How?
[Illustration: frontispiece]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW?
OR
Spare Hours Made Profitable
For Boys & Girls
By Kennedy Holbrook.
Illustrated.
[Illustration]
New York:
Worthington Co., 747 Broadway.
1887.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright, 1886,
By WORTHINGTON CO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREFACE.
Although this book is ostensibly a “boy’s book,” many things which it
contains are equally useful to girls; and have been tried by the latter
with entirely satisfactory results. In fact, it was to afford amusement
and occupation, on rainy Saturdays and during the long vacation, to the
children of both sexes in my own family, that the book was first
written; and it was only an afterthought which led me to give it to the
public.
Everything it contains has been deduced from my own experience or that
of some trustworthy friend. While it has been my aim to meet the wants
of children of all ages and in every condition of life, I have
studiously avoided every subject which might be a source of anxiety to
the most careful parent.
It is with the hope that this little work may fulfill its mission in
other families where it may be received, as happily as it has done in
mine, that I send it on its way.
THE AUTHOR.
OCTOBER, 1886.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
INDEX.
Æolian harp, the, 68
Air, earth, or the sea?, 244
Alum, crystals, methods of coloring, 25
Amusing experiment with tooth-picks, 17
Animated fire, 26
Annealing (repoussé), 180
Antiques and horribles, 230
Aquarium, the, 186;
the author’s freshwater aquarium, 189;
trouble of keeping a gold fish globe, 190;
plants for fresh-water aquarium, _ib._;
artificial aeration, 191;
salt-water aquarium, 191;
preparing rock-work for, 192;
minnows, 191;
sticklebacks, 195;
nest of stickleback, 197;
hermit crabs, 198;
snails, 199;
medusæ, sea-anemones, 200;
serpulæ, 203
Arithmetical curiosity, an, 274
Arithmetical trick, an, 37
Baby, a box-sled for, 44
Basket, a hanging, 118
Balancing doll, the, 20
Balancing pin, the, 44
Ball, a good, 16
Bangle bracelet, a, 184
Barometer, a boy’s, 18
Barometer, an infallible, 19
Battledore and Shuttlecock, 251
Birds, Japanese paper, 78
Blow-pipe, how to make a, 27
Boats, paper, 83
Boats, papier-maché, 90
Book, how to make a, 11
Boomerang, the, 20
Boot puzzle, the, 57
Boston clapper, the, 71
Bottles, to cut the top from, 18
Bottle imp, the, 107
Bottle, the obedient, 281
Boxes, paper, 119
Box-sled for baby, 44
Boy’s barometer, a, 18
Boy’s solar microscope, a, 216
Bracelet, a bangle, 184
Brackets, an idea for, 115
Brass, hammered, or repoussé, 175
Bridge, the triple, 283
Bubbles, soap, 31
Bubbles, resin, 32
Burning the center from a handkerchief, 304
Button-hole, to pull a string through a, 314
Camera obscura, 144-154;
principle of camera, 145;
camera with horizontal screen, 146;
a simpler form, 149;
the sketching camera, 150;
the darkened room, 152
Camping-out cooking-stove, a, 308
Captain S’s peg puzzle, 238
Cars, a set of, 47
Cards, the three magical, 33
Card-receiver, papier-maché, 75
Card-receiver, repoussé, 179
Checkers, 256
Chickens, the musical, 235
Chinese rope feat, 312
Christmas presents, 113, 318;
the ornamental egg, 113;
trinket-holder, 114;
an idea for brackets, 115;
cone and twig bracket, 116;
pebble vase, 117;
cone and twig hanging-basket, 118;
shaving-case, 123;
puzzles, 318, 321
Circle, how to make a, 268
Circus, the magnetic, 269
Clapper, the Boston, 71
Coin, how to palm a, 287
Coin, how to pass a, 288
Compass, a home-made, 265
Cone and twig bracket, 116
Cone and twig hanging-basket, 118
Cooking-stove, a camping-out, 308
Corn-stalk fiddle, 64
Counter puzzle, the, 38
Countenance, necessity of a sober, 311
Cross puzzle, the, 320
Crystallize grass, seed-vessels, etc., how to, 24
Crystals, how to color alum, 25
Crystal vase, the, 317
Curiosity, an arithmetical, 274
Dancer, the pith, 280
Danger of repetition, 291
Darkened room, the, 152
Dart, the self-rectifying, 43
Days in a month, number of, one way to find, 274
Dispatcher, the magic, 297
Divided square puzzle, 14
Doll, the balancing, 20
Easy proof for sums in multiplication, an, 41
Egg, the ornamental, 113
Egg, the perambulating, 295
Egg, the tumbling, 82
Egg, to produce raised figures on, 273
Electrical experiments, 275
Electrophorus, the, 276
Electrophorus, a simple, 277
Electrophorus ebonite, 279
Experiment with electricity, 275
Experiment with flower-seeds, 141
Experiment with tooth-picks, 17
Experiment with two pieces of glass, 15
Face, the grimacing, 15
Fan, from Nagasaki, a, 323
Feat, Chinese rope, 312
Fiddle, corn-stalk, 64
Fire, animated, 26
Fire, a new way to kindle a, 263
Flower-seeds, experiment with, 141
Flying whirligig, the, 10
Fountain, a simple, 322
Foxing, 179
Frame for impressions of plants, 87
Frame for a plaque, 185
Freight train, a, 51
Friction, light produced by, under water, 138
Game, an optical, 37
Garden, a winter, 54
Garden, a mineral, 316
Glass, experiment with two pieces of, 15
Glass, how to blow, 27
Good ball, a, 16
Grimacing face, the, 15
Grasses, how to crystallize, 24
