&c., colored with any suitable article.
* * * * *
PHOSPHORIC FIRE-BOTTLE.--Take a common brimstone match, introduce its
point into a bottle containing oxide of phosphorus so as to cause a
minute quantity of it to adhere to it; if the match be then rubbed on
a common bottle cork, it instantly takes fire; care should be taken
not to use the same match immediately, or while still hot, as it would
inevitably set fire to the oxide of phosphorus in the bottle. The
phosphoric fire-bottle may be prepared in the following manner: Take
a small phial of very thin glass, heat it gradually in a ladleful of
sand, and introduce into it a few grains of phosphorus; let the phial
be then left undisturbed for a few minutes, and proceed in this manner
until the phial is full; or, put a little phosphorus into a small
phial; heat the phial in a ladleful of sand, and when the phosphorus is
melted, turn it round, so that the phosphorus may adhere to the sides
of the phial; and then cork the phial closely.
* * * * *
A COMBUSTIBLE BODY SET ON FIRE BY WATER.--Fill a saucer nearly full
of water, and drop into it a small piece of potassium the size of a
pepper-corn (about two grains); the potassium will instantly become
red-hot and dart from one side of the saucer to the other, and burn
vividly on the surface of the water.
* * * * *
CURIOUS EXPERIMENT.--Procure three basins, and put water of the
temperature of thirty-three degrees into one basin, of fifty degrees
into another, and of a hundred degrees into the third; then plunge one
hand into the water of thirty-three degrees, and the other into that
of a hundred degrees, and when they have both remained a few seconds,
withdraw them, and plunge both hands into the water of fifty degrees:
the one which was before in warm water will now feel cold, and the one
that was in the cold water will feel warm.
* * * * *
VIVID PRODUCTION OF FIRE.--Take three parts by weight of flowers
of sulphur, and eight parts of copper filings, mix them intimately
together, and put the mixture into a large test-tube, or small glass
matrass. If the tube be now placed upon red-hot coals, the mass begins
to swell, and a small ignited spark becomes first visible at the
bottom, which rapidly increases in size, and lastly, the whole mass
glows and exhibits a brilliant combustion without the access of air or
oxygen gas.
* * * * *
THE FIERY FLASH.--Pour iron filings upon the flame of a candle, from
a sheet of paper, about eight or ten inches above it; as they descend
into the flame, they will enter into a very vivid scintillating
combustion.
* * * * *
SPIRITS OF WINE.--Put a small quantity of spirits of wine into a glass,
and put a halfpenny or shilling in with it; then direct the rays of the
sun, by means of a burning glass, upon the coin, and in a short time it
will become so hot as to inflame the spirits.
Enigmas.
ANSWERS TO ENIGMAS IN JANUARY NUMBER.
=1.= Inside. =2.= Air. =3.= Mal-ice.
ENIGMAS.
4.
A museum am I, and my pictures so true
That their merits are never disputed by you
Such graphic expression each sketch must reveal
Of all I present to engage the ideal:
My collection abounds in so varied a stock
(Some sure to enchant, while some others may shock)
Of portraits and landscapes, and scenes of the past--
Historic and classic; some others are cast
In chimerical moulds, and stand out to the sight
In colors of fancy illusively bright.
Some are visions of dreams that appeal to the sense
With a mystical fervor, so fair their pretence.
Now this Exhibition at will you may view,
For you'll aye find it open and gratis to _you_:
Though you'll enter it solus, your gaze none can share,
So it's not like the show in Trafalgar-square.
5.
My first "to know" might signify;
My second "melody" imply;
My third must "fashionable" mean;
And in my whole much fashion's seen.
6.
More truly valuable am I,
As visibly is shown,
Than California's gold could buy--
Which you at sight must own.
Of one alone, or else of three,
You'll fabricate my name;
Then, even backwards spelling me,
You'll find me still the same.
7.
As introductory, I'll state,
We are a family of eight,
Fluent of speech as e'en are you,
And quite as comprehensive, too.
Our character is somewhat strange--
One-half of us are apt to change
In constitution frequently,
As you continually may see:
Although the other four, 'tis plain,
Unalter'd always must remain;
And in their own primeval state,
Your constant exigence await.
Collectively, our family
With reasoning humanity
Must o'er retain the first degree.
8.
My first is what you all must share
So long as you respire the air;
And when deceased, survivors will
Your proper share attribute still.
My second's what I think you'd do
Whene'er my first might do so too.
Then let the two united be,
To form what you'd not wish to see.
Receipts, &c.
THE SICK ROOM AND NURSERY.
