The Cracker thus far advanced is to be doubled backwards and forwards in folds about two and a quarter inches, as many times as the length of the paper will allow. After this, the whole should be pressed quite close together by means of a small wooden vice, (similar to those known by carpenters under the name of hand-screws, the use of which would be found extremely convenient for many other purposes,) and a piece of twine passed twice round the middle across the folds, and the joinings secured by causing the twine to take a turn round the middle at every fold successively; one of the ends of the folds may be doubled short under, which will produce an extra report, the other must project a little beyond the rest for the purpose of priming and capping with the touch paper; when this is done the cracker is complete. Crackers when well made and of sufficient strength, are productive of much mirth, and when of considerable magnitude, furnish excellent means of dispersing a crowd; at the same time they are so perfectly harmless that no evil consequence may be expected to follow the amusement they afford.
Pin wheels.
3. Pin wheels.—Pin or Catherine Wheels are of very simple construction, nothing more being wanted than a long wire former, about three sixteenths of an inch diameter; on this wire are formed the pipes, which being filled with composition are afterwards rolled round a small circle of wood, so as to form an helix or spiral line.
The cases are generally made of Elephant paper, or such as will admit of the greatest length; rolled about four times round the wire and pasted as they are rolled; when a number of pipes are made and got perfectly dry, they are filled with the composition described at No. 2, in the table; these cases are not rammed, but filled by means of a tin funnel with a long pipe, made so as easily to pass down the case, which is gradually filled by shaking the composition out of the funnel; all the cases prepared being thus filled, one of them being closed at one end, is to be pasted round the flat circle of wood, which must not be above half an inch thick, and one inch in diameter, and secured at every half turn by sealing wax; when this is all wound round the circle and the wheel not sufficiently large, a second case may be inserted into the mouth of the last, taking care that the end introduced is only loosely twisted, otherwise it might obstruct the communication and destroy the effect; but this being properly adjusted and the joining secured by pasting paper round it, the spiral is to be continued in the same way as before, till the wheel be increased to the proper dimensions, or such as suits the taste of the Tyro.
The central block must be pierced in the middle for the purpose of receiving a strong pin, or a small piece of wire, by which the wheel may be attached to a post or any other convenient object, or the pin or wire being inserted into the pith of an hazel stick, the wheel without any danger may be let off in the hand; when the mouth of the last round is primed and capped with touch-paper, on its being lighted, the impulse of the flame against the air forces back the ignited part of the wheel, which continues to revolve till the whole of the composition is consumed.[7]
Stars.
4. Stars.—These are small paper globes filled with a composition that emits a most beautiful radiating light, which has been compared to the light of “those endless beauties which adorn our celestial hemisphere;” as the purposes for which they are used are chiefly as ornaments to other articles, such as rockets, roman candles, &c. their dimensions must of consequence be limited or adapted to those articles, therefore their diameters must seldom exceed three-quarters of an inch, unless the articles to which they are attached are of more than ordinary dimensions, and for small articles their diameter must be less in proportion. At the beginning of this article we called them “paper globes,” but we must observe that they are only put in paper, when their composition is prepared dry; and instead of paper they are frequently wrapped in a small piece of linen rag, tied closely round with small twine, and when either of these wrappers are used, a hole must be pierced through its middle, to receive a piece of match left projecting a little on each side.
Though the above mode of making Stars is frequently practised, yet I have always found it best to use the composition moist, in the form of stiff paste, when it will not be necessary to inclose the Star in any thing, because when prepared of such paste it can retain its roundness; there will be no need also of piercing a hole in it for the match, because when newly made and consequently moist, it may be rolled in pulverized gunpowder, which will adhere to it; this powder when kindled will serve as a match, and inflame the composition of the Star, which in falling will form itself into stars, and exhibit a most beautiful appearance. For the composition for stars consult the table Sect. 7, No. 3, and No. 4.