Half-dollar, how to melt and re-coin, 301
Halos, the three, 82
Hammered brass, or repoussé, 175
Handkerchief, burning center from, 304
Hanging-basket, a, 118
Harp, æolian, 68
Hat, the inexhaustible, 291
Hat trick, another, 294
Home-made compass, a, 265
Hour of the day, how to tell the, by the left hand, 128
How to blow glass, 27
How to break a string, 63
How to crystallize grasses, seed-vessels, etc., 24
How to cut the tops from glass bottles, 18
How to make a book, 11
How to make a blow-pipe, 27
How to make a circle, 268
How to melt and re-coin a half-dollar, 301
How to melt stones, 31
How to palm a coin, 287
How to pass a coin, 288
How to pull a string through a button-hole, 324
How to rob Peter and pay Paul, 289
How to skeletonize leaves, 141
How to take impressions of plants, 86
How to take portraits, 60
How to tell the hour of the day by the left hand, 128
Idea for brackets, an, 115
Imp, the bottle, 107
Impressions of plants, how to take, 86
Impressions of plants, frame for, 87
Inertia, illustration of, 284
Inexhaustible hat, the, 291
Infallible barometer, an, 19
Japanese paper bird, 78
Jew’s-harp, the spirit, 261
Leather work, 123-128;
in Russia, 124;
“Cuir Bouilli,” 125;
a panel of leather work, 126-128
Leaves, how to skeletonize, 141
Left hand, to tell the hour of the day by, 128
Leyden jar, a, 279
Light produced by friction under water, 138
Locomotive, the toy, 48
Lot of paper windmills, a, 52
Magical cards, the three, 33
Magic dispatcher, the, 297
Magic rope, the, 307
Magic telescope, 22
Magnetic circus, the, 269
Melt and re-coin a half-dollar, how to, 301
Melt stones, how to, 31
Method of coloring alum crystals, 25
Microscope, a boy’s solar, 216
Mineral garden, a, 316
Miniature yacht and how to rig her, 331
Month, one way to find the number of days in a, 274
More elaborate panorama, a, 165
Multiplication, an easy proof for sums in, 41
Musical chickens, the, 235
Nagasaki, a fan from, 323
Necessity of a sober countenance, 311
New way to kindle the fire, a, 263
Number thought of by a person, to tell the, 37
Numbers, two or more, to tell, 40
Obedient bottle, the, 281
Objects, some, for solar microscope, 225
Octagon puzzle, the, 318
One way to find the number of days in a month, 274
Optical game, an, 37
Ornamental egg, the, 113
Ornament for boys to make, 26
Palm a coin, how to, 287
Panel of leather work, a, 126
Panorama, the toy, 160-172;
panorama of former generation, 161-162;
simplest form of toy panorama, 163-165;
a more elaborate panorama, 165-172.
Paper bird, the Japanese, 78-81;
paper boats, 83-86;
paper boxes, 119-122;
a lot of paper windmills, 52-54;
a fan from Nagasaki, 323
Papier-maché, 73;
materials for, 74;
process of working, 74-75;
card-receiver, 75;
umbrella-holder, 76;
vase, _ib._;
papier-maché flowers, 77;
papier-maché boats, 90-92
Pass a coin, how to, 288
Pebble vase, the, 117
Peg puzzle, Captain S’s, 238
Perambulating egg, the, 295
Photographic printing, 154
Pin, the balancing, 44
Pith dancer, the, 280
Plaque, frame for, 185
Plants, how to take impressions of, 86
Plants, frames for impressions of, 87
Portraits, how to take, 60
Presents, Christmas, 113, 318
Proof, an easy, for sums in multiplication, 41
Puppet, the windmill, 7
Puzzle, the boot, 57
Puzzle, the counter, 38
Puzzle, the cross, 320
Puzzle, the octagon, 318
Puzzle, peg, Captain S’s, 238
Puzzle, the square, 321
Puzzle, the divided square, 14
Raised figures on an egg, to produce, 273
Re-coin a half dollar, how to, 301
Regatta windmill, 215
Repetition, danger of, 291
Repoussé work for boys, 172-184;
Nubian bracelets, 172;
hammer for repoussé work, 175;
other tools for repoussé work, 176;
marking the design, _ib._;
plaque in hammered brass, 177;
composition for deep work, 178;
card receiver, 179;
foxing, _ib._;
annealing, 180;
a salver in repoussé, 181;
a silver bangle for a bracelet, 182;
a bangle bracelet, 184
Resin bubbles, 32
Ring toss, 255
Ring trick, the Turkish, 299
Rob Peter and pay Paul, how to, 289
Room, the darkened, 152
Rope, the magic, 307
Rope feat, the Chinese, 312
Salver in repoussé, 181
Schooner yacht, a, 345
Screw-propeller windmill, the, 210
Sea-mosses, 226-230;
where found, _ib._;
how, 227;
how to arrange on paper, 227-229;
more elaborate arrangements, 229-230
Self-rectifying dart, the, 43
Set of cars, a, 47
Shaving-case, a, 123
Side-wheeler windmill, the, 211
Simple form of camera, a, 149
Simple electrophorus, a, 277
Simple fountain, a, 322
Siphon, a, 28
Skeletonize leaves, how to, 141
Sketching camera, the, 150
Slate games for children, 243
Sloop yacht, 336
Snake, the, 13
Soap bubbles, 31
Sober countenance, necessity of, 311
Solar microscope, a boy’s, 216
Solitaire, 249
Some electrical experiments, 275
Spirit jew’s-harp, the, 261
Square puzzle, the divided, 14
Square puzzle, the, 321
Steam-boat, the toy, 93
Stencils, 130-137;
method of making, 133;
collection of stencils in book-form, 135;
color decoration with stencils, 136-137
Stones, to melt, 31
String, how to break a, 63
String, how to put a string through a button-hole, 314
String, how to unite a parted, 314
Sums in multiplication, an easy proof for, 41
Telescope, the magic, 22
