The need of a compass when none was at hand caused me to quickly devise a substitute for the work. A piece of stiff wire, about the length of the pencil, was procured, and several turns were made around the pencil, as shown. The lower straight end was filed to a point. The wire can be bent to obtain the radius distance. - Contributed by Preston Ware, Rome, Ga.

A very effective dip for brass and copper articles, that will leave a clean and bright finish, is 2 qt. of aqua fortis, 1 gal. of sulphuric acid, 1 pt. of water and a pinch of salt.