CONTENTS

PART I

PROFITABLE PASTIMES

CHAPTER I

PAGE A Boy's Workshop3

Value of a Knowledge of Carpenter Work—Location of Shop—A Solid Work-bench—The Vise—Bench-stops—Carpenter's Horses—A Bench-hook—A Mitre-box—A Sand-paper Block—A Strop—A Plumb—Purchasing Tools—Tool-cabinets—Racks for Tools—A Carpenter's Carrying-box—A Nail-box—Receptacles for Supplies—Workshop Clothes—Care of Oily Rags and Waste.

CHAPTER II

The Proper Handling of Tools20

Care of Tools—The Cross-cut Saw and Rip-saw—Sawing—The Back-saw, Compass-saw, and Gig-saw—Kerfs—The Jack-plane, Fore-plane, and Smoothing-plane—Planing—Testing Work—The Firmer-chisel—Paring—The Framing-chisel—Chamfering and Bevelling—The Gouge—The Draw-knife—Boring—An Automatic-drill—Hatchet and Hammer—Driving Nails—Withdrawing Nails—Toe-nailing—Blind-nailing—Clinching—The Nail-set—Nails—Screw-driver for Bit-stock—Screws—The Countersink.

Sharpening Tools37

Grinding Chisels, Gouges, Draw-knives, Knives and Hatchets—The Washita Oil-stone—Whetting—Stropping—Sharpening Saws.

Laying out Work42

Use of the Try-square—Gauging with Rule and Pencil—A Marking-gauge—A Mitred Try-square—The Bevel—To Divide a Board.

CHAPTER III

The Boy about the House47

Opportunities for Work—Outfit for Jobbing—The Hinge-lock—Clothes-line Reel—A Broom and Dust-pan Rack—The Fly-killer—An Ash-sifter—A Bread-board—A Plate-rack

CHAPTER IV

Suggestions for a Boy's Room57

Simple and Inexpensive Furnishings—What the Room should Contain—A Cosey-corner—Pennants—Small Posters—Picture-frames—A Writing-desk—Another Style of Desk—An Ink-stand and Pen-tray—A Couch—A Window-seat—A Curio-cabinet—Book-shelves—A Blacking-case—A Towel-rack.

CHAPTER V

How to make a Doll-house71

Store Doll-houses—Profit from making Doll-houses—The Materials Required—The Base—The Floors—Partitions and Walls—Stairways—Balustrades—Front and Rear Steps—The Gambrel Roof—The Gable-ends—The Doors and Windows—Outside Trimmings—Casters—The Chimneys—A Mantel and Fire-place—Andirons—The Interior Woodwork—Painting the House.

CHAPTER VI

Another Doll-house and a Stable91

Packing-cases and Other Material—The Floor Plans—The Partitions and Walls—The Elevator-shaft—The Windows—The Roof—The Chimney—An Elevator—The Gable-ends—The Stairway—A Balustrade—Other Details.

How to make the Stable100

Dimensions of Stable—The First Story—The Roof—The Gable-ends—The Stall Partitions and Feed-troughs—Windows—Ladder to Hay-loft—Feed-hoist—The Drop-front—A Stable Door—Painting.

CHAPTER VII

Furnishing the Doll-house105

The Walls and Ceiling—Hardwood Floors—Carpets and Rugs—Window-shades and Curtains—Portieres—Pictures—A Cosey-corner—Buying Furnishings.

CHAPTER VIII

Doll-furniture109

Metal Furniture—Miniature Mission Furniture—Material—Drawing the Patterns—The Chairs—The Settee—Tables—A Side-board—A Mirror—The Grandfather's Clock—Kitchen Furniture—The Beds—The Dresser—A Wash-stand—Finishing.

Other Cigar-box Furniture122

A Folding-bed—The Dresser—A Wardrobe.

CHAPTER IX

A Boy's Printing-shop126

Location of Printing-shop—Equipment—Selection of Type—Type-cases—A Rack for Type-cases—A Composing-stick—A Composing-rule—Justifying—A Home-made Galley—"Pieing"—Proofs—The Imposing-stone—The Chase—Furniture—Locking-up a Form—Distribution—The Tympan—Overlaying—Underlaying—Gauge-pins—Inking the Press—Care of Rollers—Neatness—Receptacles for Materials—Care of Waste Paper and Oily Rags.

