and the other fingers so bent,
that the thumb and first finger stretch out nearly to their full length
to grasp the tube comfortably.

The right hand is held with the palm toward the left, the fingers except
the first slightly bent, and the tube held between the first finger and
the thumb while it rests on the second finger and that portion of the
hand between the base of the first finger and the thumb. Rotation of the
tube is accomplished by rolling it between the thumbs and first fingers:
the rotation being continued in the same direction regularly, and not
reversed. It is better to roll slowly and evenly, with a series of light
touches, each of which moves the tube a little, than to attempt to turn
the tube a half a revolution or so with each motion of the hands. The
hands must be held steady, and the tube must be under good control at
all times, so that both ends may be rotated at the same angular
velocity, even though they may be of different diameters, and the tube
be neither drawn apart nor pushed together unless such a motion is
expressly desired, as it sometimes is. The hot part of the glass must be
constantly watched to see that it is uniformly rotated and not twisted,
nor pulled out or pushed together more than is desired. Care must also
be taken to keep the parts of the tube in the same straight line, or as
near it as possible, during the heating and all other manipulations.

When flanging a tube, it is held and rotated with the left hand as above
described, while the right hand holds the flanging tool.

When part of the end of a tube must be heated, as in Exercise 6, and
rotation must be very carefully performed and continued during the
blowing, both hands are used. The right hand is held as above
described, and the left hand close to it and either as above described
or else with the palm toward the right, grasping the tube in the same
way as the right hand does. This puts both hands in a position where the
tube may be blown and rotated uniformly while its axis is kept
horizontal.

Smoothness and exactness are the two things for which the beginner must
constantly strive in glass-blowing, and they are only attained by a
careful attention to the details of manipulation, with a steady hand and
watchful eye. Every move must count, and the exercise must be finished
with a minimum of reheating and retouching, for the best results.

CHAPTER III

ELEMENTARY EXERCISES

EXERCISE NO. 1

JOINING TWO