Telescope, a, which a boy can make, 110
Tit-tat-to, 243
Thirty-one, 246
Three halos, the, 82
Tooth-picks, an amusing experiment with, 17
Toy panorama, the, 160
Toy steam-boat, the, 93
Train, a freight, 51
Trick, an arithmetical, 47
Trick, Turkish ring, 299
Trick, another hat, 294
Trinket-holder, 114
Tumbling egg, the, 82
Turks and Russians, 245
Twig and cone bracket, 116
Two pieces of glass, experiment with, 15
Vase, the crystal, 317
Vase, the pebble, 117
Vase, a papier-maché, 76
Windmills, 204-216;
the wooden windmill, 206-209;
mode of mounting the windmill, 210;
the screw-propeller, 210-211;
the side-wheeler, 212-214;
the regatta windmill, 215
Winter garden, a, 54
Whirligig, the flying, 10
Xylophone, the, 65
Yacht, the miniature, and how to rig her, 331-352;
miniature yacht regattas, 334;
model of yacht, 335;
making the hull, 336-337;
how to cast and attach a lead keel, 337-338;
the deck, 338;
bowsprit and rudder, 339;
mast and other spars, 340;
standing rigging, 341-342;
sails, 343;
running rigging, 344-345;
a schooner yacht, 345;
spars and stays for a schooner yacht, 346-349;
belaying, bolt ropes, reef-points, 350;
painting the miniature yacht, 350-351;
flags, 352
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW?
OR,
SPARE HOURS MADE PROFITABLE.
―――――◀▶―――――
THE WINDMILL PUPPET.
[Illustration: Fig. 1]
This amusing little puppet is very easily constructed, and, like several
other mechanical toys in this book, furnishes much entertainment for the
little folks. Even the baby will sit in her high chair, half-hours
together, watching the little man turning his crank, while she claps her
tiny hands and crows at so delightful an exhibition of untiring energy.
[Illustration: Fig. 2]
Cut from cardboard a disc like Fig. 2, which shall measure about six
inches across; then by means of a ruler draw the lines _a b c d_;
half-way between these points make four others, corresponding to _e f g
h_; and lastly, between all these, still another set of lines. Make the
circle, _m_, one-and-a-half inches in diameter, and with a pair of sharp
scissors cut through all these lines, to the edge of the smaller ring.
Bend one edge of each of these triangular pieces slightly upward, as
indicated by the shading, and the opposite edge downward; also bend a
piece of wire a foot long, so as to form the crank indicated in the
illustration.
Next make a frame-work for the figure to rest upon: this should consist
of a three-cornered piece of wood, six inches long for the bottom, a
stick six or seven inches long for the upright, and lastly, the support
for the upper part of the wire, with a small hole in one end for the
latter to pass through. Fasten these pieces together with small
brad-nails, and secure the upright to the bottom piece by a screw or
nail passing up from below. The wire, having the crank already bent in
the proper place, may now be passed up through the hole, and the other
end sunk down into another, bored a short distance into the bottom
board, directly below the upper one. Then the wire may be fastened to
the windmill, by passing it through a little one side, then back again
through on the other side of the center; twisting the end once or twice
about the main stem beneath the windmill; it now turns with the
windmill, and it is needless to say that the friction in the holes
should be as slight as possible.
The figure is to be cut from a piece of cardboard and is made in five
pieces. The lower half, which comprises the box, legs, and body up to
the dotted line, is in one piece; the head and body to the lower edge of
the belt, consists of two pieces, cut precisely alike, and lapping on
either side of the lower part of the body over the dotted line, to give
strength to the image. A pin passed through the belt, and bent down on
the other side, will hold it in place, and allow sufficient play to the
figure. There are two arms, cut from the same pattern, and pivoted at
the shoulders with another pin. The hands are finally brought together,
with the crank between them, and lightly secured on either side with two
or three stitches.
To impart life to this creation, it is placed over a furnace register
through which the hot air is briskly rising. If the machine works
easily, the current of air above a stove may suffice.
―――――◀▶―――――
THE FLYING WHIRLIGIG.
[Illustration]
This amusing toy consists of an empty spool with two pins driven into
its head, as seen in the figure. With a pair of pliers break off the
heads of the pins before driving them in position, then take a piece of
soft wood and make a spindle, like that represented in the figure at
_A_, and drive another headless pin into the small end. Lastly, cut from
a piece of cardboard a figure like the one marked _B_, making three
holes, _a a a_, with the point of a darning-needle, corresponding to the
two pins in the spool and the one in the spindle.
Bend the edges marked _x_ and _y_ in opposite directions.
Now place the spool on the spindle and wind a piece of twine around the
spool; then place the piece of pasteboard upon the top, letting the pins
pass up through the row of holes in its center.
