arnish finish is most suitable for this
set, but any other finish may be applied, as the builder may
desire, to make it harmonize with other furnishings.

** Cleaning Brass [407]

Small brass castings can be cleaned by heating them slightly and
then dipping them in a solution of sal ammoniac. The pieces will
come out as bright and clean as if new. This cleaning process is
the same as that used in cleaning a soldering iron.

** A Phoneidoscope [407]

The phoneidoscope has many and varied forms, but the simplest can
be made by bending the forefinger and thumb so as to form a circle
and then drawing a soap film across the opening. This is done in a
manner similar to the blowing of soap bubbles. The angle with the
direction of the light may be readily adjusted by turning the
wrist, a motion of the elbow alters the distance from the mouth
and the tension of the film can be regulated by moving the thumb
and forefinger. Singing or speaking at the film when under proper
tension will cause beautiful figures to appear, which may be
reflected from the film directly on the screen.
--Contributed by Robt. E. Bradley, Winchester, Mass.

** A Home-Made Yankee Bobsled [408]

A good coasting sled, which I call a Yankee bob, can be made from
two hardwood barrel staves, two pieces of

[Illustration: Runners Made of Barrel Staves]

2 by 6-in. pine, a piece of hardwood for the rudder and a few
pieces of boards. The 2 by 6-in. pieces should be a little longer
than one-third the length of the staves, and each piece cut
tapering from the widest part, 6 in., down to 2 in., and then
fastened to the staves with large wood screws as shown in Fig. 1.
Boards 1 in. thick are nailed on top of the pieces for a seat and
to hold the runners together. The boards should be of such a
length as to make the runners about 18 in. apart.

A 2-in. shaft of wood, Fig. 2, is turned down to 1 in. on the ends
and put through holes that must be bored in the front ends of the
2 by 6-in. pieces. A small pin is put through each end of the
shaft to keep it in place. The rudder is a 1-1/2-in. hardwood
piece which should be tapered to 1/2 in. at the bottom and shod
with a thin piece of iron. A 1/2-in. hole is bored through the
center of the shaft and a lag screw put through and turned in the
rudder piece, making it so the rudder will turn right and left
and, also, up and down. Two cleats are nailed to the upper sides
of the runners and in the middle