lean the parts that
are to be soldered by scraping with a knife, and do not touch with
the fingers afterward. Place a piece of thin silver solder between
the parts after having coated them and the solder with the borax.
Use a pair of tweezers to pick up the solder. Hold the parts
firmly together and apply heat--slowly at first until all moisture
has been expelled and the borax crystallized, after which the
flame may be applied more directly and the parts brought to a
soldering heat. An alcohol flame will do. Heat applied too quickly
will throw off the solder and spoil the attempt.

There are various ways of finishing the metal. It may be polished
by means of powdered pumice, chalk or charcoal, and then treated
with a coat of French varnish diluted ten times its volume in
alcohol. Another popular way is to give the background a
bluish-green effect by brushing it over a great many times, after
it has been cleaned, with a solution composed of muriate of
ammonia, 1 part; carbonate of ammonia, 3 parts; water, 24 parts.
The whole may then be treated with French varnish to preserve the
colors.

** How to Make an Easel [415]

A strong and substantial easel may be made at home with very
little expense and no great difficulty.

Smooth down with a plane, four pieces of pine, 1 in. thick, 4 in.
wide and 4 ft. long, until suitable for legs. Make three
cross-pieces, Fig. 1, and join the legs with them as shown in Fig.
2. With an auger bore a hole in each leg about 3 in. from the
bottom, and fit into each a little peg, Fig. 2, for the picture to
rest on. The peg should be of hardwood so it will not break.

Cut the handle from an old broom, measure off the right length,
and put a hinge on one end. Fasten this leg on the second
cross-piece, thus forming a support for the two front legs, Fig.
3. The easel may be finished according to the individual taste. It
may be sandpapered and stained and varnished, or painted in some
pretty tint, or, if preferred, may be enameled.
--Contributed by G. J. Tress.

[Illustration: Details of Easel Construction]

** How to Make a Wind Propeller [415]

A wind propeller may be constructed with four old bicycle wheels
arranged with shafts pretty much like the shafts of a
hand-propelled cart. The platform is flatter, however, and the
body one tier so that it is lower. A framework of wood is built at
M and this is a support

[Illustration: Wind Propeller]

for several purposes. The sail