once1 as both itself and the well in which it plays would require more time and patience in their construction than most boys would care to give4 ,it is much better to have your boat too wide than too narrow1 as a capsize is far more disconcerting to the average young yachtsman1 than a slight inferiority of speed4 ,for a sloop yacht1 the greatest width should be about one-third the length2 and the point of greatest width1 or beam1 should be somewhat nearer the stern than bow4 ,probably the best way to make a toy yacht is to procure a piece of wood1 which is about three times as long as it is wide and deep1 and whittle out your hull as your judgment or fancy may dictate2 keeping in mind a few essential points1 however1 to insure ultimate success4 ,first1 draw a line from the middle point of one end to the middle point of the other end of the top of the block2 this will serve as a guide to the bow and the center of the stern4 ,care should be taken not to make your vessel too blunt at the bow2 as a sailor would say1 8the lines at the bow should be fine when they meet the water40 ,the elegant appearance of the boat is increased by giving an overhang to the stern1 instead of running it up vertically2 and if the young builder is confident in the use of his tools1 a sheer1 as it is called1 of the lines at the top1 or the gunwale1 will add greatly to the grace of its appearance4 ,for the benefit of those who do not understand the meaning of the word sheer1 it may be explained that it is the gradual and graceful downward curve from bow to stern1 noticeable in the bulwarks of vessels when seen from one side4 ,it is perhaps superfluous to add that great care should be taken to have each side of the craft alike1 for if a preponderance of weight is on one side1 the vessel will tip2 while if the curve is unequal1 she will not sail evenly4 ,the hollowing out of the inside is most conveniently accomplished with a sharp gouge and mallet1 while the hull is secured firmly in a vise4 ,when this is finished1 a hole should be made in the bottom to receive the lower end of the mast1 and care should be taken not to bore through the hull1 as it would be difficult to stop the ingress of water through it4 ,we have now come to the keel1 which must be firmly attached to the hull4 ,the best way to do this is to drive three slender brass screws through the bottom of the boat1 with ends projecting from one-fourth to one-half an inch along the line of the proposed keel4 ,make a temporary box around these1 inclosing a space equal to the length and breadth of the keel1 with strips of thin wood1 such as cigar-box wood2 strips of heavy pasteboard may answer the purpose sufficiently well4 ,in either case this mold should be firmly attached to the hull1 in such a manner that after casting the keel it may be readily removed4 ,perhaps the best way to accomplish this is to paste it in place by means of narrow bands of stout paper4 ,the inside of the mold must be rubbed with oil or lard to prevent the lead from adhering to its sides4 ,this lead must be melted over a very hot fire1 so that it will not cool too rapidly upon entering the mold1 in which case it would not hold together as well4 ,when cold1 the mold may be detached1 and the keel will be held firmly in place by the three screws4 ,the deck should be made of thin board1 cut so as to accurately fit the top of your hull4 ,if a sheer has been given to the bulwarks1 it is of course much more difficult to fit the deck accurately1 as it should follow the curve4 ,it will very likely be found necessary to steam the board used1 to make it sufficiently flexible4 ,it will be possible to use stout pasteboard for the purpose1 if both sides and edges are given a couple of coats of paint1 which treatment should also be applied to the inside of the hole for the mast4 ,this hole should be placed very slightly farther astern than the hole already mentioned1 made in the bottom of the vessel4 ,the effect of this will be to give the mast a slight rake4 ,this is always the case with the masts of a schooner yacht1 but builders of sloop yachts occasionally omit the rake and 8step0 the mast in a vertical position4 ,the bowsprit may be fastened by two staples made of small wire1 and driven down over it4 ,one is driven down into the stem1 or extreme forward point of the hull1 and corresponds to what is called the 8gammon iron0 in a full-sized craft2 the other secures the 8inboard0 end of the bowsprit1 or that which is nearer the stern4 ,this end is called the heel1 and should nearly reach the mast4 ,the outer end should project beyond the hull to a distance of nearly one-third the latter's length4 ,the rudder can be whittled from a thin piece of wood1 