The American Boy's Handy Book

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The American Boy's Handy Book (1882)
by Daniel Carter Beard

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1st edition

4888110The American Boy's Handy Book1882Daniel Carter Beard

Copyright by
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1882

CONTENTS.

Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		iii
SPRING.
CHAPTER I.
Kite Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		3
	Man Kite, 5; The Woman Kite, 9; A Boy Kite, 11; Frog Kite, 11; The Butterfly Kite, 13; The King Crab Kite, 14; Fish Kite, 15; The Turtle Kite, 16; The Shield Kite, 18; A Star Kite, 19; The Chinese Dragon Kite, 19; The Japanese Square Kite, 21; The Moving Star, 21.
CHAPTER II.
War Kites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		23
	Unarmed War Kite, 23; Armed Kites, 24; Armed Kite Fighting, 25; How to Make the Knives, 25; How to Make Cutters, 26; Kite Clubs, 27.
CHAPTER III.
Novel Modes of Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		28
	The Bell Pole, 28; Jugging for Cats, 29; The Dancing Fisherman, 31; Toy Boats for Fishing, 32; The Wooden Otter, 33; Fishing for Fresh-Water Clams, 33.
CHAPTER IV.
Home-Made Fishing Tackle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		36
	The Rod, 36; Tin and Spool Reel, 37; The Forked Stick Reel, 38; Home-Made Nets, 39; A Home-Made Minnow Bucket, 42; Inhabitants of the Water, 43.
CHAPTER V.
How to Stock, Make, and Keep a Fresh-Water Aquarium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		44
	Stocking, 53; The Frog, 54; Gold-Fish versus Bass, 56; Aquarium Cement, 57.
CHAPTER VI.
How to Keep Aquatic Plants in the House or Flower-Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		58
	Water-Lily, 58; Cat-Tails, 60.
CHAPTER VII.
How to Stock and Keep a Marine Aquarium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		61
	Cement for Marine Aquaria, 62.
CHAPTER VIII.
How to Collect for Marine Aquarium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		66
SUMMER.
CHAPTER IX.
Knots, Bends, and Hitches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		71
	How to Make a Horse-Hair Watch-Guard, 74; Miscellaneous, 75; Whip-Lashes, 78; Splices, Timber-Hitches, etc., 78.
CHAPTER X.
The Water-Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		83
	How to Make a Wooden Water-Telescope, 83; A Tin Water-Telescope, 84.
CHAPTER XI.
Dredge, Tangle, and Trawl Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		86
	A New Sport, 86; The Tangle, 88; The Trawl, 88; How to Make a Bake-Pan Dredge, 89; A Tin-Pail Dredge, 90; How to Make a Broomstick Tangle, 91; The Old Chain Tangle, 91; Hints and Suggestions to Amateurs, 91; The Use of the Tangle, 93.
CHAPTER XII.
Home-Made Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		95
	Birth of the "Man-Friday" Catamaran; The Crusoe Raft, 95; The Crusoe Raft, 97; The Scow, 101; A Floating Camp, or the Boy's Own Flat-Boat, 105; The Yankee Pine, 113.
CHAPTER XIII.
How to Rig and Sail Small Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		118
	Simplest Rig Possible, 122; Leg-of-Mutton Rig, 124; The Latteen Rig, 126; The Cat Rig, 127; How to Make a Sail, 128; Hints to Beginners, 128.
CHAPTER XIV.
Novelties in Soap-Bubbles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		132
	Every Boy his own Bubble-Pipe, 132.
CHAPTER XV.
Fourth of July Balloons, with New and Novel Attachments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		136
CHAPTER XVI.
How to Camp Out without a Tent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		148
	Hints to Amateur Campers, 159; Provisions, 159; Shelter, 159; Choosing Companions, 160.
CHAPTER XVII.
Bird Singers, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		161
	The Block Bird Singer, 161; The Corn-stalk Fiddle, 162; The Pumpkin-vine Fife, 163; A Pumpkin-vine Flute, 163; Cane Fife, 163; The Voice Disguiser, 164; The Locust Singer, 164; The Hummer, 166.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Bird Nesting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		167
	How to Collect and Preserve Eggs, 167; Birds' Nests, 169; Preserving Nests, 170.
CHAPTER XIX.
How to Rear Wild Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		171
	Robins, Thrushes, Wrens, and other Small Birds, 171; Squabs, 172; The Cow Blackbird, 172; Wrens, Sparrows, and Finches, 173; The Bobolink, 173; The Catbird, 174; Robins, 174; The Brown Thrush, or Thrasher, 175; The Wood Thrush, 175; Bluebirds, 176; The Summer Yellowbird, 176; The Bluejay, 177; Humming-Bird, 177.
CHAPTER XX.
How to Rear Wild Birds—Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		180
	The Crow, Hawk, and other Large Birds, 180; The Hawk, 182; The Hawk as a "Scare-Crow," 183; The Hawk as a Decoy, 183; Owls, 184; Sea Birds, 184; Strange Domestic Fowls, 186.
CHAPTER XXI.
Home-Made Hunting Apparatus, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		188
	Spearing Fish, 188; How to Make a Fish Spear, 188; How to Make the Torches and Jack-Lights, 190; How to Make the Boomerang, 190; To Throw a Boomerang, 192; The Miniature Boomerang, 193; The Whip-Bow, 194; Throw-Sticks, 195; The Bird Bolas, 196; The Elastic Cross-Bow, 197.
CHAPTER XXII.
How to Make Blow-Guns, Elder Guns, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		200
	To Make a Blow-Gun, 201; Squirt-Guns, 202; Elder Guns and Pistols, 203; The Spring Shot-Gun, 205.
AUTUMN.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Traps and Trappings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		209