Holding the machine upright in the left hand, with a quick movement of
the right, jerk the string from the spool, and the cardboard will fly
through the air with a very graceful motion.
If stripes of color are added to the ends, as seen in the cut, a much
prettier effect is produced while the whirligig is in operation. These
stripes can be painted in red, white, and blue water colors, or may be
formed by pasting on narrow strips of bright-colored paper.
If the first trial does not succeed, wind the string in the other
direction, or put on the “card flyer,” with the other side next the
spool. The same causes which make it soar away in the one case will hold
it yet more firmly to the spool in the other.
―――――◀▶―――――
HOW TO MAKE A BOOK.
Do any of my boy readers know how to make a book? Not the fine volumes
turned out by the thousand in our great publishing houses, but the
little individual books made by boys and girls, and needing for their
construction only an old used-up ledger, a small tin pan of paste, and
scraps cut from newspapers or books. These bits may consist simply of
poems, or they may be “a little of all sorts.”
I recently saw a very nice book of this kind made by a boy of twelve,
which was composed entirely of humorous pictures and jokes, culled from
several illustrated and daily papers, one or two almanacs, and various
other chance publications, which he had collected during the year.
Whenever he found any bright or witty thing, he would carefully preserve
the clipping by putting it in a large paper box he kept in a convenient
place for that purpose.
He reserved the pasting for rainy days and winter evenings, and as he
took much pains with the arrangement and neat appearance of his book,
this operation was necessarily slow, and formed a pleasant occupation
for many hours which would otherwise have been wasted.
In making such a book, do not try to complete it in a week or even a
month, but let it, like my boy friend’s, furnish amusement for a year.
Get your father and mother interested, and ask them to save any scraps
they may see, and think appropriate for the purpose.
A handsomely bound scrap-book, specially designed for this use, would
certainly be the most desirable thing to have; but if such a book cannot
be obtained, an old ledger does very nicely in its place, and if, after
it is completed, you cover it carefully with a piece of smooth brown
paper and print its title neatly on the back, it will look very well on
any table where you may wish to keep it.
If the latter is used, cut from it every other two leaves, reserving the
third, through the book. Next be careful to trim all your clippings
neatly, leaving no extra paper beyond the edges. Fit the different slips
nicely on the pages, filling the little spaces left from the longer
articles with any little jokes or bits of poetry you may have.
Frequently a whole piece of newspaper poetry is hardly worth preserving,
but some one of its stanzas may be very pretty and just the thing to
fill up a place you may have left.
It is well to collect all these little things you can find, for they
always come in nicely when pasting, and your book looks much better when
finished if the original surface is entirely covered.
―――――◀▶―――――
THE SNAKE.
[Illustration: A]
Cut from a piece of Bristol board, or stiff paper, a circle measuring
four inches in diameter; then with a pencil mark it like Fig. _A_. With
your paints and pencil make its head as nearly like a snake’s as
possible; and mark the body with stripes or checks, as your fancy may
dictate. Cut through the deep black line, put a pin through the dot on
the tail, and drive it into a slender stick of wood, which must be held
or caught over the stove or register. The rising current of heated air
causes the snake to revolve and apparently writhe, in a very natural
manner. This little toy, so simple in its construction, affords an
endless amount of entertainment to the little folks of the family, and
is well worth the trouble and time you may spend in making it.
[Illustration]
The hot air from a lamp or gas jet will also impart activity to this
mimic reptile.
―――――◀▶―――――
THE DIVIDED SQUARE PUZZLE.
[Illustration]
Take a square of paper or cardboard, and cut it into four pieces, as
shown in the engraving. Now try to put them back in the form of a
square. This seemingly simple puzzle, has kept our young people busy a
whole evening, and was only accomplished at last by marking each piece
before it was cut apart.
―――――◀▶―――――
EXPERIMENT WITH TWO PIECES OF GLASS.
Procure two pieces of glass about six inches square, join any two of
their sides, and separate the opposite sides with a piece of wax, so
that their surfaces may be at a slight angle; immerse this apparatus
about an inch in a basin of water, and the water will rise between the
plates and form a beautiful geometrical figure called a hyperbola.
―――――◀▶―――――
THE GRIMACING FACE.
[Illustration: A]
[Illustration: B]
[Illustration: C]
Take a card one-and-one-half inches wide, and fold around it a piece of
unruled note paper, so that the card can easily slide up and down; then
paste this case on the under side. Now cut three holes in the paper for
the eyes and mouth, as seen in _A_; place the strip of card within this
and mark the points for the eyes and root of tongue; then slipping it
out once more, the eyes can be carefully finished, and the tongue cut to
fit in the mouth, and to extend some distance down on the chin, see Fig.
_B_. Then by putting the two pieces together, pulling the tongue in its
place through the opening, very amusing expressions can be produced, by
simply moving the pasteboard up and down in the paper. Fig. _C_
represents the two parts put together.
―――――◀▶―――――
A GOOD BALL.
Take a round, well shaped orange; cut it evenly into quarters, numbering
them at one end to aid in putting the parts together again. Next cut out
of kid four pieces exactly like the four pieces of orange peel; then,
with strong linen thread, sew over and over three seams, thus joining
the four pieces, but leaving one seam open. In putting together be
careful to place 1 next to 2, and so on, just as they were in the
orange. Ravel out an old yarn stocking, or cut into narrow strips an old
cashmere one, and after making a little round ball of any soft woolen
material, commence winding it evenly with the raveled yarn, trying
occasionally if it is near the size of the kid covering. When nearly
large enough wind it in such a way that it shall just fit the cavity,
and then carefully sew up the remaining side.
