Since folks will foolishly believe in palmistry don’t try to convince them to the contrary, but while there is nothing in it, when you play palmist tell them only the nice, pleasant things and you will then be doing them a real service.
Just two more pointers on the ignoble art of palmistry and these are (1) read the palms of each one present right out loud before the whole gathering, and (2) be mighty careful that the single girls and married ladies do not switch rings and so lead you into the trap of thinking that the former are enjoying a state of connubial felicity (whatever state[137] that may be) and that the latter are living in a territory[138] of single blessedness.
[137] Probably Utah.
[138] Most likely Arizona.
A Talk on the Steam Engine.
—For your final evening entertainment give a thumb-nail lecture on steam and the steam-engine.
You will find every one is interested in steam because it is one of the great prime movers but there are very few people indeed who have any idea of how a steam engine works.
If you will do exactly as I tell you, you can talk on and demonstrate the principles of a steam engine so that, whatever the age of your listeners, they will know, when you are through, exactly how and why a steam engine runs and develops power.
Making the Model Engine.
—The engine I shall tell you how to build is not a model that runs by steam,[139] but one made almost entirely of wood and the purpose of it is not actually to produce power but to show exactly how it works.