The reflectors are made of sheet tin or nickel-plated metal bent to a curve as shown, and extending the whole height of the lantern.  The length of these reflectors can be determined by the angle of the lens when covering the picture.  This is clearly shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.  The reflectors must not interfere with the light between the picture and the lens, but they must be sufficiently large to prevent any direct light reaching the lens from the lamps.  In operation place the post card upside down in the slides and close the door.  Sliding the shallow box carrying the lens will focus the picture on the screen.

** A Handy Calendar [196]

[Illustration:  The Knuckles Designate the 31 Day Months]

“Thirty days hath September, April, June and November,” etc., and many other rhymes and devices are used to aid the memory to decide how many days are in each month of the year.  Herewith is illustrated a very simple method to determine the number of days in any month.  Place the first finger of your right hand on the first knuckle of your left hand, calling that knuckle January; then drop your finger into the depression between the first and second knuckles, calling this February; then the second knuckle will be March, and so on, until you reach July on the knuckle of the little finger, then begin over again with August on the first knuckle and continue until December is reached.  Each month as it falls upon a knuckle will have 31 days and those down between the knuckles 30 days with the exception of February which has only 28 days.  —­Contributed by Chas. C. Bradley, West Toledo, Ohio.

** The Fuming of Oak [196]

Darkened oak always has a better appearance when fumed with ammonia.  This process is rather a difficult one, as it requires an airtight case, but the description herewith given may be entered into with as large a case as the builder cares to construct.

Oak articles can be treated in a case made from a tin biscuit box, or any other metal receptacle of good proportions, provided it is airtight.  The oak to be fumed is arranged in the box so the fumes will entirely surround the piece; the article may be propped up with small sticks, or suspended by a string.  The chief point is to see that no part of the wood is covered up and that all surfaces are exposed to the fumes.  A saucer of ammonia is placed in the bottom of the box, the lid or cover closed, and all joints sealed up by pasting heavy brown paper over them.  Any leakage will be detected if the nose is placed near the tin and farther application of the paper will stop the holes.  A hole may be cut in the cover and a piece of glass fitted in, taking care to have all the edges closed.  The process may be watched through the glass and the article removed when the oak is fumed to the desired shade.  Wood stained in this manner should not be French polished or varnished, but waxed.

The process of waxing is simple:  Cut some beeswax into fine shreds and place them in a small pot or jar.  Pour in a little turpentine, and set aside for half a day, giving it an occasional stir.  The wax must be thoroughly dissolved and then more turpentine added until the preparation has the consistency of a thick cream.  This can be applied to the wood with a rag and afterward brushed up with a stiff brush.