Great care should be exercised in forming the inner ball, and in cutting
the kid. The wrists of old kid gloves make capital coverings. An old
rubber overshoe cut in very fine strips and wound carefully, forms a
nice center, but it is better to use the soft wool yarn next the cover,
as it is more pliable and makes a better shaped ball.
Prepare this ball during your leisure moments in the long winter
evenings; and it will then be ready for the first game, when the bright
spring sunshine reminds you of summer sports once more.
―――――◀▶―――――
AMUSING EXPERIMENT WITH TOOTH-PICKS.
[Illustration]
Take five tooth-picks, weave them together, as seen in the illustration,
which perhaps is easiest done by holding the three diverging ones
between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand at the point _a_, and
insert the other two successively, first _b_, then _c_. Now lay the
figure upon any flat surface, letting the end c extend a short distance
beyond the edge. If you touch a lighted match to _c_, in a moment each
stick will leap into the air as if suddenly endowed with life and
animation, quite unusual in such inert objects.
―――――◀▶―――――
HOW TO CUT TOPS FROM GLASS BOTTLES.
A glass bottle when freed from its top can be utilized in many ways, and
most boys will be glad to know how to get rid of this troublesome
portion without smashing the whole thing into fragments.
A red-hot poker with a pointed end is the instrument used. First make a
mark with a file to begin the cut; then apply the hot iron, and a crack
will start, which will follow the iron wherever it is carried. This is,
on the whole, simple, and better than the use of strings wet with
turpentine, etc.
―――――◀▶―――――
A BOY’S BAROMETER.
Take a common vial, or small bottle, cut off the rim by using the hot
poker as directed above. Let the vial now be nearly filled with common
rain water, and applying the finger to its mouth, turn it quickly upside
down: on removing the finger it will be found that only a few drops will
escape. Without a cork or stopper of any kind, the water will be
retained within the bottle by the pressure of the external air, the
weight of the air without the vial being so much greater than the small
quantity within it. Now let a bit of tape be tied round the middle of
the bottle, to which the two ends of a string may be attached, so as to
form a loop to hang on a nail; let it be thus suspended in a
perpendicular manner, with the mouth downward: and this is the
barometer.
When the weather is fair, or inclined to be so, the water will be level
at its lower surface, or perhaps concave, like an individual butter
plate turned upside down; but when disposed to be stormy, a drop will
appear at the mouth, which will enlarge till it falls, and then another
drop, so long as the humidity of the atmosphere continues.
―――――◀▶―――――
AN INFALLIBLE BAROMETER.
With a few cents any boy can buy the chemicals required for this
barometer, and obtain an instrument much more reliable than many of the
cheaper grades for sale in the stores. Put two drams of pure nitrate of
potash, and half a dram of chloride of ammonium reduced to a powder,
into two ounces of pure alcohol, and place this mixture in a clear glass
bottle, covering the top with a piece of rubber or thin kid pierced with
small holes.
If the weather is to be fine, the solid matters remain at the bottom of
the bottle, and the alcohol is as transparent as usual. If rain is to
fall in a short time, some of the solid particles rise and fall in the
alcohol, which becomes somewhat thick and troubled. When a storm,
tempest, or even a squall is about to come on, 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 fermentation. These
appearances take place twenty-four hours before the tempest ensues, 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 come. The longer the diameter of the bottle the
better for this kind of barometer.
―――――◀▶―――――
THE BALANCING DOLL.
[Illustration]
From a piece of soft wood whittle out a head and body like that in the
illustration, making slits on either side for the insertion of the
wings. These oar-shaped appendages are generally made from a shingle,
and are affixed to the body by pressing them firmly into the slits. The
whole thing can be painted to suit the fancy; water colors spread on
rather thickly answer quite as well for small objects of this class, if
protected by a good coating of varnish, made by dissolving a few cents’
worth of white shellac in a small quantity of alcohol. It is important
that the oars are of the same weight and placed at equal angles with the
body for this plaything to be successful.
―――――◀▶―――――
THE BOOMERANG.
The boomerang is a weapon which has long been known as peculiar to the
Australian savages, who are wonderfully skilled in its use.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
It consists of an irregular shaped piece of hard wood, so constructed
that by its aid, the unsuspecting game can be killed at an angle widely
diverging from the line of direction in which it was thrown. Instances
have been cited in which the boomerang, in the hands of these untutored
savages, has accomplished wonderful feats. 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 feet, then, rising
in the air, double back upon its course, and hit a mark only a few feet
in front of the thrower. Of course we do not expect to equal the savages
in its use, when recent investigations show that it has taken the
experience of generations upon generations of men and hundreds of years,
to bring it to its present degree of excellence; 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 page.
To throw this, place it upon a book, one end extending beyond the edge;
then, with a ruler or small stick, strike it forcibly upon the edge, and
it will fly through the air and back again, in an amusing, lively
manner, quite unlike any other missile in a boy’s collection. 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 left. If you should try making
one of wood to use out-of-doors, try it in the middle of a large open
lot, for there is no telling what mischief it might do if it only had
the chance.
―――――◀▶―――――
THE MAGIC TELESCOPE.
[Illustration]
The following, although requiring considerable skill in joining, can
readily be made by any boy of fifteen, if he is at all skillful in the
use of carpenter’s tools, and has a fair endowment of those two
excellent qualities, patience and perseverance, so absolutely
indispensable to success in almost any undertaking.
