[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and italic
text is surrounded by _underscores_.]
A COMPANION VOLUME
TO
The American Girl’s Handy Book.
[Illustration:
What to do and How to do it
THE AMERICAN BOYS HANDY BOOK.
BY
D.C. Beard.
New-York
Charles Scribner’s Sons.]
_NEW EDITION._
1 Vol. Cloth. Price, $2.00.
WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS FROM
DRAWINGS BY THE AUTHOR.
How to Amuse Yourself and Others
THE AMERICAN GIRLS HANDY BOOK.
BY
Lina Beard
and
Adelia B. Beard
NEW YORK
Charles
Scribner’s
Sons
1893
COPYRIGHT BY
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1887
PREFACE.
“I DO wish some one would write a book like that for girls,” is the
remark we have frequently heard when a new book of sports for boys
has made its appearance; but it was not until the publication of the
“American Boy’s Handy Book” that it occurred to us to write a book for
the American boy’s neglected sisters, which should be equally original
and practical.
In the “Girl’s Handy Book,” which it has been our endeavor to make
peculiarly American, we have sought to introduce original and novel
ideas, and by their aid to open new avenues of enterprise and enjoyment.
One of our objects is to impress upon the minds of the girls the fact
that they all possess talent and ability to achieve more than they
suppose possible, and we would encourage a belief in the truth of
the remark said to have been made by a famous Frenchman: “When you
Americans undertake anything you never stop to ascertain if it be
possible, you simply _do it_.”
We desire also to help awaken the inventive faculty, usually
uncultivated in girls, and, by giving detailed methods of new work and
amusements, to put them on the road which they can travel and explore
alone.
We know well the feeling of hopelessness which accompanies vague
directions, and, to make our explanations plain and lucid, we have
ourselves, with very few exceptions, made all of the articles, played
the games, and solved the problems described.
The materials employed in the construction of the various articles are
within easy reach of all, and the outlay, in most cases, little or
nothing.
We scarcely deem it necessary to point out the fact that in supplying
healthy, sensible work and amusement for leisure hours, employment is
given whose whole tendency is to refine the tastes and ambitions of our
American girls.
A few of our chapters are taken from articles which were written by
us for, and published by, the _Youth’s Companion_, _St. Nicholas_,
_Harper’s Young People_, _Golden Days_, and _Wide Awake_.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
PREFACE iii
SPRING
CHAPTER I.
FIRST OF APRIL 3
First of April Party, 5; Mirror Tableau, 6; Noah’s Ark
Peep-show, 8; The Supper, 10.
CHAPTER II.
WILD FLOWERS AND THEIR PRESERVATION 13
Transplanting Wild Flowers, 14; Cut Wild Flowers, 15;
Sending Flowers by Mail, 15; Preserved Flowers, 16;
Pressed Flowers and Leaves, 18; Leaves and Ferns for
Decoration, 19; Color of Flowers Changed, 19: Natural
Wax Flowers, 20; To Freshen Cut Flowers, 20; Crystallized
Flowers, 21; How to Preserve the Perfume of Flowers, 21;
Spring Flowers in Winter, 23; The Four-leaved Clover, 23;
Several Methods of Preserving Flowers, 24.
CHAPTER III.
THE WALKING CLUB 27
Rules to be Observed, 31.
CHAPTER IV.
EASTER 33
Easter Customs in Other Lands, 33; Easter Egg Games, 36;
Easter Egg Dolls, 39; Humpty Dumpty, 42; Miss Rolly-poly,
45; Mandolin, 47; Maple-wax Easter Eggs, 49; Bonbon Box,
49; Easter Cards, 50; Little Quakeress, 52.
CHAPTER V.
HOW TO MAKE A LAWN-TENNIS NET 55
Rules for Lawn-Tennis, 63.
CHAPTER VI.
MAY-DAY 71
May-day Sports, 72; How to Make May-baskets, 74; May-day
Combat, 75; The May-pole, 77; May-pole Dance, 79.
SUMMER.
CHAPTER VII.
MIDSUMMER EVE 83
The New Fern-leaf Game, 85; Fortune-telling: The Plaintain
Test, 86; Fortune’s Wheel, 88.
CHAPTER VIII.
SEA-SIDE COTTAGE DECORATION 91
Window Decorations, 92; Row-boat Book-shelves, 95; Crab-net
Work-basket, 96; Hat-rack, 98; Marine Screen, 99;
Horseshoe-crab Bag, 102; Sea-urchin Vase and Candlestick,
102; How to Dry Starfish and to Polish Shells, 104.
