44 THE YOUNG 
Mechanical Work for Girls. 
It is generally supposed that no woman can tie 
up a parcel, or sharpen a pencil. This we know to 
be a gross error. We have known girls who could 
handle most tools with quite as much dexterity as 
their brothers. A great deal depends upon train- 
ing, and it will often serve a woman in good stead 
to be able to handle the hammer, the saw or the 
chisel. A recent writer in the " Country Gentle- 
man" gives her experience thus: "Many a woman 
possesses as much ingenuity as a carpenter or 
cabinetmaker, and a little practice will teach her 
the upholsterer's trade, so that with nails, hammer, 
and the needful material, she will not only make as 
good a chair cushion as he, but will be able to cover 
a lounge respectably, and also an arm chair. Book- 
ing chairs have often been far more comfortable 
than when first purchased, by the exercise of this 
art. In many families there are disabled chairs 
which have been thrown aside as useless, and yet, 
with but little expenditure, they could be made not 
only useful, but ornamental, and their presence 
would be a great addition to the sitting room." 
Counterfeit Fossils. 
A paragraph is going the rounds of the papers to 
the effect that the ingenious individual who manu- 
factured the Cardiff giant, and the so-called Col- 
orado petrified man, now comes with a startling 
story of previous exploits. He confesses to having 
manufactured the famous stone tablets of the Con- 
necticut Valley, on which were imprinted by arti- 
ficial means the tracks of supposed prehistoric 
birds— relics, which, it will be remembered, excited 
the whole scientific world. That he may have 
produced some of these tablets is quite possible, 
but, fortunately, of slabs of undoubted genuine- 
ness there has been discovered a number sufficient 
to sustain all the scientific theories that have been 
based on them. 
Inquiries. 
3. Is there anything that will destroy the offen- 
sive odor of benzine ? It is caused, I believe, by an 
excess of hydrogen gas. An answer to the above 
question will oblige. H. R. S. 
4. Can any of the readers of the Young Scientist 
tell me how to preserve tadpoles while they are 
passing through the stages of transition to the frog ? 
Last summer I tried several times to keep them 
alive and healthy, in order to observe the trans- 
formation, but always unsuccessfully, never suc- 
ceeding in keeping them over a week. Fresh water, 
small pieces of rock, and liberal supplies of pond 
weed, were of no avail. An answer will greatly 
oblige. TaADDLES. 
SCIENTIST. 
5. Can any of your readers give a simple direction 
for preserving lizards, frogs, etc., in alcohol, for 
future use; also, should they be disemboweled? 
Amateur. 
6. WiU some reader of this department infoi m me 
how to make a cement for joining glass to brass, 
and oblige. H. W. 
7. Will some of your readers inform me of a 
simple dressing lor meerschaum, with directions 
how and when to apply it, and oblige Smoker. 
Answers. 
8. In answer to *' Rustycuss," in the January 
number, I would answer him as follows, concerning^ 
the polishing of an old telescope. First, take it all 
apart, and polish well with the finest emery paper, 
rubbing only one way; then furnish yourself with a 
spirit lamp, a small quantity of shellac varnish, 
and a fine camel's hair brush (flat), and proceed to> 
laquer it in the ordinary manner. This will prevent 
it from tarnishing for some time, but as time wears 
" on," the polish will wear off. Brass Butcher. 
9. In reply to " Rustycuss," I would say that it- 
he will polish the brass work of his telescope, by 
running it very fast in a lathe, and applying very 
fine emery cloth or paper, until the desired end is 
produced; then warm the several parts or pieces 
carefully on a stove (don't get them too hot, only a 
little too warm to handle conveniently); then brush 
them over with the "Brass Lacquering" given on 
page 12. It well done the parts will look as good 
as new, and will keep a rich, clean appearance a 
long time. Microscopical apparatus may be fit- 
ished and colored in the same manner. T. Rest.7' 
• # » 
EXCHANGES. 
In this column yearly subscribers who may wish 
to exchange tools, apparatus, books, or the pro- 
ducts of their skill, can state what they have to 
offer and what they want, without charge. Buying 
and selling must, of course, be carried on in the 
advertising columns. 
Two Selden's patent printing telegraph instru- 
ments; will exchange for microscope or books. 
Address W. Chamberlain, 446 Broome street, New 
York. 
Specimens of the marbles, graites and minerals 
of Vermont, in exchange for Western minerals, or 
good fossils; minerals and fossil woods from the far 
West specially desired. Dr. H. A. Cutting, State 
Geologist, Lunenburgh, Essex County, Vt. 
For exchange, for a microscope, a small engine 
lathe (screw cutting) in nice order, costing $110. 
Address Dr. J. H. Convurne, West Troy, N. Y. 
Thorough and practical instruction in shorthand 
will be given in exchange for a microscope, with or 
without accessories, worth from $5 to $10. Address 
T. P. Wendover, 68 Christopher street. New York. 
Wanted, a small turning lathe, about 1^ inch 
swing, and 12-inch bed; must be well made; books 
and apparatus in exchange. R. M., care of this 
journal. 
Wanted, a copy of Holtzapfel's " Mechanical 
Manipulation." State what is wanted in exchange. 
E. W., Box 4875, New York. 
Wanted, a good aquarium, medium size. State 
what is wanted in exchange. R. H., 8 Beekman 
Place, New York. 