CHAPTER X

Amateur Journalism142

A Collection of Amateur Papers—Amateur Press Associations—Some Methods of Printing Papers—Examples of Amateur Papers—The Character of a Paper—Naming—The Frequency of Publication—The Size of Page—A Stereotyped Heading—The Choice of Type—A Cover—Binding—Advertisements—The Advertisers' Dummy—Second-class Matter.

CHAPTER XI

A Boy's Dark-room153

Profit in Photography—The Necessary Equipment—The Bedroom as a Dark-room—The Bath-room as a Dark-room—Another Scheme for a Dark-room—A Work-table—Running Water—A Water-tank—A Sink—A Washing-box—A Drying-rack—Another Scheme for a Drying-rack—A Cabinet—A Ruby-light—A Home-made Lantern—A Plate-lifter—Classifying and Preserving Negatives—Manila Envelopes—A Negative-case.

CHAPTER XII

A Winter Enterprise169

An Opportunity for Making Money—A Snow Plough—A Scraper—A Snow Shovel.

PART II

OUTDOOR PASTIMES

CHAPTER XIII

A Back-yard Club-house175

How Some Boys Built a Club-house—A Mysterious Letter—Drawing the Plan of a Club-house—The Material—Fishing Studs—Staking out the Building—The Studs—Boarding up the Sides—The Roof—The Floor—A Window-sash—A Batten Door—Wooden Latch—Calking up Cracks.

CHAPTER XIV

How to build a Log-cabin186

The Pioneer Cabin—The Cabin of To-day—Selection of a Site—Design and Size—The Material—Staking out the Cabin—The Lock-joint—The Sills—Construction of Roof—Ridge Boards—A Log Chimney and Fire-place—Calking—A Mud Floor—The Windows—The Cabin Door—Wooden Hinges—Wooden Latch—The Latch-string—A Mantel-shelf—Provision Cupboard—Rustic Seats—Bunks—A Camp-table—A Few Pointers about Camping—Utensils—Other Necessities—Provisions.

CHAPTER XV

How to build a Canvas Canoe201

Canoeing as a Sport—Popularity of Canvas Canoes—Materials—The Bow and Stern Pieces—The Keelson—The Mould—Putting the Framework Together—The Gunwales—The Ribbands—The Deck Beams—The Ridge Pieces—The Deck Braces—The Cockpit—The Canvas Covering—The Deck—Painting—The Cockpit Coaming—The Keel—The Bilge-keels—Outside Gunwales—A Seat—How to mend Punctures—A Single Paddle.

CHAPTER XVI

Home-made Traps218

Trapping as a Pastime—The City Boy and his Country Cousin—The Figure-four Trap—A Box Trap—The Dead Fall—The Sieve Trap—The Coop Trap—A Rabbit Snare—A Twitch-up—The Professional Trapper—Wolves and Coyotes—Story of a Trapped Indian.

CHAPTER XVII

Toy Guns, Targets, and Bows and Arrows229

Ancient War Engines—New Idea for a Cross-bow—Shingle Arrows—A Toy Pistol—Cardboard Bullets—A Shot-gun—An Elastic Sling—A Boy's Barrel-hoop Target—A Simpler Target—How Points are Scored—The Bow and Arrow—Length of Bow—The Bow-string—The Arrow-shafts—Preparing Arrow-heads—Feathering—A Quiver—Proper Position for Shooting with Bow—The Indian's Bow—How his Arrows were made and Feathered—The Preparation of his Arrow-heads.

CHAPTER XVIII

An Outdoor Gymnasium243

Location for Gymnasium—A Horizontal Bar—Tumbling Mat—Parallel Bars—The Punching-bag Platform—A Pair of Jump Standards—A Vaulting Pole—A Spring-board—Hurdles—A Running Track—Method of Starting for Short Sprints—Mark for Broad Jumping—An Athletic Club—Athletic Meets.

