194 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



of varnish furnishes the surest protection against 

 this. 



To rub down, use powdered rotten-stone from 

 drug or paint store on a small square of canvas, 

 or felt from an old soft hat, wet with cold water; 

 this makes a fine brown mud with which you scrub 

 the joints lengthwise between the thumb and fingers 

 of one hand, while the other twirls the joint to and 

 fro. When the rubbing is completed, rinse the joint 

 thoroughly with cold water squeezed out of a small 

 fine sponge. It is a good plan to let the water run 

 with force, directly from the tap, on the parts about 

 the guides. Complete the cleaning by wiping with 

 the sponge just damp. Then wipe with a dry soft 

 cloth and swish the joint a few times in the air com- 

 pletely to dry it. Have it perfectly dry before ap- 

 plying any more varnish, and be sure that the rotten- 

 stone is thoroughly cleaned with a bit of rag from 

 under and around the guides. Powdered pummice- 

 stone and water may be used for rubbing the var- 

 nish coats that follow the first use of the rotten- 

 stone; but at the first attempt at finishing a rod, 

 perhaps you had best confine yourself to the rotten- 

 stone. 



In finishing the cedar handgrasp or any cedar 

 parts, follow the filing and coarse sandpapering by 

 using number I paper, then number o, rotating the 

 grasp forcibly between a fold of the paper held 

 tightly in the palm of the left hand. After a good 



