The Artificial Spider.
Cut a piece of burnt cork, about the size of a pea, in the shape of a spider; make its legs of linen thread, and put a grain or two of lead into it; to give it more weight; suspend it by a fine line of silk between the arch, and an excited stick of wax.
To make waves of fire on the surface of water.
On a lump of loaf sugar, let fall a few drops of phosphorized ether, and place the sugar in a glass of warm water; a very beautiful appearance will be instantly exhibited: and the effect is increased if the surface of the water is made to undulate, by blowing gently with the breath.
Spoons which melt in hot water.
Melt together, in a crucible, five parts of lead, three of tin, and eight of bismuth; these metals will contain and form an alloy (of which spoons may be made, possessed of the remarkable property of melting in boiling water.)
To prepare Phosphorized Ether.
Suffer sulphuric ether (about sixpenny worth) to stand for some weeks over a few small pieces of phosphorus, in a well-stopped phial. The solution is aided by occasional agitation.
How to extract sixpence from under a glass without touching it.
Place two shillings at an equal distance, so as to allow the rim of a glass to rest on them, place a sixpence in the centre of the shillings under the glass; by drawing your nail along the table, the sixpence will follow the motion of your nail. This feat can only be performed on a baize, cloth, &c.