34 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
Bolts anb ^mm. 
Ill continuing this department, which has been 
found of so much value, we would remind our 
readers wlio wish for information on any of the 
3rts and sciences, that they are cordially invited 
to make their wants known through this column, 
and those of them who can furnish accurate 
answers to questions asked are requested to send 
in replies. Doubtless, many of our subscribers 
may know of methods, processes, or devices that 
may be better or more suitable for the particular 
case in question than anything generally known, 
and it is this reason that induces us to keep this 
department open for a medium, when an inter- 
change of ideas and practices may be made to 
the advantage of all our readers. Correspondents 
will please send their full address when forward- 
ing their communication— either questions or 
answers— not for publication, unless expressly so 
stated, but so that we may know where to find 
the writer if desirable 
1. E. G., Newark, N. J— (l) What is meant bv 
"Catha.y" and a "Cycle of Cathay?" (2) Who 
wrote the " Swiss Family Robinson ? " 
2. S. N., Ha,rtford, Conn.— I desire to dry and 
cure some skins, and would like some reliable 
information on the subject, and if some reader 
of the Young Scientist will help me I shall feel 
under obligations ? 
3. VicTOK, Jersey City, N. J.— Can you inform 
me what combination of woods is the most suit- 
able for inlaving, where the figures are to be 
vSimple and of a kind that an amateur of two years 
practice can master? 
4. Nellie. Denver.— What materials used, and 
how applied, for bleaching skeletons and leaves ? 
5. R. T, Augusta, Me.— I should be pleased to 
know through this cohimn, why it is that the 
leaves of trees change their color in autumn ? 
6 J. N., Philadelphia.— I have heard or read of a 
table or window fountain that required no outside 
pressure or " head " other than was contained in 
the fountain itself and that would play from 
thirty to forty minutes at a time without I'echarg- 
'ng. Does any fellow reader know anything of 
It, and if so, will he kindly give publicity to his 
knowledge in these columns ? 
7. Reuben W., Andover, N. Y.— I am desirous of 
purchasing a scroll saw, one that will do fine 
work, and one that may be used for cutting thick 
stvff— sav from one to two inches thick. Now 
what I want to know is, where can I get such a 
saw, and can you recommend any firm from 
whom I can purchase ? 
Note. With regard to the above we may say 
there are a number of excellent saws in the 
market, any one of which would answer the pur- 
pose sought. We cannot recommend any partic- 
ular Arm to buy from, but we may say that per- 
haps the saw most suitable for thick and thin 
stuff is the $20 one manufactured byJohn&F. 
Barnes. For very fine work, however, we should 
prefer the "Lester," or the "Challenge," either 
of which can be made to do exquisite work when 
properly handled. We may be able next month 
to refer you to our advertising pages for reliable 
firms from whom you can purchase what you 
want for scroll sawing purposes. 
8. " Big Boy." Utica, N. Y.— I wish to learn 
amateur carving, will the Young Scientist in- 
form me where I can get any real practical in- 
formation on the subject? 
Note.— Books on carving, suitable for amateurs 
are very scarce, yet there are a few that may be 
recommended, though they do not, singly, cover 
sufficient ground to satisfy the wants of a be- 
ginner in the art of carving. " Leland's Wood- 
Carving Manuel," price 36 cents, is a very good 
work and is purely American. General Seaton's 
"Wood-Carving" is perhaps abetter work than 
"Leland's," j;s the General himself was an 
amateur, and wrote hie work from an amateur's 
stand-point. The work is an English one and 
costs $1.00. There is alco another English work 
by Alfred Rogers, the "Art of Wood-Carving," 
but it is scarcely obtainal;ie here. Prof. Ben. 
Pitman, of the Ohio School of Design, Cincinnati, 
has written a work on wood -carving, which we 
dare say goes into the subject pretty thoroughly. 
We have not seen the work as it is scarcely yet in 
the market. If you write Mr. Pitman as above, he 
may give you some information regarding it. We 
intend shortly to begin a series of illustrated 
articles on the subject in the Young Scientist, in 
which an endeavor will be made to cover the 
whole gy^-ound of amateur wood-carving. You 
can learn more, however, by watching some 
practical workman for a few hours than you can 
learn from books in a month ; and we would ad- 
vise you to make it a point to visit some place 
where wood-carving is practiced, so that you may 
be enabled to see for yourself how the various 
operations are performed by regular workmen. 
9. F. E. F.. Lancaster, Pa.— If you will allow me 
to suggest something which I think would bo 
appreciated by a large number of your i-eaders. 
I would say that a few illustrations of monograms 
now and again in the Young Scientist would be 
quite acceptable. I would like to get a mono- 
gram of my initials, for instance, and I am sure 
there are many readers like me, who would be 
pleased to get their monograms ? 
Note.— Now, this is just what we want— sug- 
gestions— and we hope more of our readers will 
help us in this way. As regards " monograms," 
we have already intended to do something in this 
direction, but did not know exactly how to go 
about it. Your suggestion has relieved us con- 
siderably, and we will now make it a point to 
illustrate to a limited extent, such monograms 
as our readers may desire, and we shall be pleased 
to receive drawings of combinations from our 
readers M'ho will furnish the same. Remember, 
that all drawings sent to the Young Scientist 
must be made in good black ink or pencil, on 
clean white paper. 
10. S. O. G., Sa,va.nnah. Ga.— I am sometimes 
puzzled to know what is meant by the word 
aestheticK : it seems to be used for so many pur- 
poses. Will you kindly inform me what the 
correct definition is ? 