CHAPTER IX.
A GIRL’S FOURTH OF JULY 105
Interior Decoration, 107; In-door Illumination, 108;
Out-of-door Decoration, 109; Fireworks, 111; Parachute,
112; Thunderbolts, 112; Whirls, and Winged Fancies, 113;
Pin-wheels, 114; Bombs, 115; Declaration of Independence,
117; Toss, 118; Fourth of July Jackstraws, 119;
Progressive Mining, 119.
CHAPTER X.
PRINTING FROM NATURE’S TYPES 123
Impression Album, 123; Winter Landscape, 127.
CHAPTER XI.
PICNICS, BURGOOS, AND CORN-ROASTS 131
A Burgoo, 132; Burgoo Stew, 133; A Corn-roast, 134.
CHAPTER XII.
BOTANY AS APPLIED TO ART 139
The Peony Leaf, 140; A Bunch of Turnips, 142; Plant
Cross-section Designs, 144; Flower Sprays, 146; Changing
the Color, 146; Burs, 147; The Water-Lily, 148.
CHAPTER XIII.
DOOR-STEP PARTY AND QUIET GAMES FOR HOT WEATHER 151
Five Minutes’ Conversation, 153; Blind Man’s Singing-school,
155; A Game of Noted Men, 155; What Will you Take to the
Picnic? 156; Assumed Characters, 157; Shadow Verbs, 157.
CHAPTER XIV.
HOW TO MAKE A HAMMOCK 159
Materials, 161; Barrel Hammock, 165.
CHAPTER XV.
(For Little Girls.)
CORN-HUSK AND FLOWER DOLLS 169
CHAPTER XVI.
HOW TO MAKE A FAN 177
Butterfly Fan, 178; Mikado Fan, 180; Daisy Fan, 182;
Cardboard Fan, 183.
AUTUMN.
CHAPTER XVII.
ALL-HALLOW-EVE 187
Halloween Parties, 189; Melted Lead, 190; Nutshell Boats,
192; “Three Luggies,” 193; Roasting Nuts, 193; Kaling,
194; The Magic Mirror, 194; Three Tin Cups, 195; The
Ring Cake, 195; Bobbing for Apples, 196; The Ghostly
Fire, 197; The Fairy’s Gifts, 198.
CHAPTER XVIII.
NATURE’S FALL DECORATIONS AND HOW TO USE THEM 201
Fresh Autumn Wild Flowers, 202; Buckeye Portière, 204;
Panel of Fall Decorations, 205; Louis Quinze Screen,
206; A Panel of Field Corn, 209; Ornamental Gourds,
210; Gourd-Dippers and Bowls, 211; Vases, 212; Small
Decorations, 214; Brackets, 214.
CHAPTER XIX.
NUTTING-PARTIES 217
“Little Brown Squirrel,” 218; Rules for Nutting-Parties,
221.
CHAPTER XX.
HOW TO MAKE A TELEPHONE 224
CHAPTER XXI.
HOW TO DRAW 229
CHAPTER XXII.
HOW TO PAINT IN WATER-COLORS 238
Materials for Water-Color Painting, 238; Flowers, 239;
Landscapes, 241; Painting from Notes, 244.
CHAPTER XXIII.
HOW TO PAINT IN OIL-COLORS 249
Materials, 249; Mediums, 251; Canvas, 251; The Light,
252; Setting the Palette, 253.
CHAPTER XXIV.
HOW TO MODEL IN CLAY AND WAX 257
Materials, 259; How to Manage Clay, 260; Hints for
Modelling a Head, 262; How to Model in Wax, 263;
Modelling-wax, 263.
CHAPTER XXV.
HOW TO MAKE PLASTER CASTS 267
CHAPTER XXVI.
CHINA PAINTING 272
List of Materials, 272; A Monochrome Painting, 278; Tinting,
278; New Method of Decorating China, 279; Tracing, 280;
Mottled Grounds, 281; Snow Landscape, 281; How to Paint
a Head on China, 284; How to Paint a Carp, Sea-weed,
and Fish-net, on China, 287; Foliage on China made with
a Sponge, 289; Mixing Colors, 289; Royal Worcester Ware,
290.
CHAPTER XXVII.
