The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-06-17

almost to indicate deliberate intention,
chase him about, no matter how nimbly he
may try to escape, and finally double him up
with thump in the stomach.
But in the open suburban fields or in the
broad country you may cast the crooked
stick as often as you please.
For trials within doors the most convenient
substance is common cardboard. Old visit
Ing or playing cards will serve as well as
anything 1t may be as thin as you like, if
your boomerang is to lie small; but for
larger sizes more s0lidity is required. Cut
out pieces shaped like any of the models
given and you have your fantastic Austral-
ian weapons ready for use. You need not
be very exact as to the form, nor is it re-
quisite to trim the edges, but you must see
that the card is not bent and will lie fiat on
the table. For beginning No. / or No.
is the best kind. A boomerang with sharp
corner does its duty more easily than one
in which the curve is gradual or the angle
obtuse, as in No. 3 and No. 4.
The way to make IL skim to lay 1t upon
book, with one end projecting over the side.
Hold the book up to level with your eyes,
and give the outlying edge Of the card
smart rap with small stick or lead pencil,
taking care not to strike the fiat top, but
only the side of the boomerang near the end
You can guide the stick or pencil by sliding
it along the rim of the book as you strike.
The missile will shoot forward five or six
feet. and will then rise little, turn in It's
course and sail back to a place near that
ilOu NlllCl IL WIS otub epIuulUR.
But the best way to become good BOOM
erany thrower is to practice throwing it and
skill Will soon come.
a Feathered Clown.
Mrs. Olive Thorne Miller has a very
amusing story of mischieyous blackbird in
Youths Companion. She says:
A serious trouble in the blackbird's life
with me was that would not let him spat-
ter the wall paper with the food and water
be was always flinging about, as If that
were the only use he had for them. Behind
his cage l fastened up a sheet of stiff buff
wrapping paper, and to tear that to bits was
the task he set himself. He was faithful
worker, | must admit. First he hammered
the paper with his stout yellow beak till he
picked hole in IL, and then with the same
useful bill he seized the edge, and pulled and
tagged till he tore it. When he could get
piece off he was happy. He took il into the
cage, and visited upon that bit his hatred of
the whole sheet. lie beat it so rapidly that
i sound like the roll ola small drum; he
flung it about; he scraped it on the floor, and
never rested till it was reduced to scraps.
or dropped out of the cage.
Wben put MS house in order for the day.
always gave him plecs of fresh apple
wedged In between two wires where /
noped IT. would stay for him to peck at; bnt
the blackbird had other designs upon the
apple. lie wanted 1t to play with. Faith
fully he pushed and pulled and twisted till
ne got the piece out, and then took it down
for mad frollc. lie flung it from side to
side; he would snatch at it, and instantly
spring upon the side Of the cage, and hold
on to the wires. looking scared out of his
wits, as ii it had bitten him. Then he
would go down, and worry 1t again.
Sometimes, lifting one wing, ho would
prounce upon the bit of apple as if it were a
savage enemy that must be DESTROYED. and
"a second bound up in the middle perch as
ly.
Through all these performances he kept
up the sweet, low singing. Everything he
did was In ierky way. and 1 never could
guess what would come next
lie appeared to rack his brain to think of
new things to do, aud If everything else
failed he would dash his gravel ont over the
carpet. have even seen him thrust his