Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 257, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1915 — HANDICRAFT FOR BOYS AND GIRLS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HANDICRAFT FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

br A. NEELY HALL and DOROTHY PERKINS

Viwii ■■■ ■ ■ ■ ■■■■■■■■■■■• (Copyright, by A. Neely Hall.)

HOW TO BUILD AND FLY A BOXKITE. Of first importance In kite construction are the sticks, which must be cut of uniform width and thickness. Fig. 2 shows one of the two frames required for the box-kite. Cut sticks A 30 inches long, three-eighths inch thick, and three-eighth inch wide, and sticks B eight and one-quarter inches long, one-quarter inch thick, and threequarter inch wide. Then place sticks B across sticks A, exactly at right angles to them, five inches from the ends and fasten them with slender brads three-quarter-inch long. After making the two frames, prepare the cloth covering for the end

“cells.'’ Get lightweight muslin, or several sheets of strong, lightweight wrapping paper, for this. If you use cloth, cut a strip nine inches wide and 57% Inches long. Ask mother or sister to hem the side edges of the strips, and also to sew the ends together, lapping them so as to form bands 56% inches long. The two bands must be of exactly the same length. Fig. 6 shows how the lapped ends should be sewed with a double row of stitching, also how to slip the bands over the frames, one at a time, and fasten them to the sticks with tacks. After the bands have been fastened on, spread the frames to their fullest extent, and hold them in this position,

temporarily, with sticks sprung in between them. Then measure the distance between sticks A, for the diagonal braces C (Fig. 3). Cut these sticks of the same width and thickness as sticks B, and long enough to provide for notching the ends as shown in Fig. 5, to fit over sticks A (Fig 4), and so they will be bowed slightly when slipped into place. The reason for having them slightly bowed is so they will keep the cell coverings stretched tight like drum-heads. Lash sticks C together, at their intersections, with thread (Fig. 3), and drive tacks into sticks A, against the ends of C, (Fig. 4) to keep them from slipping away from sticks B. There are several methods of attaching the box-kite bridle, but the

two-point method shown in Fig. 1 is the one most commonly used. To send up the box-kite. Bet it upon the ground, on its end, in the position shown in Fig. 1, walk away a distance of about one hundred and fifty feet, and then, with the flying line held firmly, run 100 yards or so, paying out the line as the kite rises.