1861.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
55 
MY® <h (MEM 3 ©(DWIim 
Uncle John’s Study.HI* 
BY RALEIGH TRUMAN. 
Description of a new and interesting Instrument for 
Grown-up , as well as for little People . 
[Our young friends will remember that last montli 
there was not room in the paper for the whole of 
Raleigh’s report. It is continued from the point 
where the children asked Uncle John to show them 
the inside of the magic box.—E d.] 
Uncle John handed the box to me, saying with 
his peculiar smile: “ Handle it carefully Raleigh, 
and be sure to break no wheels.” I promised com¬ 
pliance, and received the box. Here is a picture of 
it. None of us could dis¬ 
cover any wheels; no ap¬ 
paratus appeared in sight 
but two highly polished 
silver plates, set upright 
with their, edges meeting 
in a corner or angle. The 
box served only to hold 
the plates in place. 
“Is that all?” exclaimed 
Freddy, apparently disap¬ 
pointed ; for he had ex¬ 
pected to see some complicated machinery, like 
the inside of a watch, or a music box. “Any¬ 
body could make that.” “ Why did you not make 
it then?” asked Uncle John quietly. But Freddy 
made no reply. “You see” continued Uncle 
John, “ that it is easy to imitate, but not so easy 
to start a new idea. But don’t undervalue it be¬ 
cause it is simple in construction; simplicity is 
a merit in any invention.” 
While this conversation was going on, Cousin 
Grace had left the room, and presently she returned 
with two pieces of looking-glass nearly square, 
which she had found in her play room. 
“ What are those for ?” asked Susie. “I’m going 
to make a ‘ magic box ’ for myself,” replied she. 
“ Let us now call it by the proper name,” said 
Uncle John. “ It was invented by a German, Mr. 
Debus, and from him was named the Debuscope .” 
“ Oh I know,” said Fred. “ I had part of that word 
in my Greek lesson yesterday. Scope comes from 
slcopeo, which means I see, so I suppose Debuscope 
signifies : Mr. Debus' way of seeing." 
We were all too busy watching Grace, to pay 
much attention to Fred’s talk. She first set the 
pieces of glass upon their edges, and placed two 
ends together, like a wedge. Then she took a 
small thin slip of wood which she split from an old 
paint-box cover, and set that on edge between the 
front ends of the glass. After this she wound a 
piece of small twine tightly around the glass and 
wood, and tied it. This held the three pieces in 
their places. This pic¬ 
ture, Fig. 2, shows pretty 
nearly how it looked 
when she had finished it. 
The star-shaped figure 
within, represents one of 
the designs made by plac¬ 
ing it over some rough 
pencil marks on paper. 
“Now for an experiment 
with the Grace-scope , ” 
cried Fred. Grace laid a five cent piece on the ta¬ 
ble, placed the apparatus over it, and we all looked 
m eagerly. But there appeared only six pieces, 
instead of eight, as had been the case when 
Uncle John’s Debuscope was used. “You don’t 
give us good measure Grace,” said Fred. Grace 
was much perplexed, and asked Uncle John the rea¬ 
son of the partial failure. “ The pieces of glass are 
opened too wide,” said he. “ They should be set 
together so as to form just half a square corner, or 
what is called an angle of 45 degrees. Let me assist 
you.” He then took a square piece of paper and 
drew a line from one comer to the other—after un¬ 
winding the string from the glass, he placed one 
piece upright, with its lower edge exactly even with 
the penciled mark, and the edge of the other piece 
even with the edge of the paper; the upright edges 
of the two pieces met and formed a corner at the 
corner of the paper. When they were fastened in 
this position with the wood and string, we tried it 
again, and found it worked almost as well as 
Uncle John’s. There appeared to be open spaces 
or cracks between the figures which it made when 
placed over an object, that were not seen under, 
his instrument. This Uncle John explained, by say¬ 
ing that the thickness of the glass was shown in the 
reflections by which the figures were made ; while 
with the silver plates, the bright or reflecting sur¬ 
face was on the outside, and no thickness was 
shown. Except this, looking-glass answers every 
purpose, and as my Agriculturist cousins can all pro¬ 
cure bits of looking-glass, I think they can each 
make one which will afford them much amusement. 