This telescope consists of a series of square wooden tubes, with an
inside diameter of about five inches, so carefully joined together that
no ray of light can find its way in through the crevices. The oblique
lines are pieces of looking-glass, with their faces turned toward each
other. Now, by placing the eye at _E_, of course it would seem that
anything at _H_ could be seen directly through the tubes _A B_, while if
a book or other opaque object be interposed, as shown in Fig. 2, it
would seem equally a matter of course that the view would be obstructed;
this, however, is not the case, as the mirrors reflect the object
through the tube and it appears as plainly as when the book is removed.
To those unfamiliar with its construction this magic telescope, by which
you apparently see through a solid substance, is an unfailing source of
wonder.
[Illustration]
The object at _H_ should be quite brilliantly lighted, as some of the
rays are absorbed in the passage of the reflection through the tube;
especial care should also be taken to place the mirrors at a slant,
exactly midway between the horizontal and the upright, or, to speak more
scientifically, at an angle of 45 degrees to the line of the tubes.
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
seen.
―――――◀▶―――――
TO CRYSTALLIZE GRASSES, SEED-VESSELS, ETC.
Take a large-sized piece of alum, and pour over it a pint of boiling
water, letting it stand until the water has taken up or dissolved all
the alum it will. If at the end of a few hours any alum remains
undissolved, you may be sure the water contains all the alum it can hold
in a liquid state, and the solution is called a “saturated solution of
alum.”
During the summer, while the grasses are in their most perfect state,
select such as you think will look well crystallized, and put them into
a vase or wide-mouthed bottle to dry, being careful to spread them well
apart, so that they may retain their perfect shape in drying. If the
season of grasses should pass before you have a chance to collect them,
the season of weeds is always at hand. Any boy, in his wanderings over
marsh or mountain, through woods or our quiet village street, during
even the coldest winter months, could not fail to see some beautiful
sprays of seed-pods crowning many of our most common weeds, which if
crystallized, would make a very pretty and acceptable present to mother
for the corner bracket, or the shelf which seemed just a little bare
before. Having secured your grasses or weeds, both together if you like,
and having your saturated solution of alum at hand, lay as many tops of
the grasses in a flat dish as will fill it without crowding, then pour
the liquid over them, being careful that the parts you wish crystallized
are under the surface. Let them lie in this position until well coated
with the alum. When finished remove them and put in others. Continue in
this manner until all are treated. 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 immersion. When all have been
dipped, commence with the first and repeat the process. Do this until
the crystals formed are as large as you wish them to be.
―――――◀▶―――――
METHOD OF COLORING ALUM CRYSTALS.
In making these crystals the coloring should be added to the solution of
alum in proportion to the shade which it is desired to produce. Coke,
with a piece of lead attached to it in order to make it sink in the
solution, is a good substance for a nucleus, if a cluster of crystals
are to be formed. Any form, if wound around with knitting cotton, can be
used, or the grasses above described can be dipped in these colored
solutions, and very pretty results obtained.
Yellow: muriate of iron. Blue: solution of indigo in sulphuric acid.
Pale blue: equal parts of alum and blue vitriol. Crimson: infusion of
madder and cochineal. Black: Japan ink thickened with gum. Green: equal
parts of alum and blue vitriol, with a few drops of sulphate of iron.
Milk white: a crystal of alum held over a glass containing ammonia will
become a milky white color upon its surface.
[NOTE.—To make an infusion of a substance you simply pour
boiling water over it. The madder and cochineal are in the dry
form, and only a little water should be used, as too much will
make the color less brilliant.]
―――――◀▶―――――
ANIMATED FIRE.
When small pieces of camphor are placed in a basin of pure water, a very
peculiar motion commences; some of the pieces turn as if on an axis,
others go steadily round the vessel, some seem to be pursuing others,
and thus they continue forming a very curious and pleasing appearance;
but if a single drop of sulphuric acid be put into the water, the motion
of the camphor instantly stops. If a piece of camphor be lighted, and
then carefully placed on the water, it burns with a bright flame, moving
about with great rapidity, as if in search of something, but is
instantly stopped by a drop of sulphuric acid.
―――――◀▶―――――
A PRETTY ORNAMENT FOR A BOY TO MAKE.
Dissolve in seven different tumblers containing warm water, half ounces
of sulphates of iron, copper, zinc, soda, alumina, magnesia, and potash.
Pour them all, when completely dissolved, into a large flat dish, and
stir the whole with a glass rod or bit of broken glass for a while.
Place the dish in a warm place where it will be free from dust and will
not be shaken. After due evaporation has taken place, the whole will
begin to shoot out into crystals. These will be of various colors and
forms, some little ones being gathered together in small groups, and
other larger ones scattered throughout the whole fluid. By a little
careful study you will soon be able to distinguish each crystal
separately, from its peculiar form and color, thus learning an
interesting lesson in chemistry, while making a beautiful ornament for
your room. Be sure and preserve it carefully from the dust.
―――――◀▶―――――
HOW TO MAKE A BLOWPIPE.
Procure two common clay pipes; break off the stem of one about three
inches from the little end. Take a cork that exactly fits into the bowl
of the other pipe, cut a hole through it large enough to insert the
mouth-piece already broken off, and draw this through the opening till
its larger end is even with the surface of the cork. Insert the cork in
the bowl, and fill the end of the stem which touches the flame with a
tiny ball of clay or chalk. Through this clay make a hole with a needle,
and a blowpipe is the result, which answers very well for any experiment
a boy may be likely to try.