in the shape shown in the figure2 the upper part or head is round1 and passes up through a hole in the overhang4 ,the top of this rudder-head is squared off to fit the hole in the end of the tiller or helm4 ,the rudder is 8shipped0 very much as a barn-door or window-blind is set in place4 ,suitable hinges for the rudder of a toy boat can be made of pins from which the heads have been filed4 ,two pins may be bent double for staples1 and inserted into the 8stern-post0 of the vessel2 while two others bent at right angles may be driven into the rudder1 the projecting ends hanging down through the staples4 ,the rudder should turn with sufficient friction to hold its place1 at whatever angle it may be set4 ,the hollow of the boat should not extend back into the overhang1 as water might enter it through the rudder-hole4 ,the mast is composed of two parts or pieces2 the lower part is what is always understood when the 8mast0 is spoken of4 ,the smaller piece1 fastened to the upper end of the mast1 is called the topmast4 ,the 8mast10 which extends above the deck to a distance equal to about three-fourths the length of the hull1 passes through the hole in the deck already mentioned1 and rests firmly in the hole made for it in the bottom of the hull4 ,the lower end of the topmast is lapped on in front of the upper end of the mast1 as seen in the figure1 and may be secured in place by two loops of fine brass wire4 ,the spars of next importance are those which stretch the mainsail4 ,the larger is called the 8boom10 and extends along the lower edge or 8foot0 of the mainsail2 while the other1 which is called the 8gaff10 is secured to its upper edge or 8head40 ,the boom is equal in length to the mast2 the usual meaning of the word is here intended1 i4 e41 the lower part4 ,the gaff is a little over one-half the length of the boom4 ,the mast and topmast taper slightly toward their upper ends1 while the gaff is nearly the same size throughout its entire length4 ,the boom generally swells a little1 being somewhat larger in the middle than at either end4 ,the boom and gaff are adjusted to the mast by a 8jaw0 on either side1 forming a crotch1 which keeps them from slipping off4 ,builders of miniature yachts will1 however1 probably find it more convenient to whittle the ends of the spars in the form of a crotch than to attach jaws as separate pieces4 ,other smaller spars which enter into the equipment of racing craft1 will be mentioned in speaking of the sails4 ,the standing rigging is now to be considered2 this consists of stays and shrouds4 8,shrouds0 are ropes which lead from near the head of the mast to either side of the vessel1 where they are fastened into the chain-plates4 ,these are strong iron bands firmly bolted to the timbers4 ,the shrouds of the model yacht1 however1 can be attached to copper tacks driven into the sides4 ,they--the shrouds--are tied around the mast just below the point where the lower end of the topmast ends4 ,in 8real0 yachts these shrouds end in loops which encircle the mast1 and rest upon1 or are held in place by blocks called 8hounds0 attached to either side4 ,but young ship-builders will probably find it will answer all purposes to make a slight notch on either side of the mast1 at the point indicated4 ,a sloop yacht has usually two shrouds on either side1 while in a large ship there are four or five1 making1 as is known1 a good-sized ladder4 ,the 8fore-stay0 runs from the same point on the mast to the top of stem4 ,in case the reader may be ignorant of the meaning of nautical terms1 it may be well to say here that by 8stem0 is meant the piece of timber in the hull placed farthest forward1 also called 8forefoot0 and 8cutwater40 ,the 8fore-stay0 may be passed through the staple already mentioned1 which fastens the bowsprit to the hull4 ,the jib-stay passes from mast-head to outer end of bowsprit4 ,the topmast-stay runs from the top of the topmast to the forward end of the bowsprit2 here it is sometimes passed through a hole in the end1 and brought down to the forefoot1 near the water line4 ,the bob-stay runs from the end of the bowsprit to the stem1 and acts as a brace to offset the strain of the 8headsails10 or the sails in front of the mast4 ,in a large yacht it is necessary that this stay be very strong2 and in such cases it is often a substantial strip of iron or steel4 ,a yacht has1 also1 what are called 8backstays10 which run on either side from head of 8topmast0 to points on the sides somewhat abaft1 or back of the places where the shrouds are attached4 ,there are also 8cross-trees10 with 8topmast shrouds0 leading from them to the top of the topmast2 but these1 as well as the backstays1 may as well be dispensed with by