394 lewis's AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



"Dear Doctor: — I Lave liad such an excellent opportunity foi 

 testing the good qualities of mj water-proof preparation during a 

 late shooting-excursion, that I can recommend it still more highly 

 than hefore. 



" The composition is as follows : — One-quarter of a pound of 

 gum elastic, (caoutchouc,) with sufficient naphtha, oil of sassafras, 

 seneka, or any other solvent, to completely liquefy it ; after this 

 is effected, a pound of tallow and three-quarters of a pound of 

 beeswax should be melted together, and in connection with the 

 dissolved gum should be kept over a slow fire until they are inti- 

 mately commingled. When using the preparation, the boots should 

 be slightly wet and warmed: if the mixture is then properly 

 rubbed in, it is almost impossible for the water to penetrate. In 

 addition to this, I generally have the soles of my boots soaked in 

 copal varnish. 



"This preparation, when used for common walking-boots or 

 shoes, does not prevent a proper gloss being produced by blacking. 

 I shall be glad if this is of any service to you, and am confident 

 that it needs but a single trial to convince of its great efficacy. 



"Very truly, yours, 



M. T. W. Chandler." 



Another : — 



"For new boots, half a pound of beeswax, one-quarter pound 

 of resin, and the like quantity of mutton-suet or tallow; boil them 

 together, and anoint the boots well with the preparation lukewarm. 

 If the boots have been used, beef-suet to be substituted instead of 

 mutton." 



Mr. Chandler informs me that he has his shooting-boots made 

 straights, — that is, not right and left, — and finds that they wear 

 longer, and are far less liable to run over, as they can be changed 

 from one foot to the other as soon as they show a disposition to 

 run either to the right or left. The idea is an excellent one; and 

 we are somewhat surprised that it never occurred to us, more 

 especially as we have had so much trouble with our boots in this 

 very particular. 