―――――◀▶―――――
HOW TO BLOW GLASS.
Although it is impossible to give any detailed account of glass blowing
which would be practicable for small boys, yet a child can amuse himself
for hours, by simply melting bits of glass and joining them together; or
by melting small glass tubes and drawing them out to mere threads; or
again, blowing them up into tiny balloons until their surface is as thin
as a soap bubble and almost as fragile. These little tubes are smaller
than the end of a pipe-stem, about four inches long, and made of very
thin glass. A dozen can be procured for ten or twelve cents at any place
where chemical supplies are to be found. A short tallow candle, held in
a cheap tin candlestick, answers for the flame; and the tobacco-pipe,
converted into the blowpipe just described, can be used in any of the
experiments here given. Take a piece of a broken window pane, hold it in
the left hand very near the candle flame, then holding the blowpipe so
that the shorter end nearly touches the flame, blow steadily through the
pipe-stem a current of air into the flame, which sends it upon the glass
and soon reduces the part in contact with it to a red-hot melting mass;
this can be worked into various shapes by forming it with the aid of
pincers; or it can easily be joined to pieces of different colors, by
holding the two together and turning the full force of the blaze upon
them.
The little tubes may be heated in the same manner, and one end be closed
air tight, by pinching it tightly while still hot; then, after heating
the portion near the end to a red heat, lay the blowpipe aside, and,
taking the tube away from the flame, blow into the open end with the
mouth. If this is done quickly, before the glass has had time to cool, a
pretty bubble or balloon is the result.
―――――◀▶―――――
A SIPHON.
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 end, till
the surface appears a rosy red; then carefully bending it over the round
part of a clothes-pin, till the two ends form parallel lines.
[Illustration]
A simple experiment with the siphon affords considerable amusement to
the little folks, and is well worth trying. Take two tumblers, place
them side by side, and fill one with water. Now fill the siphon with
water and place the longer end in the empty tumbler, and the shorter one
well down in the water of the other. Immediately the laborer will begin
to work, pumping water into the empty vessel, and will not stop until he
has reduced the water in the full tumbler to a level with the end of the
tube.
―――――◀▶―――――
TO MELT STONES.
Many kinds of stones containing more or less metallic ores, can be
readily melted by means of the blowpipe. When the specimens are small
they can be placed upon a piece of mica, and then presented to the
flame; or a clay receptacle can be made for the purpose, by simply
hollowing out a small cavity in one side of a lump of clay. Large ones
can be held in the hand or with the pincers as in the case of the glass
melting.
―――――◀▶―――――
A SOAP BUBBLE.
Within the past few years soap-bubble parties have been quite the style
among our young people, and not a few of the older members of society
have joined in the frolic with as much zest as their younger
competitors. Usually at such gatherings, after the guests have all
arrived, the hostess, having previously secured two or three boxes of
bonbons, or other equally inexpensive trifles for prizes, presents each
of her guests with an ordinary clay pipe, and leading the way to the
room in which the bowls of soap-suds are already prepared, shows her
prizes, and challenges all to the contest. If fine, large iridescent
bubbles are desired, it is well to add a small quantity of glycerine to
the water used. 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 better.
Hot water and soap can be added just before the party enter, and only
two bowls of the soap mixture are necessary for quite a large party.
These should be placed upon small side tables or stands at opposite ends
of the room. Two or three reliable persons should be chosen for judges
to decide the contest. The parents or some older members of the family,
at whose house the party is held, usually perform this duty. I should
have added, when speaking of the soap mixture, that the common yellow
soap intended for laundry use, is much better for this purpose than the
finer toilet varieties most commonly used by amateur soap-bubble
blowers.
―――――◀▶―――――
RESIN BUBBLES.
If the end of a tobacco-pipe be dipped in melted resin, at a temperature
a little above that of boiling water, taken out, and held nearly in a
vertical position and blown through, bubbles will be formed of all
possible sizes, from that of a hen’s egg, down to sizes which can hardly
be discerned by the naked eye, and from their silvery luster, and
reflection of the different rays of light, they have a pleasing
appearance. Some that have been formed these eight months, are as
perfect as when first made. They generally assume the form of a string
of beads, many of them perfectly regular, and connected by a very fine
fiber, but the production is never twice alike. If expanded over a gas
jet by means of a small rubber tube, they would probably float around
the upper part of the room.
―――――◀▶―――――
THE THREE MAGICAL CARDS.
[Illustration]
Take three cards of the same size, and thick enough to prevent the black
surface from showing through; ink or paint over the whole of one side of
_c_, having the other side perfectly white, and the others, _a_ and _b_,
in the parts shown in Fig. 1; they are now ready for use.
[Illustration: Fig. 2]
Fig. 2 shows the first arrangement of them, _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 surface. Show this to
your audience; then, still holding them in sight, inform them in a neat
little speech, that by aid of some magic power you possess, you can
readily change these same cards to black, or back again, at will. Now
holding them with their backs away from you, in such a manner that the
card _c_ cannot be seen by the other boys, turn them upside down and
spread out what were the lower parts of _a_ and _b_. You have them now
in the position indicated by Fig. 3, and after carefully turning _c_ you
will find them presenting a uniformly black surface. Should any bit of
white show at the lower corner, cover it with your thumb. When they are
arranged to your satisfaction, hold them up in front of you, and while
saying over some cabalistic words, such as, for instance, “Presto,
agramento, calafesto—change!” blow upon their faces and turn them around
to your audience, which will probably be greatly surprised at this
undeniable evidence of your magic skill.
