How to lift up a Flint Glass Bottle with a Straw.
Take a straw, which is not broken or bruised, and having bent one end of it into a sharp angle, put this curved end into the bottle, so that the bent part may rest against its side, and you may take the other end in your hand, and lift up the bottle by it, without breaking the straw, and this will be more readily accomplished, as the angular part of the straw approaches nearer to that which comes out of the bottle.
How to produce Flashes of Light resembling the Will O’ Wisp.
Take a small quantity of water in a glass tumbler, and add to it two or three small lumps of phosphoret of lime, shortly will arise little flashes of light, darting out like petty lightning and ascending subsequently into curling clouds, the appearances continue for some time, and constitute a lively illustration of the formation of a light proceeding out of shallow pools of water.
Imitative Medallions.
Medallions, after the antique, cameos and intaglios are made by fusing the iron with a small quantity of antimony, performing the operation in a very small furnace. When finished from the mould, rub them over with burnt porcelain earth, from which they will receive the rich hue of jet, rendering them fit to be set, even in gold.
Method of cleaning Playing Cards.
Nothing soils sooner than playing cards. The following method will be found to remove every thing from them but a stain, and will give the dirtiest pack possible the appearance of being new. Rub the soiled card with a piece of flannel and some good fresh butter, until the butter shall have cleaned off all the dirt. So soon as the dirt is removed, wipe off the butter with a clean rag, and to restore the cards to its former gloss, rub the surface sharply with a piece of flannel and some flour, cut the edges neatly with a pair of scissars, and the operation is completed.
To Detonate Fulminating Copper by Friction.
Put a grain of fulminating copper on a hearth-stone, rub it with the end of a poker, and a loud explosion will immediately follow.