our juvenile naval architect1 as a complication of unnecessary cords is to be avoided on a miniature craft4 ,we must now take up the sails1 the most important of which is the mainsail4 ,the shape of this may be sufficiently well understood from the figure4 ,the edge next the mast is called the 8luff10 while the outer or longer side opposite to this is called the 8leech40 ,the upper and lower edges are called respectively the 8head0 and 8foot40 ,the lower after corner of this sail is called the 8clew10 the lower fore corner the 8tack10 while the upper after corner is called the 8peak40 ,the 8mast-hoops0 are attached to the 8luff0 and run up and down the mast as the sail is raised or lowered4 ,in vessels of miniature size1 these may be supplied by small brass curtain rings4 ,the 8foresail0 also runs on small rings or loops which slide on the forestay4 ,the jib1 in like manner1 is attached to the 8jib-stay02 the 8jib-topsail0 or 8flying-jib0 to topmast-stay4 ,it may be well to dispense with the forestay1 and to enlarge the jib so as to occupy the additional space thus given1 as the work will be less1 and the appearance quite as good4 ,it now remains to consider the 8gaff-topsail10 which occupies the space between the topmast and the gaff4 ,this sail is set in quite a number of ways2 in a sloop yacht it is usual to stretch it on two light spars1 which are contiguous to mast and gaff4 ,beside these1 racing yachts in light winds carry a 8balloon jib10 which is simply an extremely large jib-topsail2 and a 8spinnaker10 which is used in going before the wind4 ,it is shaped like a large jib1 and is spread by means of a small spar extending along its foot1 called the 8spinnaker boom10 so that it may take the wind on the side opposite the mainsail4 ,these sails are spread by means of running rigging4 ,first1 the halyards1 by means of which the sails are hoisted4 ,the mainsail usually has two halyards1 one line being attached to the gaff near where it touches the mast1 which is called the 8throat halyards40 ,the other is smaller1 encountering less strain1 and is termed 8peak halyards10 as it raises that part of the sail after the luff has been hoisted4 ,the gaff-topsail of a regular yacht also has two halyards1 one of which raises the edge next the mast1 and the other draws its foot out to end of gaff4 ,the 8jibs0 are each raised by one 8halyard0 attached to head or upper corner4 ,in a small boat like that we are considering1 one halyard for each sail will be amply sufficient4 ,in fact it is a frequent practice to keep the sails permanently spread2 which has this in its favor1 that they are much smoother1 much less wrinkled1 than when furled between cruises4 ,the 8topping lift0 is a line which leads from the head of the 8mast0 to the outer end of the 8boom10 which it keeps from falling on deck when sail is lowered4 ,the sheets are not sails1 as the reader not conversant with nautical expressions would suppose1 but ropes1 or lines1 which keep the sails in their proper position in respect to the wind4 ,the main-sheet1 which controls the mainsail1 is attached to the boom at a point just above the stern1 to which the other end is led4 ,here it is fastened to a cleat4 ,the sheets of the headsails are fastened to their 8clews0 or lower aft corners1 and led to cleats near foot of mast4 ,in large craft the sheets are passed through a number of pulleys in order to secure sufficient purchase4 ,in addition to the rigging already mentioned1 many other ropes might be enumerated1 such as the 8downhauls10 8outhauls10 8spinnaker brace and guy10 8bowsprit shrouds10 etc41 but as has already been said1 the less confusion of cords in a miniature craft1 the better4 ,a ,,schooner ,,yacht4 ,illustration ,in this the length should be greater in proportion to its other dimensions than in the sloop yacht4 ,the mainmast should be stepped a little abaft the middle point of the hull4 ,the foremast is stepped about midway between the mainmast and the stem1 and should be very nearly as high as the mainmast4 ,the foretop-mast1 however1 should be decidedly shorter than the maintop-mast4 ,the bowsprit of the schooner yacht should be somewhat thicker and shorter in proportion than that of the sloop yacht1 and is lengthened to the desired extent by means of a small spar resting on its top1 which is called the jib-boom4 ,the forestay comes down to the bowsprit head1 instead of to the stem4 ,the jib-stay runs from the mast-head to the jib-boom1 through which it passes a short distance from the end of the latter4 ,the topmast stay extends from the upper part of the topmast to the end of the jib-boom4 ,the two latter stays pass from the jib-boom to the 8martingale10 a short spar1 which has a