THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
25 
We have long been urged to this step by 
a very large number of our subscribers, 
and now we rely upon them to aid us in 
carrying it out. To those who feel willing 
to expend a little effort in obtaining new 
subscribers, simply for the sake of ad- 
vancing a good cause, we offer the greatly 
improved journal which such assistance 
will enable us to give them, while to those 
who feel that they cannot labor except for 
a more substantial reward, we offer the 
very liberal list of premiums Vv^hich will 
be found in our advertising pages. 
J. p. 
Those who have sent in their subscrip- 
tions for the Young Scientist for 1883 at 
the old rates, prior to the issue of this 
number, will receive all the issues for 
next year without further charge. So 
that no dissatisfaction on their part can 
possibly arise on account of an increase 
in price of the Jouknal. 
Many boys in Philadelphia have learned 
^o work sheet brass into i^ejwusse, or 
liaised figure work. Picture frames, 
shields, medallions, and many other 
works may be formed by this process, 
and the art is readily acquired. Many of 
the boys, who are making a study of the 
art, are able to earn enough from the re- 
sults of their labors to pay their expenses 
while learning. This work is not confined 
altogether to boys, as many young ladies 
In the Quaker City have learned the art, 
and have turned out some very credita- 
ble specimens of workmanship. 
While confined within the limits of a 
fifty-cent journal we found it difficult to 
devote to interchange of information as 
much space and time as we could have 
wished, and therefore our column of 
notes and queries became somewhat 
spasmodic. We now commence a new 
series with the inquiries which have accu- 
mulated during the past few months, and 
iDegin with a new series of numbers. 
Hereafter, all references to answers or 
inquiries, subsequent to January, 1883, 
should be by number, and by the mimber 
of this series. We might also add that 
we hope our readers, in replying to these 
queries, will give us the results of their 
owa experience, and not merely copy an 
answer out of some book of recipes. We 
have all the books of recipes that have 
been published, and therefore could 
easily copy such answers ourselves if 
they were worth copying, which is rarely 
the case. 
Few things fill the heart of an affec- 
tionate mother with greater pleasure than 
to be able to say to her friends and visi- 
tors that her Mary or her William made 
with her or his own hands, this or that 
little i^iece of work. Who has not seen a 
mother's face illumined with justifiable 
pride when exhibiting to others some 
piece of fancy needle-work, shell-work, 
painting, or other specimens of her 
daughter's artistic skill ; and when she is 
able to point out a cabinet, basket, chair, 
clock, shelf or any other useful or orna- 
mental article, made by the hands of her 
boy, her pride is visible in every move- 
ment. Now, there is no boy or girl 
among our many thousands of readers, 
that is not able to make or work some- 
thing that will tend to make home more 
joyous, and at the same time fill their 
mother's heart with pleasure. Of course 
it is quite necessary that |)arents should 
aid their children to develop their artistic 
and constructive talents by furnishing 
them with the instruments, tools, and 
materials necessary ; and by giving them 
proper encouragement. Many a boy has 
been saved from pernicious habits and 
certain destruction by knowing how to 
use tools. 
The singular article by Mr. Koberts, en- 
titled "Prisoner's Pastimes," can hardly 
fail to attract wide attention. It will call 
to mind the stories told of famous state 
prisoners, who, to save themselves from 
madness, tamed rats, mice, and even 
spiders. But it teaches a lesson deeper 
than the mere fact that ordinary men 
must have something to do to keep the 
mind from "wearing out its scabbard." 
We doubt if expert professional criminals 
ever give their time to such pursuits. It 
is more probable that they spend their 
