The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-08-23

SCRAPED OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES MOUNTING.
The gourd is made up of three layers.
The first or outer one Is composed Of a
hard but greasy silicitate, resembling
the outer covering of can; the second
is brittle, creamy composition, and
that inside is a cellular substance or
pith. The cutting of the gourd is done
with thin, sharp bladed knife, the
shape being first marked off with a
lead pencil. 1t Is cut slightly all
around. not going through the she'll;
this is repeated until the pith is reach
ed, and then the two portions will
be exercised, as the gourd is very brit
tie and Is liable to crack. After the
gourd Is cut the pith should be cleaned
out and the edge smoothed with sand
paper. If the gourd is Of such a shape
that it should have feet, their position
should now be marked off. Many
gourds will stand without feet. To
weight them and give them steadiness
some hot lead should be poured in. A
little shellac should be placed in the
bottom first. which the hot lead will
melt; this is added to insure the adj
hesion of the metal to the gourd.
The design is the next consideration.
1t should be drawn direct upon the sur
face. For permanent decoration there
are three methods to choose from, or
any two of them may be combined
with good effect. The first is with a
topographic point. When this is used
it should be with slow, continuous
movement. The colors to be obtained
range from brown to black. The de-
sign may be in shades Of brown, and
the background may be burned in
black. or the reverse &s.,t Na#H.
Again. the topographic point may be
used for outlining only, and the design
may be brought out by scraping-that
is to say, the hard. greasy surface OF
buff or reddish tinge may be left for
the ground and may be scraped down
to the creamy white layer for the de-
sign. The scraping Is done with pieces
of broken window glass when large
surfaces are to be scrapedi away, but
when more delicate work is to be done
q sharp knife Is to be preferred.
The third method Of decorating Is by
the use Of aniline dyes. Either ground
or ornament can be of any desired
color. but the gourd must be dyed all
over before any other work Is done
upon 1t. Fill the gourd with sand and
cork 1t up Prepare some strong, hot
soda or potash water. place the gourd
in this for about ten minutes, then pre-
pare the dye. Have 1t boiling. take the
gourd from the potash and wash 1t in
clean, hot water and submerge it in
the dye. Let 1t remain until it is
sufficiently colored. then wash in hot
water and dry with clean rags.
The gourds may be mounted with
metal riveted together to very snug
lit and slipped over the body or largest
part To fasten the metal firmly on the
gourd. hot melted shellac should be
used as cement. They may also be
mounted with copper or brass wire,
which can be fastened on by binding
and twisting so as not to require rivets
or solder.
To polish apply with rag beeswax
dissolved in turpentine. The turpen-
tine evaporates. leaving thin coating
of wax. which can be brought to II
polish with stiff brush. Several
styles of decorating and mounting are
shown in the illustrations, which are
reproduced. together with the fore