handy book

 

I was eying this book a bit back in the magic cabin catalog because I am a total sucker for old instruction manuals, cookbooks, children's games, how-to's etc. I love reading them, and the illustrations are good too. I get the most excited by the  tone of the narrative in these types of books and this one is excellent.

I've made these images big enough so hopefully you can read some of the text. I found this copy used (99 cents!) on amazon, but don't you hate it when the shipping is $3.95 on a 99 cent book! The girls one is coming soon, also cheap. This guide is from the late 1890's and I think this author was a huge contributor to the boy scouts. There are activities by the the season (as it should be!), and it's full of all sorts of crazy fun ideas sure to cause disaster and painful injuries for all. here's the description:

An 1890 manual of pasttimes which includes instructions for making kites, fishing poles, a blow gun, boats, and theatrical costumes, and for raising dogs, stuffing animals, stocking an aquarium, and camping.

 

Like this! I really love this illustration. the dog is in the barrel.

and here's how to ice skate using wind power by making one's self into a huge kite. brilliant.
other projects include:

Home-Made Masquerade and Theatrical Costumes
Kites
Fishing
Home-Made Boats
Soap-Bubbles
Paper Fireworks
Home-Made Hunting Apparatus (*this sounds like trouble*)
Decoys; Taxidermy
'Uncle Enos" Banjo (what?)
Snow-Shoes

and this kills me. I have to make one of these right now. I love these types of puppets and indoor parlor games like this. I will show the girls one when it comes. It had better be as much fun. The girls get the shaft, man!