A CHAPTER ON FRAMES 295
Marine Picture Frame, 296; Decorated Frame, 297; Frame
Covered with Tin-foil, 298; Cork Frame, 299.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THANKSGIVING 302
Impromptu Burlesque Tableaux, 304; Landing of the Pilgrims,
305; First Harvest, 307; Devastation by the Indians, 308;
The Revolution, 309; Slavery, 310; Rebellion, 310; Peace
and Plenty, 310; The Game of the Headless Turkey, 312;
A Suggestion, 313.
WINTER.
CHAPTER XXIX.
CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES AND HOME-MADE CHRISTMAS GIFTS 317
Julklapp, 319; Polish Custom, 320; The Bran Pie, 321; The
Blind Man’s Stocking, 321; Home-made Christmas Gifts,
322.
CHAPTER XXX.
AMUSEMENTS AND GAMES FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS 334
New Game of Bubble Bowling, 335; Biographical Nonsense,
339; Comic Historic Tableaux, 341; Living Christmas
Cards, 342.
CHAPTER XXXI.
NEW YEAR’S AND A LEAP YEAR PARTY 347
Pantomime of an Enchanted Girl, 348.
CHAPTER XXXII.
HOME GYMNASIUM 353
Course of Exercises, 356.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
A DECORATIVE LANGUAGE 364
The Field and the Points of Heraldry, 366; Divisions, 367;
Colors, 369; How to Make a Design in Decorative Language,
371; Book-plates, 377; Floral Vocabulary, 377.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
A FEW ITEMS ON OLD-FASHIONED NEEDLEWORK, WITH SOME NEW AND
ORIGINAL PATTERNS 380
Plain Sewing, 380; Button-holes, 383; How to Patch, to Sew
on a Button, and to Mend a Kid Glove, 386; Fancy Stitches,
387; Drawn Work, 389; Applique and Original Designs for
Portières, 391; Lace, 393; Ribbon Embroideries, 393.
CHAPTER XXXV.
SCRAP-BOOK AND HOME-MADE BOOK-COVERS 395
Mother Goose Scrap-book, 395; Transformation Scrap-book,
398; An Album, 400; Home-made Book-cover, 401.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
A HEAP OF RUBBISH AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT 403
The Mirror, 404; The Table, 406; Lantern, 408; A Music Roll,
410; Work-basket, 411; Key and Button-hook Rack and Paper
Weight, 412.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
HOW TO MAKE ATTRACTIVE BOOTHS AT A FAIR—A NEW KIND OF GRAB-BAG 413
The Tables, 413; Flowers for Decorations, 417; The Months,
420; The Five Senses, 421; Walls, 423; Grab-bags, 423;
The Lady of the Lake, 425; Fortune’s Wheel, 426;
Rag-balls, 427.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
WINDOW DECORATION 429
Oriental Window-shade, 430; Ribbon-curtain, 430; Drapery
of Very Small Scraps, 431; Painting Window-panes, 432;
Painting on Lawn, 434; To Imitate Stained Glass, 435;
Windows of Imitation Ground Glass, 436.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
FURNITURE, OLD AND NEW 438
The Bookcase, 439; The Chair, 441; The Bedstead, 444; A
Dressing-table, 444; Washstand, 446; A Hall Seat, 447;
Window Seat and Book-shelves, combined, 448.
CHAPTER XL.
SOMETHING ABOUT MANTLE-PIECES AND FIRE-PLACES 451
CHAPTER XLI.
HOME-MADE CANDY 458
Peanut Candy, Butter Scotch and Molasses Candy, 459; Walnut
and Fruit Glacé, 460; Marsh-mallow Paste, 460; Chocolate
Caramels, 461; Pop-corn Balls, 462.
CHAPTER XLII.
SAINT VALENTINE’S DAY 464
Valentine Party, 465.
[Illustration: SPRING]
[Illustration]
The American Girl’s Handy Book.
CHAPTER I.
FIRST OF APRIL.
THIS is the children’s own day, and no assumption of dignity on the
part of their elders can deter them from exercising the privileges
granted to them by acknowledged custom and precedent.
“April fool! April fool!” cries my little nephew, as he dances with
delight to see his aunt walk out of the room with a piece of white
paper dangling from a hooked pin, attached to her dress.
“April fool! April fool!” shout the children in the street, thus
announcing the success of some practical joke.
“April fool!” laughs everyone at the table, when some unfortunate bites
into a brown, wholesome-looking cruller, only to find it a delusion and
a snare, the coat of a cruller, but the inside of cotton.
