** Venting a Funnel [318]

When using a tight-fitting funnel in a small-neck bottle, trouble is usually experienced by the air causing a spill.  This can be easily remedied by splitting a match in half and tying the parts on the sides of the stem with thread.  —­Contributed by Maurice Baudier, New Orleans, La.

** Lubricating Woodscrews [318]

A screw may be turned into hardwood easily, by boring a small hole and lubricating the screw threads with soft soap.

** To Make “Centering” Unnecessary [319]

For drilling a hole in a chucked piece, centering is just one operation too many, if this method is followed: 

First, face off the end of the piece, making a true spot at least as big as the diameter of the drill.  Put a center punch mark where the tool lines indicate the center of revolution.  This serves as a rough guide for placing the drill between the tail stock center and the work as usual.  Clamp a tool in the tool-post and, on starting the lathe, bring it in contact with the drill and keep it firmly so until the drill is in fully up to the lips.  This prevents the drill from wobbling, and when once in true up to its size, it cannot change any more than under any other starting conditions.  After being entered, the drill does not need the tool, which should be backed out of contact.

** Fountain Pen Cap Used as a Ruler [319]

When it is necessary to draw a short line and there is no ruler at hand, take

[Illustration:  Ruling Lines]

off the cap of your fountain pen and use it as a ruler.  If the cap is fitted with a retaining clip, all the better, as this will prove a safeguard against slipping.

** Vanishing Handkerchief Trick [319]

The necessary articles used in performing this trick are the handkerchief, vanishing wand, a long piece of glass tubing, a bout 1/2 in. shorter t h a n the wand, and a paper tube closed at one end and covered with a cap at the other, says the Sphinx.  The handkerchief rod, shown at C, is concealed in the paper tube A before the performance.  The glass tube B, after being shown empty; is put into the paper tube A, so that the handkerchief rod now is within it, unknown to the spectators.  The handkerchief is then placed over

[Illustration:  Wand]

the opening of the tube and pushed in by means of the wand.  In doing this, the handkerchief and the rod are pushed into the wand, as shown in D. After the wand is removed, the cap is placed over the paper tube, and this given to someone to hold.  The command for the handkerchief to vanish is given, and it is found to be gone when the glass tube is taken out of the paper cover.  This is a novel way of making a handkerchief vanish.  It can be used in a great number of tricks, and can be varied to suit the performer.

** Removing Glass Letters from Windows [319]

Glass letters are removed in the same way as metal letters, by applying caustic soda or potash around the edges of the letters.  As the cement softens, manipulate the point of a pocket knife under the edges of the letter until the caustic works completely under and makes it easy to lift the letters.  With care and patience, every letter may be thus taken off without breakage.