The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-08-30
How to Mako u Paper Balloon.

! For large balloons, strong manila paper
Is best; for smaller ones, use tissue paper,
When you build balloon, decide frs,
what height you want it, then make the
side pieces or cores nearly third longer
, balloon OF Ii cores, each six feet long
and one foot greatest width, makes bal.
loon little over four feet high. For such d
balloon, first make pattern of still brown
paper by which to cut the gores To make
the pattern, take strip Of paper SIX feet
long and little over one foot wide; fold
the paper in the center lcngthwise. 80 that
1t will be only little over half foot from
the edges Of the fold. Along the bottom,
at right angles from the folded edge, mea-
sure three inches and one half, and ma~'s
The point; in the samo manner, mark
five inches from two feet up the fold. +.
a point three feet four inches from the b
tom, measure off SIX inches, and mark th>
point; from this place tho width decreases.
AT the fourth foot, mark point five inches
and onc-half from the fold about three
inches and a third at the fifth foot, or ton,
where the gore will come to point, With
chalk OF pencil draw c,u we'd line conncct-
ing these points, then cut tho paper along
this line and unfold it.
You Will have pattern tho shape of a
| cigar, four inches wide at the bottom, one
foot greatest width, and six feet long.
Alter pasting your sheets of manila or
tissue paper together in strips OF the re
qulred length. cut, by the pattern lust
made, l3 cores; lay one of these cores
flat upon the floor, fold it in the center
over this lay another gore, leaving mar
gin of the under gore protruding from be-
meath. With brush cover the protruclng
edge with paste, then turn 1t up, and over
upon the other gore, and with towel or
rug press it down until the two edges adj
here. Fold the upper gore in the center.
as you did the first one, and lay a third
gore upon it; paste the protruding edge,
and SO on until all l3 are pasted. 1t will
DC found that the bottom gore and top gore
have cnch al end unpased; lay these Two
edges together and paste them neatly.
Next. you must make Il hoop of rattan or
some light substance to fit the mouth opcn
ing, which will be about one foot aud a
half i'll diameter. Fastcn the hoop in by
pasting the edges Of the mouth oD:ninr
around it. In very large paper balloons it
is well to place piece of string along the
! edge OF each gore and paste il in, citing
tho ends of the strings hang down below the
mouth. Fastcn the hoop in with these
ends before pa<ting the paper over it. 1t
will be found next to impossible to tear the
hoop from balloon strengthened III this
| manner.
Should you discover an opening at the
top OF your balloon, caused by the points
not joining exactly, tie it up with a string,
If it be small, but if it be large hole,
paste piece of paper over it. When dry,
take Ian and fan the balloon as full of
| air Il ,,,l,:
make thorough inspection Of all sides, TO
see that there are no accidental tears, holes
or rips. The fle-ball is best made of old
fashioned lamp wick, wound rather loosely
Ill the form OF II ball, the size depending
upon The dimensions OF the balloon. The
sponge commonly used soon burns out and
the balloon comes downin a very little while.
but the wick ball here described sel,.om in, q
to propcl the little air-ship upward and on
ward and out of sight. A shcrt fine wire
should next be run quite through the wick
ball, SO that it can be attached TO the mo nth
OF the balloon IN an instant by hooking the
ends OF this wire over the cross wires at the
mouth.
If you use little care, you will have no
difficulty in sending up tho balloon. Place
your wlck-ball in pan or dish, put the
corked bottle of alcohol beside it, anu uboua
30 feet away make Il simple fire place of
bricks or stones, over which place an old
stovcplpe. Fill the fireplace with shavings,
twisted pieces of paper or anything that
will light readily and make good blaze.
In loop of string fastened ut tho top of
the balloon for that purpose, let one of
the party put the end Of smooth stick,
and with the other end in his or Ler hand,
mount some elevated position and hold
the balloon over the fireplace. Before
touching n match to the combustibIcs be :
low, expand the balloon as much as DOS
siblo by tanning 1t full of air; then light
the fire. Bo very careful, in all the
process that follows, to hold the mouth
of the balloon directly above and not too
near the stovcpipc, to prevent the blaze
| from setting fire TO the paper, which w )ulcl
easily catch. AT this stage of Proceed
ings one person must take the bottle of
alcohol uncOrk it, and pour the content 3
over the wick ball in the basin, and the
ball must be made to soak up all it will hold
of the spirits. The balloon will become
more and more buoyant as the air becomes
| heated inside, and at length, when dis
| tended to its utmost, il will begin pull
| ing to free itself. Holding the hoop at
the mouth, walk TO one side Of the fire,
and with all speed have the ball attached
securely in place. Touch h light to it,
and it will blaze up. AT the words "All
right" let go. At the.same Instant The stick
must be slid from the loop on top, so, as
not to tear tho paper, and away will sail
| tho BALBOA upon It's AIRY v0yapc.
| \ Locomotive Race with Il Reptile.