ga, was to fit boys for the
mercantile marine, and probably, if ever the trans-Atlantic liners sail
under our flag, they will be given appointments on them. 2. The pay of
the officers on steamship lines varies so greatly that no general
average can be given.

CURIOUS READER.--1. There are several colleges in this country in
which poor boys are afforded an opportunity of putting into practice
legitimate plans for raising sufficient money to pay for tuition and
other expenses. This subject was treated of in a very interesting and
instructive article entitled "Working One's Way Through College," in No.
15 of the volume just ended. In it will be found many such plans, which
will prove of great benefit to those intending to thus gain a collegiate
training. 2. The Constitution does not require candidates for government
positions to possess a college education--in fact, comparatively few
heads of departments, commissioners, etc., are thus equipped. 3. There
are no "free trade" colleges in the United States. We do not know of the
existence of such institutions in any part of the world.

L.G.C.H.--1. In soldering, the edges of the metals to be put together
must be perfectly clean, to insure which, as well as to counteract the
oxidization which most metals undergo when heated, a flux is used which
neutralizes these otherwise serious impediments, securing a firm joint.
Borax, rosin, sal-ammoniac, common salt, limestone, glass and several
other substances are used for this purpose, according to the nature of
the metal used. Rosin or oil is usually employed in soldering tin and
lead, while a mixture of muriate of zinc and sal-ammoniac is used with
steel. 2. A complete outfit for printing an amateur paper such as that
you describe will cost at least $200, and can be purchased from any
dealer in printing materials. 3. Construct the camera according to the
plans laid down in Vol. 9, No. 34. The cost of that issue will be 6
cents, postage free.

J.H.R.--Numerous articles on how to construct cabinets, bookcases, etc.,
have been published in previous volumes of this paper. Among these are
the following: "How to Make a Refrigerator," "Cabinet-Making for
Beginners" and "Screens and How to Make Them." Nos. 35, 47 and 48, Vol.
5; "How to Make a Desk," "Hanging Bookshelves" and "Corner Cabinet,"
Nos. 7, 15 and 22, Vol. 6; "Hanging Cabinet," No. 16, Vol. 7; "How to
Make an Amateur Carpenter's Bench," No. 36, Vol. 8; "How to Make a
Portable B