162 THE YOUNG 
the wood with a piece of rag, after which all the 
superfluous parts are removed, and the surface is 
ready for the final polish, whicli maybe put on 
with a brush, or after the French method— with a 
tampon ; in the latter ease only shellac dissolved 
in alcohol is used- With the brush you can use 
any kind of varnish. Soft woods may be turned 
■so smooth as to require no other polish than that 
Which can be given by holding fine shavings of 
the same wood against them in the lathe. For 
polishing mahogany, walnut, and some other 
woods, the following formula is given: Dissolve 
beeswax by heat in spirits of turpentine until the 
mixture becomes viscid. Apply with a clean 
cloth, and rub thoroughly with another flannel 
or cloth. Beeswax is sometimes alone used. For 
work in position, it must be melted and applied 
and rubbed as above. For work in the lathe, it 
<?an be applied by friction, the slight amount of 
wax melted being sufficient for the polish. The 
work should be thoroughly rubbed. Mahogany 
may be polished by rubbing first with linseed 
oil, and then by a cloth dipped in a very fine 
brick dust. Some hard woods have a natural 
polish, and do not require a polishing medium. 
A fine gloss can be produced by rubbing with 
linseed oil, and then holding shavings or turn- 
ings of the same material against the work in 
the lathe. A very perfect surface can be obtained 
with glass-paper, which, if followed by hard rub- 
biug, will give a beautiful lustre. Lustre can 
also be given to carefully finished surfaces by 
applying a small quantity of thinned varnish, 
shellac or " fillers," by a cloth, and carefully and 
thoroughly rubbing. Part oi the above is taken 
from " Comstock's Interior Details," and maybe 
relied upon as being perfectly practicable.— Eed 
Cedae. 
60. Grindstone.— For turn ill g up a grindstone 
the usual plan adopted by professional workmen 
is the following: Take a piece of sheet-iron, and 
secure it firmly upon the trough or frame (by 
hand or otherwise), close the grindstone. Let 
this one run gently towards the iron, which, of 
course, must be pushed on as it wears off. You 
will soon obtain, in more or less time, according 
to the state of the stone, a perfect, true, and level 
surface. If your grindstone is much out of true, 
you had better begin to bite the humps, by liol- 
lowing grooves with the sharp end of an old saw- 
iile. secured as above.— "Ouk Ned." 
61. Embkoideeed Monogeams.— If Bella S. will 
give her correct initials, and state for what pur- 
pose she wants designs of monograms in em- 
broidered work. I will, perhaps, be able to help 
her out somewhat, as I have a number of mono- 
grams suitable for needlework.— Lizzie, 
62. Needle-Case.— In making a needle-case 
with shells procure a pair of the American fresh- 
water mussel shells (Anadon fluviatiUs), a full ac- 
count of which may be found in the February 
number of the Young Scientist of 1881. See that 
the shells ai-e the same size : perforate nine small 
holes round the front of the top one, at equal 
distances, about half an inch from the front, and 
two more at the top part of both shells. Take a 
narrow piece of sarcenet ribbon, put one end into 
; the left hand hole and fasten it there, then over 
the front of the shell, under, and through the 
second hole, so on to the last, and fasten it off. 
Cutout two pieces of fine v^hite flannel a little 
less, and also the form of the shell, bind it round 
with the same blue ribbon ; put these inside, and 
with another piece tie them together through the 
four holes at the top in a neat little bow. For the 
strings in the front, take some more of the same 
blue ribbon, and, after fastening to each shell, tie 
together in a little larger bow.— X. 
63. Monogeams.— The annexed monograms of 
E. S. G., T. M. G., L. L. L.. A. L. L.. A. C. A. T., 
V. A., and C. H.. have been received from various 
points. A number of other monograms have 
also been received from various parties, some of 
which were good enough to publish, but for 
SCIENTIST. 
which we cannot afford space in this issue, but 
may in future numbers. 
Queries. 
64. Oil Coloes.— I desire to paint a few plaques 
in oil colors, the subjects to be flowers. Can you 
inform me where I can obtain designs or outlines 
for flowers, particularly of daisies ? If you please, 
I would also like to know about the cost of same. 
—Katie B, 
65. Steamboats.— Were steamboats ever pat- 
ented ? and if so, when ?— " Big Boy." 
66. The End of the Woeld,— How many times 
has the "end of the world" been predicted by 
men of more or less weight ? Are there any such 
doleful predictions hanging over us now ?— Mu- 
sical. 