IMPROVED MODE OF ADMINISTERING SENNA.--Take of senna three drachms;
lesser cardamom-seeds, husked and bruised, half a drachm; boiling
water, as much as will yield a filtered infusion of six ounces. Digest
for an hour, and filter when cold. This is a well-contrived purgative
infusion, the aromatic correcting the drastic efforts of the senna. It
is of advantage that it should be used freshly prepared, as it is apt
to spoil very quickly.
WARM WATER.--Warm water is preferable to cold water, as a drink to
persons who are subject to dyspeptic and bilious complaints, and it
may be taken more freely than cold water, and consequently answers
better as a diluent for carrying off bile, and removing obstructions
in the urinary secretion in cases of stone and gravel. When water of
a temperature equal to that of the human body is used for drink, it
proves considerably stimulant, and is particularly suited to dyspeptic,
bilious, gouty, and chlorotic subjects.
BARLEY-WATER.--To make good barley-water, choose the best pearl-barley,
boil it for a few minutes, then throw away the water and add fresh, in
the proportion of a pint to an ounce of barley. Boil quickly, and then
let it simmer for an hour; strain and sweeten; flavor with lemon, or
according to taste. It is a very mucilaginous drink, and beneficial to
invalids.
ADVANTAGES OF CLEANLINESS.--Health and strength cannot be long
continued unless the skin, _all_ the skin, is washed frequently with
a sponge or other means. Every morning is best, after which the skin
should be rubbed very well with a rough cloth. This is the most certain
way of preventing cold, and a little substitute for exercise, as it
brings blood to the surface, and causes it to circulate well through
the fine capillary vessels. Labor produces this circulation naturally.
The insensible perspiration cannot escape well if the skin is not
clean, as the pores get choked up. It is said that in health about half
the aliment we take passes out through the skin.
ANTIDOTE TO ARSENIC.--Magnesia is an antidote to arsenic, equally
efficacious with peroxide of iron, and preferable to it, inasmuch as it
is completely innocuous in almost any quantity, and can be procured in
any form.
REMEDY FOR TOOTHACHE.--Take of alum, in powder, two drachms; spirit of
nitre, seven drachms. Mix, and apply it to the teeth.
TO ASSIST THE HEARING OF ELDERLY PERSONS WHEN SUFFERING FROM
DEAFNESS.--Deafness is usually accompanied with confused sounds, and
noises of various kinds in the inside of the ear itself; in such cases,
insert a piece of cotton wool, on which a very little oil of cloves or
cinnamon has been dropped.
RHEUMATIC EMBROCATION.--Take of spirit of turpentine, spirit of
hartshorn, liquid opodeldoc, of each one ounce.
DOMESTIC RECEIPTS.
CUSTARDS, CREAMS, JELLIES, AND BLANC MANGE.
[_Second article._]
COMMON BAKED CUSTARD.--Mix a quart of new milk with eight well-beaten
eggs, strain the mixture through a fine sieve, and sweeten it with from
five to eight ounces of sugar, according to the taste; add a small
pinch of salt, and pour the custard into a deep dish, with or without
a lining or rim of paste; grate nutmeg or lemon rind over the top, and
bake it in a _very_ slow oven from twenty to thirty minutes, or longer,
should it not be firm in the centre. A custard, if well made, and
properly baked, will be quite smooth when cut, without the honey-combed
appearance which a hot oven gives; and there will be no whey in the
dish. New milk, one quart; eggs, eight; sugar, five to eight oz.; salt,
one-quarter salt-spoonful; nutmeg or lemon-grate; baked, slow oven,
twenty to thirty minutes, or more.
CHOCOLATE CUSTARDS.--Dissolve gently by the side of the fire an ounce
and a half of the best chocolate in rather more than a wineglassful of
water, and then boil it until it is perfectly smooth; mix with it a
pint of milk well flavored with lemon-peel or vanilla, and two ounces
of fine sugar, and when the whole boils, stir to it five well-beaten
eggs that have been strained. Put the custard into a jar or jug, set it
into a pan of boiling water, and stir it without ceasing until it is
thick. Do not put it into glasses or a dish till nearly or quite cold.
These, as well as all other custards, are infinitely finer when made
with the yolks only of the eggs.
RICE CUSTARDS WITHOUT CREAM.--Take one teaspoonful of rice flour, a
pint of new milk, the yolks of three eggs, sugar to your liking; mix
the rice very smooth, and stir it, with the eggs, into the boiling
milk. An excellent dish for children.
