A holder which may be ornamented and trimmed with leather or other materials, was made of several disks of wood, joined at the center by a thumbscrew, and provided a neat place for calling cards, post cards, etc. The block A, which fits against the wall, is ³⁄₈ in. thick and 2 in. in diameter. The disk C is ¹⁄₄ by 7 in., the disk D, 6 in., and the metal disk E, 6 in. in diameter. The edge of the metal disk, which may be of ornamented or etched brass, or copper, is curled forward as shown. The thumbscrew B holds the disks together and fastens them to the wall.—James E. Noble, Portsmouth, Ontario, Can.
Testing Direct Current Polarity with Litmus Paper
Litmus paper laid on glass, and moistened with a weak solution of sodium sulphate can be used to test the polarity of a direct current. If the two conductors are touched on the moistened paper, the latter will turn red at the positive, and blue at the negative conductor.
¶A berry stemmer made of a small pair of tweezers is useful for removing superfluous buds from garden flowering plants.
An Automatic Fishhook
The hook A is made of tempered brass or steel wire of a gauge sufficient for the size of the fish to be caught. A wire of No. 18 gauge is about right for ordinary fishing, with a No. 20 or 22 gauge for the trigger. Hooks, C C, can be soldered on the points to angle for larger fish. Barbs are not required for smaller fish.
Such a hook will catch the fish, even if they only nibble, and is especially good for fishing through the ice. Use a bob and a pole, and bait the short hook with a minnow or worm. The extreme length of a hook for catching a 1-lb. fish should be 3 in. Fasten the line as shown at B.—Contributed by Robert C. Knox, Waycross, Ga.