	Rats, 210; The Paper Pitfall, 211; Jug Trap, 212; The Mole and How to Trap Him, 213; The Figure Four, 214; Mole Trap, 214; The Toll-gate Trap, 215; The Partridge Snare, 217; Set-Line Snares, 218; The Spring Snare, 219; Hen-Coop Trap, 221.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Dogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		223
	How to Choose a Dog, 224; How to Train Dogs, 226; To Teach a Dog to Retrieve, 227; Pointers and Setters, 228; Pet Dogs, 229.
CHAPTER XXV.
Practical Taxidermy for Boys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		232
	Skinning, 233; Stuffing, 236; A New Manner of Preserving Fish, 239; Design for Sketching Aquarium, 241; Preserving Insects, 242; Morse Insect Box, 243; The Lawrence Breeding Box, 244; Spiders, 245; How to Make Beautiful or Comical Groups and Designs of Insects, 245; Marine Animals, 246.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Every Boy a Decorative Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		248
	Shadow Pictures-Photographic Paper-How to Enlarge or Reduce a Picture, etc., 248; How to Enlarge or Reduce by Squares, 250; How to Make a Camera for Drawing, 252.
WINTER.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Snowball Warfare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		257
	How to Build Snow Forts-How to Make Shields and Ammunition Sleds, 257; How to Build the Fort, 258; How to Make an Ammunition Sled, 260; How to Make the Shield, 261; Rules of the Game, 262; A Snow Battle, 264; How to Bind a Prisoner without a Cord, 267; Company Rest, 267.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Snow-Houses and Statuary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		269
	Snow Statuary, 272.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Sleds, Chair-Sleighs, and Snow-Shoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		275
	A Chair-Sleigh, 275; Folding Chair-Sleigh, 276; The Toboggan, 278; Snow-Shoes or Skates, 279.
CHAPTER XXX.
How to Make the Tom Thumb Ice-Boat and Larger Craft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		281
CHAPTER XXXI.
The Winged Skaters, and How to Make the Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		286
	Bat Wings, 288; The Norton Rig, 288; The Norwegian Rig, 290; The Danish Rig, 291; The English Rig, 292; The Cape Vincent Rig, 293; A Country Rig, 294.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Winter Fishing—Spearing and Snaring—Fisherman's Movable Shanties, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		296
	Smelt Fishing and the Smelt Fisher's House, 297; The Spearsman's Shanty, 300; Snaring Fish, 301; Spearing Fish, 302; How to Build a Fishing House, 303.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
In-Door Amusements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		305
	Bric-à-Brac, or the Tourist's Curiosities, 305; Mind-Reading, 309; A Literary Sketch Club, 310.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Boy's Own Phunnygraph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		314
CHAPTER XXXV.
How to Make Puppets and a Puppet-Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		322
	How to Make the Stage, 323; The Scenery, 323; The Old Mill, 325; Puss, 325; Corsando and the Donkey, 327; The Royal Coach, 328; Carabas, 330; How to Work the Puppets, 330; Stage Effects, 331; How to Make a Magical Dance, 332; How to Make a Sea Scene, 332.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Puss-in-Boots. Dramatized and Adapted for a Puppet-Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		334
	Act I., Scene I., Landscape, with Tree, Bridge, and Mill at one side, 334; Scene II., Woods, 336; Act II., Scene I., King's Palace, 337; Scene II., High-road, 238; Act III., Scene I., Interior of Ogre's Castle, 341.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
How to Make a Magic Lantern—A Kaleidoscope—A Fortune-Teller's Box, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		345
	A Home-Made Kaleidoscope, 347; The Fortune-Teller's Box, 348; The Magic Cask, 351; How the Barrel is Made, 352.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
How to Make the Dancing Fairies, the Bather, and the Orator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		354
	How to Make a Handkerchief Doll, 354; The Bather, 356; The Orator, 357.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
How to Make Various and Divers Whirligigs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		359
	Potato Mill, 359; A Saw-Mill, 360; The Rainbow Whirligig, 361; A Paradoxical Whirligig, 363; The Phantasmoscope, or Magic Wheel, 364.
CHAPTER XL.
The Universe in a Card-box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		368
CHAPTER XLI.
Life Instilled Into Paper Puppets, and Matches Made of Human Fingers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		371
	To Light the Gas with your Finger, 373.
CHAPTER XLII.
Home-Made Masquerade and Theatrical Costumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		374
	The White Man of the Desert, 374; "The Fourteenth Century Young Man," 375; The Medieval Hat, 376; The Wig, 377; Eyebrows, Moustache, and Beard, 377; The Doublet, 377; Trunks, 378; Tights, 379; To Dress, 379; The Baby, 379; How to Make a Handkerchief Hood, 380.

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1931.

The longest-living author of this work died in 1941, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 84 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

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