A water telescope is easy to make and will afford much pleasure in exploring plant or animal life in comparatively shallow water. The device is made by fitting a heavy glass disk into the end of a round metal tube, about 2 in. in diameter. The glass is fitted between two rings of metal, preferably with a small flange set against the glass. A waterproof cement is used to fix the glass between the rings. To use the “telescope,” rest it on the side of a boat or other convenient place at the water, and set the lower end, containing the glass, under the water. Remarkably clear views may be had in this way.—S. Leonard Bastin, Bournemouth, England.
Writing on a Moving Train
Writing legibly on a fast-moving train is difficult to a person unaccustomed to it. The railroad conductor knows the trick of it and manages to get along quite satisfactorily. He prefers to write in a standing position and holds his right elbow firmly against his side. The reason for this is that in a sitting posture there is too much lateral movement in the trunk of the body, while in a standing position this is more easily controlled. When the arm swings freely, as in ordinary writing, several joints of the body are affected in the process, each of which is capable of its own motion. Holding the elbow against one’s ribs “breaks” these motion tendencies, except that of the wrist, which movement is necessary in writing, and thus the pencil, or pen, is more easily controlled.
The same principles modified apply in using a typewriter on a moving train. Many traveling men, news correspondents, and others, carry portable typewriters and do much of their writing while traveling on trains, not to mention the various railroad and government men who travel in office cars and necessarily must get out their correspondence en route. It is extremely difficult to execute neat typewriting on a moving train with free-arm movement, even though the central portion of the car where the vibration and swing is less severe, is selected. As I am employed in such capacity, I had to evolve some plan to expedite the work. I am able to do typewriting quite rapidly by resting the palm of the hands, near the wrists, against the front edge of the typewriter frame surrounding the keyboard, and using the swing of the fingers instead of that of the whole arm, as in ordinary typewriting.—Victor Labadie. Dallas, Tex.
A Revolving Window Display
A jeweler attracted passers-by and not a few customers by placing a revolving display in his window which was kept in motion by means of the arrangement shown in the sketch. A 10-in. cut-glass bowl was placed, upside down, near the front of the show window. An inverted tumbler was set upon it and a small tin box was pivoted on the tumbler by means of a needle soldered inside of it. Six arms of wire were soldered to the box, and watches were suspended from them. The carefully balanced frame revolved easily on the point of the needle. It was kept in motion by the draft from a fan hidden behind a mirror.—H. S. Hart, Shreveport, La.
A Horse-Drawn Sod Cutter
The cutting of a considerable area of sod is tedious work when done by hand, and it is difficult to make the sections of uniform thickness and size. These important features are provided for by the use of the homemade sod cutter shown in the sketch. To start a cut across a meadow or lot, a notch is cut in the turf for the blade, and the device is set into place, stamping it down to give a good start. The operator stands on the plank in front of the blade, and a little practice will soon determine the best position for ease in operation. When a cut has been completed, the cutter is dragged to a fresh starting place, the driver turning it over on the upper side. The strips are cut into suitable lengths and piled conveniently for removal with a stone boat or wagon.
