MISCELLANEOUS HINTS. 423 



" DEAR DOCTOR : I have had such an excellent opportunity foi 

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

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

 than before. 



" 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 tflfe 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. 