“April fool! April fool!” is what even the little sparrows seem
to chirp, as with a “s-w-h-e-r-r” they sweep down from the tree
and, frightening away the kitten, take forcible possession of her
bone. What does all this mean? Why is the first day of April called
“All-Fools-Day,” and when or where did the custom of the day originate?
Who can tell? No one seems to know. Even the derivation of the word
April does not appear to have been definitely settled, and this saucy
month, with her mischievous tricks and pranks, her surprises and
mysteries, fools and puzzles our wisest men.
Through many centuries the observance of All-Fools-Day has descended to
us. In many climes and many countries this day is chosen as the proper
time for playing tricks on the unsuspecting.
“Festum Fatuorum,” or “Fools’ Holiday,” is what it was called in
England at the time of the arrival of the early Christians in that
country.
Easily caught like the mackerel, which are plentiful on the French
coast in April and are said to be deficient in understanding, the April
fool in France derives his name from that fish, and is called “Poisson
d’Avril” or “April Fish,” and again, “Silly Mackerel.” From the cuckoo,
a bird that does not know enough to build its own nest, the appellation
of “gowk” is taken, and is given to the foolish one in Scotland who
allows himself to be duped on this day.
In India at the festival called Huli Festival held on the last day of
March, the natives make merry at the expense of their friends, just as
we do, and their fool is called “Huli Fool.”
So in the East and in the West, in the North and in the South,
in the oldest nation as well as the youngest, is this ridiculous
custom observed, and, as if to make it still more ridiculous, no one
apparently knows why.
Now, girls, since this holiday has descended to us from so far back
that its origin appears lost in the dim twilight of past ages, there
surely must be some reason for its existence, and that reason may be,
that “a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men,”
and is therefore wholesome as an occasional diet. So why not help
to perpetuate it; not with rude, practical jokes, but with comical
surprises, and absurd, but unembarrassing, situations. Much harmless
fun can be derived from the privileges of this day, devoted as it is to
nonsense, and we introduce the April Fool Party as an excellent means
of concentrating the fun, and furnishing plenty of merriment to the
young folks who are bent on having a good time.
=First of April Party.=
I remember, when quite a little girl, I was granted the privilege
of celebrating my birthday, which came on the 1st of April, with a
candy-pull, and a few days previous to the event I started joyfully
off to invite my friends. The invitations were laughingly given and
accepted, and it did not occur to me that I would be suspected of
playing a joke, although the party was to be on April-Fools-Day. It
seems, however, that my good intentions were doubted, and the children
were undecided whether to come or not. I had begun to suspect that a
joke was to be played on me by their all remaining away, before they
finally arrived in a body, having taken the precaution of coming in
that way, so that if the party were a hoax they would all be fooled
together.
I relate this incident that warning may be taken from my experience,
and that it may be understood how important it is to make the guests
invited to your First of April party realize that the invitations are
given in good faith, and that your friends are expected to be on hand
at the appointed time.
It is well, in giving a party of this kind, to have the whole programme
laid out beforehand, so that everything may go smoothly and nothing be
forgotten.
The few methods of April fooling given here need not constitute the
whole entertainment; the list may be added to by the young hostess, who
will, no doubt, have many ideas of her own to carry out. We will head
our list with the
=Mirror Tableau.=
This novel tableau is made ready in the following manner:
In a door-way, or bay-window draped with full curtains, place a large
mirror. Instead of having the curtains suspended from the usual
pole, it is best to stretch a wire across the space and slip the
curtain-rings upon that, as they will slide more readily on the wire;
and when it is time to draw back the drapery it should be done quickly.
A table placed before the curtains will serve as a barricade, keeping
the too curious from taking a peep at the hidden mysteries before they
are ready to be revealed.
At the time selected, remove the table, and request all those desiring
to see the tableau to arrange themselves in front of the curtain, and
to remain perfectly quiet, as any movement will disturb those taking
part.
If the front rows of the audience can be induced to kneel or sit upon
the floor, those in the rear can obtain a better view, and it will, at
the same time, make the group more effective. When perfect quiet is
obtained, give the signal to your assistant, who must stand opposite to
you at the side of the curtain, and with her help quickly draw aside
the draperies, thus disclosing the tableau of a group of young people,
motionless, gazing into the mirror with eager and expectant eyes. For
an instant the audience will be held spell-bound, scarcely realizing
that they themselves are forming the pretty tableau.