A FINER BAKED CUSTARD.--Boil together gently, for five minutes, a pint
and a half of new milk, a few grains of salt, the very thin rind of
a lemon, and six ounces of loaf sugar; stir these boiling, but very
gradually, to the well-beaten yolks of ten fresh eggs, and the whites
of four; strain the mixture, and add to it half a pint of good cream;
let it cool, and then flavor it with a few spoonfuls of brandy or a
little ratafia; finish and bake it by the directions given for the
common custard above; or pour it into small well-buttered cups, and
bake it very slowly from ten to twelve minutes.
APPLE OR GOOSEBERRY SOUFFLE.--Scald and sweeten the fruit, beat it
through a sieve, and put it into a tart dish. When cold, pour a rich
custard over it, about two inches deep; whip the whites of the eggs, of
which the custard was made, to a snow, and lay it in small rough pieces
on the custard; sift fine sugar over, and put it into a slack oven for
a short time. It will make an exceedingly pretty dish.
GOOSEBERRY-FOOL.--Put the fruit into a stone jar, with some good
Lisbon sugar; set the jar on a stove, or in a saucepan of water over
the fire; if the former, a large spoonful of water should be added
to the fruit. When it is done enough to pulp, press it through a
cullender; have ready a teacupful of new milk and the same quantity of
raw cream boiled together, and left to be cold; then sweeten pretty
well with fine sugar, and mix the pulp by degrees with it. _Or_:--Mix
equal proportion of gooseberry pulp and custard.
APPLE-FOOL may be made the same as gooseberry, except that when stewed
the apples should be peeled and pulped.
FRENCH FLUMMERY.--Boil one ounce and a half of isinglass in a pint and
a half of cream for ten minutes, stirring it well; sweeten it with
loaf-sugar, flavor with two tablespoonfuls of orange-flower water,
strain it into a deep dish.
FRUIT CREAMS.--Take half an ounce of isinglass, dissolved in a little
water, then put one pint of good cream, sweetened to the taste; boil
it; when nearly cold, lay some apricot or raspberry jam on the bottom
of a glass dish, and pour it over. This is most excellent.
BURNT CREAM.--Set over the fire in a pan three ounces of sifted sugar,
stir it, and when it browns, add a quart of cream, and two ounces of
isinglass; boil and stir till the latter is dissolved, when sweeten
it, and strain into moulds. Or, this cream may be made by boiling it
without sugar, adding the yolks of four eggs, sweetening and sifting
over it in a dish loaf-sugar, to be browned with a salamander.
LEMON CREAM.--Take a pint of cream, add the zest of a lemon rubbed on
sugar; whip it well; add sugar and lemon-juice to palate. Have half an
ounce of isinglass dissolved and cool; when the cream is thick, which
it will be when the lemon-juice is added, pour in the isinglass, and
immediately mould it. A smaller quantity of isinglass may suffice, but
that depends on the thickness of the cream. Other flavors may be used,
as orange, almond, maraschino. _Or_:--Take a pint of thick cream, and
put to it the yolks of two eggs well beaten, 4 oz. of fine sugar, and
the thin rind of a lemon; boil it up, then stir it till almost cold;
put the juice of a lemon in a dish or bowl, and pour the cream upon it,
stirring it till quite cold.
RASPBERRY CREAM.--Put six ounces of raspberry jam to a quart of cream,
pulp it through a lawn sieve, add to it the juice of a lemon and a
little sugar, and whisk it till thick. Serve it in a dish or glasses.
STRAWBERRY CREAM.--Put six ounces of strawberry jam with a pint of
cream through a sieve, add to it the juice of a lemon, whisk it fast at
the edge of a dish, lay the froth on a sieve, add a little more juice
of lemon, and when no more froth will rise, put the cream into a dish,
or into glasses, and place the froth upon it, well drained.
The Toilet.
CELEBRATED HONEY ALMOND PASTE.--Take honey, one pound; white bitter
paste, one pound; expressed oil of bitter almonds, two pounds; yolks of
eggs, five. Heat the honey, strain, then add the bitter paste, knead
well together, and, lastly, add the eggs and oil in alternate portions.
INVALUABLE OINTMENT.--Obtain a pint of real cream, let it simmer over
the fire, or on the side, till it resembles butter, and forms a thick
oily substance, which may be used as ointment for fresh or old wounds,
cracked lips or hands.
CHAPPED HANDS.--Mix a quarter of a pound of unsalted hog's-lard, which
should be washed first in water and then in rose-water, with the yolk
of a new-laid egg and a large spoonful of honey. Add to this as much
fine oatmeal or almond paste as will make the whole into a paste, and
apply this after washing the hands.