CHAPTER XIX

A Back-yard Circus255

The Ancient Roman Circus—The Circus of To-day—How Several Boys gave a Circus—Preparing the Yard for a Circus—Making the Ring—Good Circus Seats—A Tent—Decorating the Tent—A Ticket Office—A Turnstile—The Side Show—Cages for Side Show—Animated Animals—The Elephant—The Giraffe—The Two-legged Wild Horse—The Wild Man of Borneo—A Monkey's Make-up—The Ring Master—The Clown's Suit—The Attendants—Ideas for a Performance—A Slapper—Looping the Hoop on a Giraffe—A Chariot—Parades—The Advertising Signs.

CHAPTER XX

Suggestions for Fourth of July272

The First Fourth of July Celebration—Pyrotechnics Costly and Dangerous to Make—The Making of Harmless and Inexpensive Fireworks—A Fire-cracker Cannon—To fire the Cannon—A Fire-cracker Mortar—Mimic Battles with Paper Soldiers—Another Toy Cannon—To fire the Cannon—Firing Fireworks from Kites—Firing a Pack of Fire-crackers from a Kite—Shooting Nigger-chasers—Japanese Lanterns hung from Kite-strings—A Shooting-torch—A Final Set-piece.

CHAPTER XXI

Halloween281

Ancient Superstitions and Origin of Halloween—A Magazine Bean-blower—A New Style of Tick-tack—A Clockwork Tick-tack—The Goblin-man—The Disappearing Rope.

CHAPTER XXII

A Back-yard Toboggan-slide291

One Advantage of a Small Slide—Location—Length—The Platform—Framework—Railing around Platform—A Ladder—Making a Swift Slide—A Home-made Sled—The Runners—Reënforcing the Runners.

PART III

INDOOR PASTIMES

CHAPTER XXIII

A Miniature Theatre303

An Interesting Entertainment—A Picture-frame Proscenium—The Stage Framework—The Gridiron—The Stage Floor—The Drop-curtain—Lighting the Theatre—The Footlights—Floodlights—Colored Lights—Spotlights—Admission Tickets and Programmes.

CHAPTER XXIV

Scenery, Properties, and Mechanical Effects311

Materials for Scenery—An Ocean Scene—Additional Waves—Frames for Drops—A Mid-ocean Scene—A Seashore Scene—A Field Scene—The Trees—A Blockhouse Scene—Pine Boughs for Trees and Shrubbery—Moss for Mounds and Hills—Rustic Bridges—A Pond or Lake—A Street Scene—An Interior—A War Drama—Paper Soldiers—Scheme for Marching Soldiers—Separate Standards—A Jointed Figure—Stage Properties—Tents—An Indian Teepee—Battleships—Trains and Wagons—Mechanical Effects—Thunder—Rain—Wind—Lightning—The Roar of Cannon.

CHAPTER XXV

Making a Toy Railway331

The Trolley-line—Supports for Trolley-line—Power for Operating Railway—Tracks—The Cars—A Gondola Car—A Street Car—Other Cars—Operation of Railway—A Station.

CHAPTER XXVI

Clockwork Automobiles343

Procuring a Set of Clockworks—An Automobile Touring-car—The Frame—Preparation of Clockworks—The Belt—Testing the Machine—The Cardboard Sides—Wheels—Mud-guards—Lamps—The Steering-wheel—A Horn—The Brake—The Chauffeur—Painting the Machine—An Automobile Delivery Wagon—The Cardboard Sides—The Wheels—Other Portions—Painting the Wagon—A Clockwork Railway.

CHAPTER XXVII

Work to do with a Knife356

How Boots were Marked in a Penitentiary—A Home-made Fountain Pen—The Magic Pin-wheel—To Operate the Pin-wheel—A Wooden Chain and Rattle—The Chain—The Rattle—Finishing the Chain and Rattle.

CHAPTER XXVIII

Cork Toys363

Materials Required—Cork Animals—A Pig—A Horse—The Elephant—The Giraffe—A Porcupine—Other Animals—The Korka-bird—A Duck—Canoes—Small Sail-boats—Cork Furniture—A Chair—The Sofa—A Small Tabouret—A Toy Log-cabin.

CHAPTER XXIX

Definitions of Terms and Phrases371 Index385