[Illustration: Fig. 3]
Instead of white, the ordinary playing cards may be used, blacking the
back of one to represent _c_. These are much more showy than the plain
white ones, and the trick is not so easily discovered if slight bits of
black are seen, as those having black spots are generally taken for the
purpose.
[Illustration]
One day a little fellow who had been repeatedly mystified by this trick,
saw the cards which his brother had prepared lying on the table. He took
them up, examined them carefully for a moment, then, with his little
face all aglow at the revelation, he exclaimed, “Ha! I’ve found out how
you do it now, you just blow charcoal on the other part.” How he got rid
of the part already black, he did not explain, nor did we think to ask
him, but he had at last solved the puzzle of their turning black, and
that was all he cared to do at the time.
―――――◀▶―――――
AN OPTICAL GAME.
Hold a ring between thumb and forefinger at some distance from the boy
addressed, and giving him a crooked stick, ask him to close one eye and
try to catch the ring on the stick. This game looks so very simple, that
any boy is certain he can do it at one thrust, and is only made aware of
its difficulties after several unsuccessful attempts.
―――――◀▶―――――
TO TELL THE NUMBER THOUGHT OF BY A PERSON.
Desire the person who has thought of a number to triple it, and to take
the exact half of that; triple that half if the number was even, or if
odd multiply the larger half by 3; and ask him how many times that
answer contains nine: for the answer will contain the double of that
number of nines, and one more if it be odd. Thus if the number thought
of is 5, its triple will be 15, which cannot be divided by 2 without a
remainder. The greater half of 15 is 8. If we multiply this by 3 we have
24, which contains 9 twice. So we shall have 2 + 2 + 1 = 5, the number
first thought of.
―――――◀▶―――――
THE COUNTER PUZZLE.
In an old book published over half a century ago, I came across this
puzzle; and finding it gave an evening’s entertainment to our young
folks, I introduce it here for the benefit of those boys who take
especial delight in games of an arithmetical nature.
[Illustration: Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Out of thin cardboard—old business cards answer this purpose nicely—make
thirty-two blank counters, the size of a dime. Then upon a piece of
note-paper mark off a figure just three inches square, and divide it by
lines into nine compartments, each containing one square inch. The
puzzle is, to arrange the counters in the external cells of the square
four different times, and each time to have nine in a row, yet to have
the sum of the counters different, and varying from twenty to
thirty-two. If you will inspect the following figures you will see how
this is possible: the first represents the original disposition of the
counters in the cells of the square; the second, that of the same
counters when four are taken away; the third, the manner in which they
must be disposed when these four are brought back with four others; and
the fourth with the addition of four more. There are always nine in each
external row, and yet in the first case the whole number is twenty-four,
in the second it is twenty, in the third twenty-eight, and in the fourth
thirty-two. The numbers are substituted in the place of the counters in
the above figures for convenience, but Fig. 5 represents the disposition
of the counters, as indicated in Fig. 2.
―――――◀▶―――――
ANOTHER ARITHMETICAL TRICK.
By knowing the last figure of the product of any two numbers, to tell
the other figures. If the number seventy-three be multiplied by each of
the numbers in the following arithmetical progression, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15,
18, 21, 24, 27, the products will terminate with the nine digits, in
this order, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1; the numbers themselves being as
follows: 219, 438, 657, 876, 1095, 1314, 1533, 1752, and 1971. Let,
therefore, a little bag be provided, consisting of two partitions, into
one of which put several tickets, marked with the number 73, and into
the other put as many tickets, 3, 6, 9, etc., up to 27. Then open that
part of the bag containing the number 73, and ask a person to take out
one ticket only; after which, dexterously change the opening, and desire
another person to take a ticket from the other part. Let them now
multiply their two numbers together, and tell you the last figure of the
product, by which you will readily determine from the foregoing series
what the remaining figures must be. Suppose, for example, the numbers
taken out of the bag were 73 and 12, then as the product of these two
numbers, which is 876, has 6 for its last figure, you will readily know
it is the fourth of the series and the other two figures must be 8 and
7.
―――――◀▶―――――
TO TELL TWO OR MORE NUMBERS WHICH A PERSON HAS THOUGHT OF.
These numbers must not exceed 9. Let him think of two or three numbers,
double the first and add 1 to the product, multiply the whole by 5, and
add to that product the second number. If there be a third, make him
double the first sum and add 1 to it; then desire him to multiple the
new sum by 5, and to add to it the third number. If there should be a
fourth number, you must proceed in the same manner, desiring him to
double the preceding sum, to add 1 to it, to multiply by 5, and then to
add the fourth number, and so on. Then ask the number arising from the
addition of the last number thought of, and if there were two numbers
subtract 5 from it: if three, 55; if four, 555, and so on, for the
remainder will be composed of figures, of which the first on the left
will be the first number thought of, the next the second, and so of the
rest.
Suppose the numbers thought of to be 3, 4, 6; by adding 1 to 6, the
double of the first, we have 7, which being multiplied by 5 gives 35; if
4, the second number thought of, be then added, we shall have 39, which
doubled gives 78, and if we add 1, and multiply 79 by 5, the result will
be 395. Lastly, if we add 6, the third number thought of, the sum will
be 401, and if 55 be deducted from it we shall have for the remainder
346, the figures of which 3, 4, and 6, indicate in order the three
numbers thought of.