If they desire a better one, they can buy a couple 
of daguerreotype plates from some artist, and put 
them together; the only care needed is to place 
them at the proper angle, which is easily done in 
the way shown us by Uncle John. 
The Editor with his Young Readers. 
SMART BOYS. 
A bright looking chap came into our office a day 
or two since, with a basket of articles for sale. As 
soon as he entered, he commenced naming over his 
stock: “Want any pins, needles, thread, buttons, 
matches,” etc., in such a rattling way, that every 
body stopped work to look at him. Few auc¬ 
tioneers could have done better. We took a fancy 
to him at once, and stepping from behind the desk, 
inquired, “ Would you like to get a place to work ?” 
“Yes, sir,” he replied. “When can we see you 
again ? ” we asked. “ Oh,” said he, as grave as a 
judge, “ step around to my office, corner of Brick¬ 
bat and Stone streets at any time and turning 
away, he left the room. Of course, there is no 
such comer, and he was playing off a joke—a saucy 
one, but so cleverly or pertly uttered as to pro¬ 
voke a hearty laugh. 
If that boy were properly trained, he would make 
an enterprising and successful man. As it is, his 
smartness makes him pert and impudent, and if no 
kind influences reform him, he will, quite likely, be¬ 
come noted for evil. He will be one of the foremost 
in all he undertakes. The incident led us to write 
a word to the smart boys who read the Agricultur¬ 
ist. We know there are many, by the pleasant let¬ 
ters they send. Boys, pull hard at the traces, but not 
atthebit. Make your work fly, but don’t be head¬ 
strong nor saucy. Bridle your tongue, and let 
father and mother hold the reins—they will guide 
you safely, for they have been over the road and 
know its turns best. Hear what the Wise Man 
says, “ Put away from thee a fro ward mouth, and 
perverse lips put far from thee.” 
A great friend of the childg^n, Mrs. Gildersleeve, 
Buffalo, Erie Co., N. Y., contributes the following 
beautiful and touching incident to the Boys and 
Girls’ Department of the American Agriculturist. 
“BITE BIGGER, BILLY.” 
Walking down the street, we saw two very ragged 
boys with bare toes, red and shining, and tattered 
clothes upon which the soil of long wear lay 
thick and dingy. They were “ few and far between” 
—only jacket and trowsers—and these solitary gar¬ 
ments were very unneighborly, and objected to a 
union, however strongly the autumn wind hinted 
at the comfort of such an arrangement. One of 
the boys was perfectly jubilant over a half withered 
bunch of flowers some person had cast away. “I 
say Billy, war’nt somebody real good to drop these 
ere posies jest were I could find ’em, and they’se so 
pooty and nice? Look sharp Billy, and maybe 
you’ll find something bimeby—Oh jolly ! Billy if 
here ain’t most half a peach, and ’tain’t much dirty 
neither. Cause you hain’t got no peach, you imay 
bite first. Bite bigger, Billy, may be we’ll find 
another ’fore long.” 
' That boy was not cold, nor poor, and never 
Fig. 1. 
will be ; his heart will keep [him warm, and if men 
and women forsake him, the very angels will 
feed him, and fold their wings about him, 
“Bite bigger, Billy, may be we’ll find another ’fore 
long.”—What a hopeful little soul! If he finds his 
unselfishness illy repaid, he will not turn misan¬ 
thrope, for God made him to be a man, one to bear 
his own burdens uncomplainingly, and help his fel¬ 
lows besides. Want cannot crush such a spirit, nor 
filth stain it, for within, him, and about him the 
spirit of the Christ-child dwelleth always. 
