54 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



tifically designated Sahelinus fontinalis, are very 

 likely to be incited to that somewhat trite though 

 unctiously satisfactory retort, " You 're a liar ! " 

 Yet 't is even so. And now it becomes the writer's 

 great pleasure to descend to brass tacks and explain 

 in detail how this miracle is wrought. 



Having acquired his cherished sticks from the 

 nearest available source, the prospective engineer 

 and constructer conveys them homeward with a pal- 

 pitating heart. Other tremors of that same cardiac 

 organ are due to occur ere his delightful and fear- 

 some task is completed. True to advice, he has se- 

 lected well-seasoned stock having a good depth of 

 enamel, but he will see to it that his material has 

 further opportunity to ripen well before he makes 

 use of the completed rod. To this end he will be- 

 gin immediately by splitting his sticks lengthwise into 

 quarters, thus breaking through all partitions at the 

 nodes and admitting the air freely to the pith side 

 of the bamboo tube. Remember this is Winter, and 

 that many weeks are to elapse before the advent of 

 the blithesome Springtime so there is no hurry. 

 Do not start this job if you are obsessed with any 

 idea of haste. Not that after a short time you will 

 be unable to turn out rods with a very respectable 

 alacrity; but do not fail to begin under the beneficent 

 influence of the feeling of abundant leisure for your 

 project. 



After the sticks have been quartered you may pro- 



