New-York tribune., 1905-08-28
HOMEMADE WOODBOYEs.
Starch Bones and Kegs Turned Into
Things of Beautu.

Such pretty woodboxes as I have seen," said
the woman who had Just returned from the Adj
ronoAoks. ferhaps you never camp out, but any
hearthstone In city or country. in winter or sum-
rer. needs woodbox and any clever woman
make that will be a great addition To the
appearance OF any room.
The hrst specimen OF the homemade wood
box that remember seeing was in the studio OF
OF the clever girls I know Her nurse IS
slender but both her ingenuity and handiwork
overbalance this condition Of her treasury so that
few people would guess it. This woodbox
then. was made, II the truth be confessed of a
starchboN The young artist had descended to
practical work. and had painted the wooden sur
faces. within and without. with dull green paint
Four old bureau handles Of rounded shane had
previously been attached at the four corners. on
the under surface. to serve as feet and when
these and the box itself were thoroughly dry
handles OF FURNISHED brass. bought at a hardware
store al uihing cost. were affixed either end
while row Of brass headed nails was driven into
the upper edges. The finished result was thing
OF real beauty and utility.
"A woodbox which I this summer in the
mountains was Of untrimmed wood. the rough
bark being left decoration. Its sides were
slightly slan5ed and the neiospre within thin the rus
nc ~s1Is % was so generously large that the big
logs from the hillside could be piled therein.
with overlapping strips Of birch bark A fringe
Of pine cones was suspended from the upper outer
aromatic fragrance of deep forest incense.
Still another wood receptacle unique and at
tractve albeit tre unroIaa ntic in its first state
was made OF a discarded wooden keg. which, once
upon time, IL may be whispered. held salt mack
erel- But II was strongly made-and strongly fla
yored, until the enchanters wand. in the form Of
cauntless paint brush. delivered it. The last two
coats OF Transforming paint applied in alter
nate eolors the college coors of the Prince Charm
ing who was lord Of this manor. The little keg was
then carried 10 q cooDerage. where three brass
bands were affixed about its shiny girth and its
upper and lower ends. And then a wonder of
beauty. II returned TO camp, sit by the freside
and become the source Of supply for many cosey
good time
And under the inspiration Of this product of
keg possibilities a visitor the camp conceived
stan another design, which have reserved to the
last for, as the old adage says: The lasts the
best OF all the rest She sought out another empty
little keg, and began in the same way to change
its appearance. But when the final coat was ap-
Piled that was OF the soft, golden brown color Of
the cones which fell from the shading spruce trees
4 the grove near by. When it was quite dry
she gathered many cones and. dividing their scales
by the aid Of sharp knife, she applied them with
glue, and here and there 4 restraining tack to
the outside circumference of the kee Iaver 1Inon
layer, slightly overlapping in imitation Of Nature
Itself she laid them, until from top to bottom she
had covered it. Then when il was quite cornpiefe
she fastened at either side great SPRAYS Of bitter
sweet, and 20, the little 'woodbox' a cylindrical
cone OF larger growth. with the emblem of life1
experiences bravely worn for beauty stood rea CIV
70 serve TIE fire and give forth out Of its ahun-
dance the lifegiving food Of the CHEEKY flames