NEW PROBLEMS. 
No. 3.— Biblical Enigma. Contributed to the 
Agriculturist by Mrs. C. C. Hemmenway, Queens 
Co., N. Y. 
AAAAAHHHNNPPZTE. 
No name of nation nor of place, 
I by these letters mean ; 
But if you do them rightly trace, 
And put each letter in its place, 
A word will then be seen. 
To know what word these letters spell 
Read your Bible, that will tell— 
And when you search the Scriptures round, 
It only once can there be found. 
No. 4.— Illustrated Rebus. —The following is a cap¬ 
ital rebus, worth studying out. When rightly 
read, it gives a well known adage. 
ANSWERS TO PROBLEMS. 
No. 1.— Enigma contributed by M. Doming. 
(See page 23.)— Answer—A splint broom. 
No. 2.— Illustrated Rebus. (See page 23.)— Answer 
Ewe an.d eye (we) double u eye shoe aha p in ewe 
y ear; or, We wish yon a happy New- Tear. 
Correct answers received up to January 8th: 
G. C. Cook, No. 31; E. Norton, 30; Sallie A. Crater, 
31; Wm. F. Boyce, 30; Thos. Y. Thornton, 30 
(Thanks for the club) ; Adela M. Frindley, 31 (your 
Enigma is very ingenious, but rather too difficult 
for the Agriculturist)-, Robert M. Hasbrouck, jr., 
30, 31; Saidee Allaire, 31; A. N. McRoff, 30; Allen 
A. Gould, 31; Eugene Quackenbush, 30, 31; Julia 
B. Bonniwell, 31; “ Kosta,” Iowa, 30, 31 (no name 
received); Frank Bonniwell, 30; W. A. Buckhout, 
30; A. H. Breekenfield, 30; R. M. & L. M. Hosick, 
31; F. A. Sanders, 30, 31; Otway B. McCluire, 31; 
R. S. Darlington, 31; Nelson H. Moore, 31 (Rebus- 
pretty good); Mrs. A. E. Howard, 30 ; George W. 
Howard, 31; Mrs. Avery, 31; Oliver C. Prickett, 30 ; 
Henri W. Young, 31; John E. Harditz, 31; Eben- 
ezer R. Gray, (10 years) 31; Fuller P. Dalrymple, 
30, 31; Hetty K., 31; H. D. Musser, 30, 31; Charles 
B. Markwick, 30; Sarah E. Middlemiss, 30, 31; J. 
Clayton Murray, 31; Eva E. Gibbs, 31; Frank 
Fancher, 31; Edmund H. Ambler, 30; Joseph Den- 
vy, 30; Josiah Allen, 31; Mrs. A. T. Allen, 30; Wm. 
H. Thornton, 30; Edward J. Russel, 31; Leonard 
W. Ross, 31; Joseph R. Overman, 31; John 
Tampsett, 31; George W. Morse, 31 (your little 
practical joke was duly appreciated. Money and 
box both safe); E. J. Burbridge, 31; Chas. Frey, 31; 
E. H. Smith, 31; Martha J. Taft, 31; L. B. Schuy¬ 
ler, 31; Edwin D. Ullman, 31; J. Erskine Mills, 31; 
Mary Grant Lathrop, 31; Isaac E. Wilson, 30; 
Emory Mills, 30, 30; Joseph Clayton, 31; Allen 
Barnett, 31; J ohn R. Cook, 31; Maria K. Carr, 31; 
Wm. Halbach, 30; Hattie Smith, 31; Isaac S. Mil¬ 
ler, 30; Annette B. Shutts, 31; Theodore Schenk, 
30; Cornelia C. Cunningtou, 2; Melville Hendricks, 
3; Wm. Thos. Sprigg, 31; Hamlin Rockwell, 1 
(We like to receive original puzzles); W. P. Ewing, 
31; Samuel Phillips, 31; Annie M. Brown, L 