TO MAKE WASH-BALLS.--Take two pounds of new white soap, and shave thin
into a teacupful of rose-water, pouring in as much boiling water as
will soften it. Put into a pipkin a pint of sweet oil, fourpennyworth
of oil of almonds, half a pound of spermaceti, and set all over the
fire till dissolved; then add the soap, and half a pound of camphor
that has been first reduced to powder by rubbing it in a mortar with a
few drops of spirit of wine or lavender-water. Boil ten minutes; then
pour it into a basin, and stir till it is quite thick enough to roll up
into hard balls.
TO CLEAN WHITE VEILS.--Put the veil in a solution of white soap, and
let it simmer a quarter of an hour; squeeze it in some warm water and
soap till quite clean. Rinse it from soap, and then in clean cold
water, in which is a drop of liquid blue; then pour boiling water on
a teaspoonful of starch, run the veil through this, and clear it well
by clapping it. Afterwards pin it out, keeping the edges straight and
even.
Centre-Table Gossip.
A WARNING TO LOVERS.
The following delicate translation from the German we commend to all
just betrothed lovers, or those who are enduring the anxieties and
suspense of a long engagement. It has the burden of more than one life
in which pride has made a wreck of happiness.
HOW IT HAPPENS.
FROM THE GERMAN OF EMANUEL GEIBEL.
They said to her. "He loves thee not, he speaks
False vows, he plays but with thee." Then she grieved
And bowed her head, and tears pearled from her cheeks,
Like dew from roses. Oh, that she believed!
For when he came, and saw her doubting mood,
His heart grew wayward: not to show his sorrow,
He sang, and played, and drank, and laughed aloud--
Then wept in secret till the morrow.
"He is not false, give him thy hand again!"
Thus a good angel still her heart doth move.
He, too, yet feels, 'mid bitterness and pain:
"She loves you still! oh, she is still your love!
Speak one kind word, let her speak one to you,
And then the spell that parts you will be broken."
They went--they met--but what will pride not do?
That single word remained unspoken!
They parted, and as in the minster's choir
Doth die away the altar lamp's red glow--
At first grows dimmer, then the sacred fire
Burns bright once more, at length expires--'twas so;
Lamented first, then longed for bitterly,
And then--forgotten, love within them perished;
Till an illusion vain it seemed to be
That each the other e'er had cherished.
'Twas only sometimes, in the moon's pale gleam,
They'd from their pillow start: 'twas wet with tears,
And wet with tears their face. They'd had a dream,
I hardly know of what. And then the years
Of bliss, long past, came to their memory;
And how they'd vainly doubted, how they'd parted,
And now were sundered so eternally--
O God! forgive these stubborn-hearted! M. A. R.
AN ANTIDOTE.
Mr. Brown says Mrs. Green--Miss White that was--doesn't live happily
with her husband. The poison works and comes to Mrs. Green's ears. But
stop, dear madam, before you have exhausted your week's supply of fresh
pocket-handkerchiefs by tears--didn't you refuse Mr. Brown's brother?
There's the antidote.
Mrs. Knight tells all her acquaintances that Mrs. Day is abominably
extravagant, and caused her husband's failure. Mrs. Starr is sorry to
hear it, but recollects in time that Mrs. Day once declined making Mrs.
Knight's acquaintance, because there were already more names on her
visiting list than she could do justice to. Mrs. Knight feels injured,
and sets it down to her living in a two story house in a cross street.
Hence her remarks.
And if our lady readers, young and old, would but notice it, a similar
antidote might be found for almost all the troublesome reports that
come to their ears. It is not in _human_ nature to give a kiss for
a blow; and fancied or real injuries are often visited upon one's
character or standing. The next best thing to being "let alone," is
not to mind what is said, so one is conscious of the right, and never
willingly to listen to what people say of you. If disagreeable, you
will be sorry you heard it; if the reverse, the best of us are sensibly
inclined to vanity.
TRANSPLANTING ROSES.
THE season for transplanting roses "is from the end of October to the
middle of March. The autumn is generally preferred; although, I think,
it matters but little, provided they are not removed during frosty
weather. If standards are chosen, each plant should be tied to a stake
to preserve it from the action of the wind; and, whether standards
or dwarfs, it is an excellent plan to cover the soil with old hotbed
manure, describing a circle round the plant about eighteen inches in
diameter. This done, pruning is the next operation, and this should be
performed in February or March. As the roots of the plants will have
been curtailed by the act of removal, more pruning is necessary the
first year than at any subsequent period. It is scarcely possible to
acquire a correct knowledge of pruning otherwise than by watching a
proficient in the art. Nevertheless, a few hints may prove serviceable.
