1876.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
465 
Louis Fair of that year, and to which we gave the 
name of “ Missouri Hoop-pole Chair.” It is made 
entirely of hickory or other saplings, such as are 
used for hoop-poles ; as these allow of bending, 
the out-lines of the chair are rounded and graceful. 
Those who have suitable wood at hand can, by the 
aid of the engraving, and the necessary nails and 
screws, make an excellent frame-work, which, if it 
is to be stuffed, will not of course need so elaborate 
work as shown in the engraving referred to. 
In Faith Rochester’s “ Home Topics,” published 
in September, 1874, page 435, some diagrams 
for a “Corner Chair” are given, but as the com¬ 
plete chair has not been published in the American 
Agriculturist , we give it here. It was intended to 
be made from a large dry-goods box, but Mrs. R. 
constructed hers from boards, and those who pre¬ 
fer to build one in that manner, are referred to the 
diagrams given on the page above named. The 
box to make the chair should be 3 ft. square, and 
when set on end, 4 ft. high. Fig. 1 gives a diagram, 
showing the out-lines of the box, and how it is to 
be cut; the portion from a to b, should measure 14 
inches. All the corners should he securely nailed, 
and cleats placed to hold the seat, which need not 
be fastened in, as the space below can then be used 
for the storage of such articles as are not often 
wanted. Five strong casters, one at each angle, being 
put on, the chair is ready for stuffing and covering. 
It is shown complete at figure 2, where two pieces 
of carved wood, c, are put on as a finish, but to our 
notion the chair looks better without them. In 
stuffing such chairs, any coarse fabric will answer ; 
bagging that has been used for packing goods, 
quite as servicable as new, may often be had at the 
stores for a trifle. As to the stuffing material, that 
is rather more difficult. Of course curled hair is 
the best, but if one is going to this expense, a chair 
had better be bought out-right. Good “ moss ” 
will answer, and the upholsterers have a material 
called “African Palm,” which is quite satisfactory. 
Sea-weed soon gets ground up and useless, and is 
inferior to hay run through a cutting machine ; if 
wiry and elastic bog-hay be selected, it is perhaps 
the best eheap material, unless it may be corn- 
husks, prepared beforehand. If green corn-husks 
be shredded by means of a fork, or some blades set 
for the purpose, into strips as fine as ordinary 
straw, and dried in the shade, they make a very 
elastic stuffing. Where there are solid wooden 
backs, the stuffing can not be knotted, but broad- 
lieaded tacks must be driven through into the 
boards, to hold the stuffing in place. The covering 
may be such as the purse will allow, or some old 
dress of suitable material may be turned to account; 
for chamber use a covering of chintz will be suita¬ 
ble, but if the chairs are to occupy the living-room, 
some rep or similar material is preferable. The 
finish may be improved by the use of heavy cord 
around the edges, and a fringe or a frill around the 
seat and bottom. Faith Rochester, in the article 
referred to, finds it useful to have two or three 
small cushions or pillows for the corner chair, as 
by the aid of these the chair is converted into a 
capital day couch for the baby. 
If any of our friends have devices for home-made 
chairs, preferable to these, they will help their sister 
housekeepers by sending descriptions of them. 
Economy in the TJso of Fuel. 
Much money is wasted in the too rapid com¬ 
bustion of coal, especially when the heating appa¬ 
ratus is a furnace in the cellar. If this is left to 
the management of Patrick or Bridget, they will 
keep the fire-box full, and all the dampers open, 
with the grate-bars red hot below, and the ther¬ 
mometer among the eighties in the rooms above. 
This is too hot for health, injures doors and fur¬ 
niture, uses up the furnace, and wastes fuel. In 
running a furnace for the last three years, we have 
found “pea coal,” which is the screened refuse of 
the coal yard, an excellent regulator of the heat, and 
a great saving in the coal bill. It is often thrown 
away in the coal yard, and when sold, can general¬ 
ly be had at half the price of furnace coal, or less. 
It contains as much carbon, as coal of larger size, 
and if the combustion is properly regulated, will go 
as far in heating a house. For all that is consumed 
there is a reduction of one-half in the cost. But it 
is of special service in the regulation of the com¬ 
bustion of the coarser coal in moderate weather, 
or during the night, when a lower temperature is 
desirable for the sleeping rooms. Ordinarily, a 
furnace need be visited but three times a day to 
keep up a comfortable warmth in the rooms above. 
Beginning in the morning at six o’clock, the ashes 
are well shaken down, fresh coarse coal is added, 
and a thin layer of pea coal on top of this. This 
process is repeated at mid-day, and at nine or ten 
in the evening, on retiring for the night. More of 
pea coal is added at the last visit, to check the 
combustion for the night. In the morning the 
whole mass of coal in the fire-box is completely 
ignited, and there is a good fire to begin with. 
More or less of the pea coal is used, according to 
the temperature of the weather. It is the best 
regulator of combustion we have ever tried, and 
saves from a quarter to a third in the expense of 
heating for the wiuter. This is an item worth 
looking after in these hard times. C.. 
JB©YS 4 
IBoys sms«1 <14 iris—Look Here.—The 
publishers have a word especially for you on page 473. 
It is headed “A Paying Business for Boys, and Girls 
Too,” and there are many boys and girls who will find 
it gives a useful hint. Turn to and read it. 
Fsibi for a IIoli«la.y Party. 
Of course fun that will answer for the holidays, will 
do for any other days, but as holiday week is given up to 
enjoyment, and there are more children’s parties then 
than at any other time, some talk about them is in sea¬ 
son. Those of you who have been to young folks’ gath¬ 
erings know that some are very pleasant, and that the 
time passes away all too quickly, while others are so dull, 
that you are glad when it is all over. When you think 
of it afterwards, you will find that a party was pleasant 
when the person giving it knew how to furnish amuse¬ 
ment for all, and dull, when either no amusement was 
provided, or of a kind that all could not enjoy. It is bet¬ 
ter not only for young folks, but for old ones too, to not 
give a party at all, than to bring a lot of persons togeth¬ 
er, and leave them to amuse themselves. Persons who 
give parties take great pains to furnish refreshments, as 
if eating were the great object, and think of nothing be¬ 
forehand that will amuse their friends. When a girl or 
Fig. 1.—THE BEGINNING OF THE GIANTESS. 
boy gives a party, let the first care be, not the cakes and 
apples, but the games and other entertainment. If you 
can not manage this yourself, most of you know some 
friend, no matter if older than yourself—who has a tact 
at keeping things lively, and before oue game is 
“played out” is ready to propose and start another. It 
is well to consult such a friend, and if possible get his 
or her help. Games in which all can take a part are de¬ 
sirable, but if kept up constantly are fatiguing, and 
there should be now and then something which will 
amuse all while resting in their scats. Music comes in 
Fig. 2.—THE GIANTESS FINISHED. 
for such a purpose, but all can not have music, and there 
may be too much even of this. Of little tricks or feats 
in which one or two persons can amuse a whole company, 
we know of nothing more amusing than that of 
“finding the key-hole.” 
A little old woman enters the room and goes up to a 
door—the company having been arranged so as to give 
her a plenty of room—and begins to look for the key- 
