1877.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
385 
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, while the boy’s voice said “Can’t 
you wash my trousers to-morrow and make them 
look brown all over ? ” Then I knew what must 
have 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. Yes, 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 Beecher, 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. 
Those who can compare the furniture of fifty years 
ago with that of the present day, 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 20, or even 10 years ago. Half a century 
ago, the only provision made for invalids in the 
way of chairs, was what was, by courtesy, called an 
“ easy chair.” What a ponderous machine it was, 
as it occupied a corner in the “ front room,” (only 
opened for funerals or other special occasions), or 
in the “ spare chamber,”—where everything too 
uncomfortable for daily use, was gathered for 
“ company.” That “ easy chair,” with a seat wide 
enough for three; its erect back, and equally erect 
arms—let us hope that 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 01, 
but to try to get well, when one of these old-fash¬ 
ioned “ 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 those who 
are temporarily invalids, or permanently disabled, 
have provided for these, and at the same time have 
not forgotten the comfort of the well, but bave 
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 
Platt St., N. Y. 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 York 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 them 
to any point with the utmost accuracy. They may 
be opened out flat to serve as a bed or lounge. 
The same firm makes an “ Invalid’s Rocking Chair,” 
which, to judge from the catalogue, is very similar 
to the Pittsburgh chair, already mentioned, 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. Y. Mr. S. calls 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, put 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 
Sense ” Chairs, shows a great variety, with and 
without rockers; that given in figure 4, is known as 
the “ Centennial Rocker” ; 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. 
mY s & mm ® 9 wlwmktSo 
Aunt Sue’s Chats. 
R. T. M. sends an old puzzle which may interest some 
of our readers, so we give it here. Divide three-quarters 
Fig. 1—TEHEE QUARTERS OF SQUARE.— Fig. 2. 
of a square (fig. 1) into four equal parts and shape. This 
is not so difficult to do as to divide figure 2 into equal 
parts and shape—which may be done. 
Jesse M. —The “agent”—being merely an agent—was 
not liable for any loss to the town. He had to pay to the 
town at the end of the year $50.23, and give up the stock 
of liquor (worth $31.37). The town lost—by the year’s 
business—(including the agent’s salary) $8.11—and, con¬ 
sidering the nature of the business, I’m glad of it. An¬ 
swers to the problem are still coming in, but I think the 
subject has been sufficiently 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 his prize. 
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 anything worth mentioning, will 
publish the same at some future time. Should any of our 
readers be able and willing to furnish us with instruc¬ 
tions, we should be grateful. 
Susan.— To be sure I will comply with the request of 
my name-sake, and all the more readily because others 
have asked for “a pretty border for Java canvas.” Here 
you have in figure 3 a design in what is called “scroll¬ 
work.” It is worked in cross-stitch, and when two 
shades of worsted, of any color you may prefer, are used, 
the effect is very pleasing. 
John W. W.—Your enigma is a scarcely fair one, be- 
Fig. 3.— SCROLL PATTERN FOR JAVA CANVASS. 
marshes. Aside from the fact that the fashion of 
these was 6traight-backed, 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 
cause such words as you define by “lustrous,” “a kind 
of mus'in,” “stupidity,” etc., are not used in common 
conversation once in twenty years. (Mine, in the prize 
enigma, were all common words, except “ macaroon,” 
and about, that I gave some hints.) Nevertheless, I will 
some day publish it, as our puzajers are not easily 
“ stumped.” 
