1877.] 
AMERICAN AGRIGULTUPtlST. 
was cheap, but I did my best to make it as nearly 
as possible as a tailor would have done, and I 
thought it would do for Sundays for several weeks at 
least. What a penitent face it was that looked in 
at the door (the rest of the body out of sight) one 
Sunday afternoon, whUe the boy's Toice said "Can't 
you wash ray trousers to-morrow and make them 
look brown all over?" Then I knew what must 
hare happened, for I had already learned that the 
black would run into the white at the least touch 
of water, making an ugly brown of it all. Tes, he 
had tumbled partly into the lake, and such looking 
nether garments as he wore ! 
But now they look almost " as good as new," and 
this is how I did it, guided by the advice of a kind 
neighbor. I put a pailful of clean warm water in 
my tub, and mixed in it about two quarts of bran, 
(I had to sift it out of my graham flour, but the bran 
is so coarse this time that I was glad to get it out). 
In this I put the garment and washed it by rubbing 
wet bran into it with my hands while in the water, 
rubbing especially the big brown spots which cov- 
ered almost half of the cloth. I wrung it out of this, 
and put it into a pail of water in which a large 
tablespoonful of salt was dissolved, rinsing it well, 
and then rinsing again in clear water. You would 
not readily suspect that the trousers had ever been 
washed, or wet at all. Miss Beeeher, I see, recom- 
mends washing all calico that fades in bran water, 
rinsing also in bran water, but of course she would 
rinse again in clear water to remove the bran. 
Comfortable Chairs for the Sick and Well. 
In no one thing in our household arrangements is 
greater improvement manifest, than in chairs. 
Fig. 4.— SINCLAIR'S "COMMON SENSE" CHAIR. 
Those who can compare the furniture of fifty years 
ago with that of the present d.ay, will see a wonder- 
ful change for the better. From the old, heavy- 
timbered, straight-backed chair of our grand- 
mothers, we have gone through a series equally un- 
comfortable, and much more frail, until at last fash- 
ion is in accord with common sense, and the chairs 
in use at the present day are vastly superior to 
those of :jO, or even 10 years .ago. Half a century 
ago, the only provision mide for invalids in the 
way of ch;iir.s, was what was, by courtesy, called an 
"easy chair." What a ponderous machine it was, 
as it occupied a corner in tlie " front room," (only 
opened for funerals or other special occasions), or 
in the " spare clmnibcr," — where everything too 
uncomfortaljle fur daily use, was gathered for 
" company." That " easy chair," with a scat wide 
enough for three ; its erect back, and equally erect 
arms— let us hope thiit it is not the chair that Geo. 
William, of Harper's Monthly, writes from. What 
a horrible thing it must have been, not to be ill, 
but to try to get well, when one of these old-fash- 
toned " easy " chairs was the only intermediate 
stage between the bed and the ordinary straight- 
backed and uncomfortable furniture of the period. 
There was very little fun in being sick in those 
days. Matters have greatly changed, and inven- 
tors, having in their mind the needs of tliosi! who 
are temporarily invalids, or pcrmauently disabled, 
have provided for these, and at the same time have 
not forgotten the comfort of the well, but have 
furnished a great variety of chairs that are well 
nigh perfect. Every one who went to the Cen- 
tennial Exhibition will recollect, whether they 
tried them or not, the rolling chairs, in which so 
many elderly and tired persons found comfort, 
and which allowed them to see without excessive 
fatigue. These chairs were made at the establish- 
ment now carried on by Herbert A. Smith, at 32 
Piatt St., N. T. This establishment, under father 
and sons, has been advertised in our columns for 
many years, and has increased from small begin- 
nings, to be the largest of its kind in the country. 
An inspection of Mr. S.'s catalogue will show the 
great variety of propelling and reclining chairs he 
makes, and he is constantly introducing improve- 
ments. We give in figure 1 his recently patented 
Wheel Chair, with back of platted rattan, in which 
the back and foot-board have a separate adjust- 
ment ; it may be used as a self-propelling chair, 
or may be pushed. The back being of very fine 
platted rattan, conforms itself to the shape, and is 
remarkably comfortable. The greatest care is 
taken to secure durability in all the parts liable 
to wear, by the use of the best materials. 
