Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-08-11
HOW TO MAKE A KITE.
~ Q. n. PEABODY, M. A.

AMONG the various kinds the "three-
stick kite is probably the surest for the
beginner. Get three light, thin, straight
sticks. of cedar, pine or similar wood !:
smooth them, and let them be about half
an inch wide by an eighth thick; per.
haps little moro. Make two of them 80
inches long, and the third 20 inches.
Mark point 10 inches from the end of
each Of the long sticks, and in the middle
Of the short one cross the three sticks ct
these points, and tie them firmly with
Irvine. Cut notches lengthwise across the
ends Of the sticks, and tie strong twine
ftom end to end, making the outline of
an irregular six sided figure, of which the
bottom may be 18 inches long the sides
about 1871 the shoulders II, and the top
8 inches. There numbers may vary It is
necessary only that the corresponding
sides should be exactly alike or the kite
will not be we'll balanced. This finishes
the frame.
Now lay down sheet of strong, light
paper, place the frame upon 1t, and cut
the paper about two inches larger than
the frame, all round. Fold the outside
over the strings, and paste down with
good boiled nour paste, cutting out the
corners where they overlap.
The next thing Is to hang the kite
Measure from each lower corner five
inches along the sticks; make q small
hole on each side of the stick through the
paper, and tie In tho ends of string.
which shall measure, when tied, about IA
inches from stick 70 stick. This 10 the
lower loop. In like manner tic an upper
loop, about 8 inches long, to points abont
8 inches from the upper end OF the same
stick. Remember to have the loops on
the face side of the kite; that 10, the side
on which the sticks are not seen. Join
the middles Of the two loops by string
about 20 inches long this is the belly.
band. Hang the kite by the belly
over your finger, and hold 1t 80 that when
one end Of the kite touches the floor, the
other may be about a foot above it; there
Is the place TO tie the line, making 1t fast
SO that 1t will not slip: When the kite
floats in the air, II should lie at an angle
of about 45 degrees; II 1t stands too
straight the string Ia fastened too low on
not lowlenough.
The kite must have a tail to balance II.
If the tail Is too heavy, the kite will not
raise Il; If too light, a. Is usually the case,
the kite will not "stand" steadily, but will
dive from side to side. Whenever 1t does
that, It should be taken in, and more
weight added TO the tail. Out pieces OF
writing paper, 4 inches wide and or 8
long; fold back and forth fan-likc, and tie
3 inches apart, on string until you have
made 8 or 4 Yards. Then cut q quantity
of strips half an inch wide, and IL or IA
inches long tie the bunch Of them by the
middle, fold the ends together and tie
.r.tc ,rskir0 n %asa>1 wh}ch Won NAV tie
to tho end OF the tail II the strips are Of
coiored tissue paper, eli the gayer. Tie Q
string about % inches long TO the two
lower corners Of the Kite, and fasten the
tail 70 the middle OF IT, Choose smooth,
close. well spun string, linen II best-snd
costs most-pOt too large, or It's weight
Win make IL Gag" nor too small, or the
kite will Hy away with II. Finally, don't
try TO dy kite when the wind don't blow
Now, lust q each of your good moth
ers think, she has recipe for making
cookies. which she thinks L. little better
than any other, 90 every boy who has
experience in kite making thinks his way
ia rather the best, and, quite likely, he
NAV find fault with some Of our proper.
tons If 30 he has perfect liberty to
change them TO his likelng. The impor.
tant items are: the kite must be truly
made 10 that one side may just balance
the other; 1t must hang at the proper an.
Gle to the wind; and the tail must be
tightly proportional in weight to the
size Of the kite.
n the kite don't behave we'll at first,
think which Of these items has not been
carefully attended ~, and correct Don't
give up at the first trial-zM Bright
I'D