A young plant should have from three to seven shoots; if more are
present, those best situated for the formation of a well-balanced
plant should be singled out, and the others cut away. This is called
thinning. It is now necessary to shorten the shoots that are left.
It is an axiom in rose-pruning--the more rigorous the growth, the
less should the shoots be shortened. The kinds of weak growth may be
shortened to two, or at most three eyes (buds), the moderate growers
ranging from three to five eyes, and the strong growers from five to
seven. In the early growth of spring, it is necessary to look through
the plants occasionally, to remove the caterpillars which infest them
at that season, and which travel from bud to bud, eating out the core,
and destroying the future flowers. The autumnal blooming kinds require
higher cultivation than the summer ones. The latter flower in summer
only; the former give a succession of flowers during the autumn months.
By strict attention to these directions, a beautiful collection of
roses may be formed."
PARLOR WORK.
Collars and undersleeves being so expensive once more, many ladies
prefer to embroider for themselves, as the style is by no means
difficult. The pattern, principally of eyelets, and with deep points
of button-hole stitch (such as we have given, from time to time, in
the "Lady's Book" Work-Table), is traced on the muslin or cambric.
Instead of the old-fashioned hoops, or tambour-frames, a piece of dark
morocco or kid is basted beneath, to keep the strip quite straight and
even, then worked over the finger. The same is used for scalloping
or pointing skirts, or, in fact, for any style of cambric or muslin
embroidery.
Slippers are principally in _applique_. That is, a pattern of velvet,
be it a scroll, leaves, or flowers, is applied to black broadcloth by
braiding or chain-stitching. It takes much less time than canvas-work,
and, though it will not last so long, has a much richer effect. This
style of work is much used in smoking-caps, also in silk and velvet
for mantillas, short Talmas, etc. For canvas patterns, some of the
latest styles introduce the heads of animals, as the fox, or the whole
figure, a tiny kitten--on the toe, looking out from a wreath of leaves
or flowers, with a groundwork of some plain color. Scrolls, octagons,
diamonds, etc., shaded from black to the palest colors, are also much
used.
JUVENILE BOOKS.--FROM EVANS & BRITTAN.
A celebrated publisher in our own country has come to the conclusion
that there are but three classes of readers it is a bookseller's
pleasure or interest to cater for--young ladies, college students, and
_children_. Medical works, law books, or, indeed, those pertaining to
any of the professions, are to be considered as the tools of trade;
but we refer to those who read for pleasure simply, and enjoy what
they read without carping or cavil. Yet children are critics, often
admirable, though always genial, nevertheless very observant of good
morals and truthfulness to nature; and, this most favorite class of
readers constantly increasing, it has become a distinct branch of
business at the present time--the selection and publication of juvenile
books.
Of the firms especially devoted to it, we have before noticed Evans &
Brittan, of New York, now the publishers of our old and well-beloved
friend, "The Schoolfellow." They are issuing many attractive volumes
for the little people, even though the holidays are over, and among
those destined to a permanent place in juvenile literature, we notice
"_At Home and Abroad; or, How to Behave_." By Mrs. Manners. "Pleasure
and Profit," an admirable series of stories on the Lord's Prayer, was
the first claim put forth by this pleasant friend and instructress
upon the attention of the little people and their elders. The praise
which it won will be still farther secured to the authoress by her
second book, which is _exactly what was needed in_ _every nursery
and school-room in the country_, and we predict that it will become
a text-book speedily. There is running through every chapter the
kindliest Christian politeness, the truest of all, as well as many
judicious hints on the customs of good society; and yet, with all its
valuable instruction, it is neither dull nor prosy, but a series of
interesting stories, conversations, or rather "talks," in the most
good-natured and cheerful vein. We fancy this will be the most popular
of the series, in which the "Pet Bird," by Cousin Alice, "Pleasure and
Profit," and many others are numbered. It is published in a uniform
style with these.
Then, again, for still younger people, is the capital
"_Laughter-Book_," and "_Naughty Boys and Girls_," with their broad
German mirth and brilliant pictures; the wonderful "_Adventures of a
Dog_," with text and illustration to make any boy's holiday feast:
"_Pretty Poll_," also illustrated; and, above all, that perfect gem
for the nursery, "_The Book of Songs_," with its quaint nursery tales
and quiet hymns, illustrated by no less a pencil than Birket Foster,
of English celebrity. We particularly commend the editorial taste and
style in the letter-press and illustrations of all these volumes.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.