Among the furniture exhibits at the Centennial, 
we saw a chair that could be put to any use that 
one could ever want of a chair, and withal exceed- 
ingly simple. This we learned was made by the 
Adjustable Chair Company, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and 
now said to be somewhere in New Tork City, but 
we have not their present address. At any rate, we 
purchased one of the chairs, and have had it in 
daily use for nearly a year, and it has been a great 
comfort. A great variety of chairs are made by the 
New Haven (Conn.) Folding Chair Co. They have 
several styles of rolling chairs, in which the invalid 
is pushed about by another person, and those which 
the occupant can move from place to place him- 
self. Figs. 2 and 3 show their Reclining Rolling 
Chair, which, by a turn of a screw, allows the oc- 
cupant to adopt any position he may prefer, and by 
means of a wooden rim attached to the wheel, to 
move himself from place to place. These chairs are 
especially manageable, and one can soon learn 
to propel them with great ease, and to move rhem 
to any point with the utmost accuracy. They may 
be opened out flat to serve as a bed or lounge. 
Thesame firm makes an "Invalid's Rocking Chair," 
which, to judge from the catalogue, is very similar 
to the Pittsburgh chair, already men tioned, and also 
rolling chairs of different styles, including some 
especially designed for children. Inventive genus 
as manifested in chairs, has not confined itself sole- 
ly to those for the use of invalids ; the comfort of 
the well has not been overlooked. A chair is made 
to sit in, and the sitter should be comfortable — a 
condition not possible with much of the modem 
furniture. The chair in common use by our grand- 
parents, had a wooden frame, which was filled in 
with hickory or other splits, or flags cut from the 
piazzas — chairs that we have used with much satis- 
faction. We now give (fig. 4) an illustration of the 
wares, made by F. A. Sinclair, Mottville, Onondaga 
Co., N. T. Mr. S. caDs his chairs the " Common 
Sense " chairs, and we are not disposed to dispute 
the title. He claims an experience of thirty years 
as a practical chair-maker, and when he tells us 
that he finds certain woods, pnt together in his 
best manner, make the best frames, and that "Ash 
splints " make the best seats, we are disposed to 
believe him. One of our associates has a chair of 
this style, and speaks of it in the highest terms. 
The catalogue issued by Mr. S. of his " Common 
Ssnse " Chairs, shows a great variety, with and 
without rockers ; that given in figure 4, is known as 
the " Centennial Eocker" ; others are made with a 
reading and writing desk. These chairs are of such 
neat workmanship that they are not out of place 
even in the parlor. 
SDY^ & dlllElLS' iBDiL'irMIISo 
Aiiut tSiie's Ciisits. 
R. T. M. sends au old puzzle whicli in.-iy interest some 
of our readers, so wc give it here. Divide three-quarters 
/ 
Fig. 1. — TELKEE QUAKTERS OF SQUARE.— Fig. 2. 
of a square (fig. ]) into foiw cqnal parts and shape. This 
is not so diflicult to do as to divide figure 2 into equal 
parts and shape— which maj- be done. 
Jesse M — The "agent"— being merely au agent— was 
not liable for any loss to the town. He bad to pay to the 
town at the end of tlie year $50.23, and give uji the stock 
of liquor (woi-lh $.31.37). The town lost— tjy the year's 
business- including Ibe agent's salary) $8.11— and, con- 
sidering the nature of the business, I'm glaii of it. An- 
swers to the problem are slill corning in, but I think the 
sul'jcct lias been suiliciently discussed. 
J. A. W., Jr.'s ■• Papa."— Thanks for your pleasant let- 
ter, I am glad you had to "dodge" the furniture, and 
glad " Jimmie " liked bis jirize. 
Mart E. H.— I really do not know anything at all 
about "making feather flowers," but I will make in- 
quiries, and if I learn anytbing worth mentioning, will 
IHiblisb the same at some future time. Should any of our 
readers be able and willing to furnish iis with instruc- 
tions, we sliDUld be grateful. 
Susan.— To be sure I will comply with Ibe request of 
my name-sake, and all tlie more readily bccnuse others 
have asked for "a pretty border for Java canvas." Here 
yon have in figure 3a design in ^vhat is called "scroll- 
work. " It is worked in cross-stitch, and when two 
shades of worsted, of any color you may prefer, are used, 
tlie efiect is very pleasing. 
John W. W.— Your enigma is a scarcely fair one, be- 
Fig. 3.— SCROLL PATTERN FOR JAVA CANTA33. 
marshes. Aside from the fact that the fashion of 
these was etraight-backcd, these were fairly com- 
fortable chairs, as they " gave " with the weight of 
the sitter : then they were strong, and one did not 
feel that the frame-work might give way. Some years 
ago, we figured some " Cooper Chairs," made for 
can?e such words as yon define by "lustrons." "a kind 
of mus'iii," "stupidity." etc.. are not used in common 
conversation once in twenty years. (Mine, in the prize 
enigma, were nil common wortls, except " m.icaroon," 
and aliout that I pave sinnc bints.) Nevortbelcss, I will 
some day publish it, as our puzaiers are not easily 
" etumped." 