hook at its upper end4 ,this hook passes through an iron ring on the under side of the head of the bowsprit4 ,the martingale extends downward toward the water1 while the stays pass through it1 or through iron loops affixed to either side1 and are fastened to the stem or the upper part of the bows4 ,as in the sloop1 one or more stout bobstays connect the bowsprit head with the stem4 ,the two masts are braced together by means of certain stays1 of which the most important is the spring-stay1 which connects the mast-heads4 ,two other stays extend from the maintop-mast to the foremast head4 7,see figure47 ,illustration ,the mainsail and its gaff-topsail are similar to those of the sloop1 but the foresail is much smaller1 as it must pass between the masts in tacking1 and varies little in breadth from head to foot4 ,a schooner yacht has a maintop-mast staysail1 which is used in racing1 and comes down nearly to the deck4 ,its sheet is rove through a block at the after end of the boom1 whence it is brought back to the stern and 8belayed0 to a cleat4 8,belaying0 is the nautical term for winding a rope on a cleat or belaying pin2 which is done as a boy winds his kite string1 on each end alternately1 in figure-eight style4 ,the fore gaff-topsail is not provided with spars or booms at its edges1 but has rings along its luff1 like those of the lower sails1 which run on the foretop-mast4 ,the sails of a large vessel have ropes called bolt-ropes1 sewed entirely around their edges1 which may1 of course1 be dispensed with in the sails of the miniature yacht1 as they will be sufficiently strong without such aid4 ,the reef-points are short lengths of small rope1 arranged at equal distances from each other1 in rows parallel to the booms2 they pass through the sail and hang down on either side4 ,there are usually two rows of these on the foresail1 and three on the mainsail1 while the larger headsails are also provided with them4 ,before the sails are put on or bent1 it will be advisable to paint the yacht4 ,a coat of paint should have been given to the inside of hull as well as under side of deck1 to prevent the wood from becoming water-soaked in case of leakage4 ,custom has rigidly prescribed the colors for the exterior of a yacht1 above the water line2 either black or white1 with a narrow gold line below the gunwale1 being universally employed4 ,below the water line greater latitude may be given to individual taste2 either dark green1 brown1 or black1 may be used1 according to the preference of the owner4 ,the greatest pains are taken to keep the bottom of a racing yacht in the smoothest possible condition4 ,it is usually covered with black-lead and polished to the utmost degree4 ,this treatment is often renewed three or four times in the course of a season4 ,the mast should not be painted1 but stained a bright yellow1 with a little raw sienna in oil4 ,when dry it should be shellacked2 in fact1 the latter will form a good coating for the painted surface of the hull as well4 ,if the shellac be thick1 it may of itself stain the mast to a sufficient extent1 but in that case--if thick--it should not be used on the white hull4 ,the short space where the mainmast and topmast overlap each other should be painted the color of the hull4 ,the bowsprit should be the color of the hull1 and the jib-boom stained like the masts4 ,the deck may be painted with white1 to which enough sienna has been added to give it a buff tint4 ,the prow1 or upper portion of stem just below the bowsprit1 is usually carved and gilded2 and the stem is occasionally decorated in like manner2 but although there seems to be no limit to the increasing richness and elegance of the interior of our ,american yachts1 the tendency of the time leads more and more toward a severely plain and quiet treatment of the exterior4 ,a yacht always carries a little triangular flag at the topmast-head called the 8burgee40 ,a schooner yacht1 of course1 flies two of them1 one at each mast-head4 ,these are simultaneously hauled down at the moment of sunset4 ,a national flag1 called the 8ensign10 is generally hoisted at the peak of the mainsail4 ,these instructions apply equally well to the papier-mach boats described at page #ij1 which have the advantages of lightness and ease of construction4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,transcriber's note3 ,formats of index and ,notes have been regularised4 ,index1 full stop inserted after #8ib41' 8plants for fresh-water aquarium1 ib420 ,index1 #8#c' changed to #8#cbj1' 8,cross puzzle1 the1 #cbj0 ,index1 #8miscroscope' changed to #8microscope1' 8,objects1 some1 for solar microscope1 #bbe0 ,page #bff1 full stop inserted after #8book1' 8in this book47 ,balance0