“We are April Fools,” written with soap on the mirror near the top,
as shown in the illustration, tells what character the actors are
assuming, and gives a name to the tableau.
[Illustration: The Mirror Tableau.]
During the interval which should be allowed to intervene before
introducing the next thing on the programme, the guests will find
amusement in the many harmless practical jokes which are awaiting the
unwary in all manner of places.
For instance, some boy will print APRIL FOOL in large white letters
on his own back, by simply resting for a moment in a convenient chair
upon whose snowy tidy the dreaded words have previously been printed
backwards with white chalk. On the dark woolly surface of the coat,
the white letters will be perfectly transferred, and the boy, little
knowing what he has done, or the cause of the merriment, will join in
the general laughter his appearance creates.
A treacherous divan can be provided by removing the top of a low, flat
packing-box, and putting in its place brown wrapping-paper, tacking
it down around the edges of the box. With a piece of drapery thrown
over it, entirely concealing the box, and sofa pillows placed upon it,
leaning against the wall, the divan looks exceedingly comfortable and
inviting. But woe unto the person who mistakes appearances for reality,
for to attempt to sit upon this seeming substantial couch is but to
break through and sit upon the floor instead.
The box used for the divan should not be more than twelve inches high,
so that the fall will be only funny, not dangerous.
The next diversion may be a
=Noah’s Ark Peep-show.=
Make the peep-show of a box about two and a half feet long and one
foot and a half high. Remove the top and both of the end-pieces (Fig.
1). Cut from pasteboard a slide to exactly fit the box, and place it
in the middle, thus cutting off the view from either end, as shown in
Fig. 1. Make a curtain in two pieces, and tack them around the upper
edge of the box, letting them meet at each end. Stout pieces of twine,
stretched across the openings at the ends of the box, will serve to
attach the drapery at these points.
[Illustration: Noah’s Ark Peep-show.]
Almost any kind of material will answer for this purpose, provided it
is not too thin and is of some bright hue, for the peep-show should be
made to look as gay as possible. Place the box upon a high stand, and
so arrange it that a strong light will shine down into it, making the
interior, from end to end, perfectly light.
From a list, previously prepared, of the animals supposed to be on
exhibition, read the first two, and invite two persons, a girl and a
boy, for instance, to look into the peep-show. We will suppose that
the first animals on the list are the raven and the dove. Inform your
would-be audience that you have two of Noah’s special pets to show
them; that from the girls’ point of view will be seen a raven, and
from the boys’, a dove. When taking their places at the box, one at
each end, the two spectators must part the curtain, and, putting their
faces between, hold the drapery together under their chins. This is to
keep the remainder of the company from obtaining a glimpse into the
wonderful show before their turns arrive.
When all is ready, and the two wondering faces are hidden between the
folds of the peep-show curtains, with the words, “Behold the pretty
dove, and the mischievous raven,” remove the slide, and expose to the
astonished gaze of each spectator a companion’s familiar face at the
opposite end of the box. Of course, upon retiring from the show, its
secret must be kept, otherwise the joke will be spoiled for those whose
turns are yet to come.
Before the next two take their station at the box, replace the slide
and pretend to rearrange the show, to divert the suspicion that the box
is empty.
=The Supper=
can be made the means of perpetrating many practical jokes. The shams
must be so intermingled with the real delicacies that one can never be
sure what the consequences may be of partaking too rashly of even the
most tempting-looking morsel.
Small blocks of wood covered with batter and browned in the oven are
excellent imitations of cakes. Dainty confectionery, in crimped papers,
can be made of small radishes covered with icing of different colors.
Button-moulds coated with chocolate will readily be mistaken for candy.
If a small pasteboard pill-box is first filled with flour, and the
top then covered with tissue-paper pasted down around the edges, it
will look, when iced, like a delicate little cake, and will cause much
merriment when anyone bites into it; for the moment the paper cover is
broken the flour will fly in every direction. The fertile brain of
girls, on mischief bent, will suggest many more frauds of this kind,
and enough surprises may be prepared to make the supper as merry as
anything else on the evening’s programme.
Before leaving this subject, once more let the caution be given to keep
the jokes entirely harmless. It is only poor fun that can be obtained
at the expense of injuring others, or by running the slightest risk of
hurting them in any way.
The spirit of mischief must be kept within bounds even on All-Fools-Day.
[Illustration: APRIL FOOL]
[Illustration: Gathering Wild Flowers.]