** Automatic-Closing Kennel Door [32]

When the neighborhood cats are retired for the night and there is nothing more to chase, my fox terrier seems to realize that his usefulness

[Illustration:  Diagram of Closing Door]

for the day is over and begs to be put in his kennel that he may not bark at the moon as some dogs are apt to do.  This necessitates my putting him out at a time when it may not be convenient.  Frequently in stormy weather this is a disagreeable duty and I found a way to obviate it by making a trapdoor device for his kennel as shown in the sketch whereby he may lock himself in when he crosses the threshold.

The outer half A of the hinged trapdoor is made heavier than the inner half B by a cleat, C, and a strip, D, to cause the door to swing shut.  The tripper stick E is set between cleats C and F to hold the door open.  When the dog steps on the inner half of the trapdoor B, it falls to stop G, releasing tripper stick E (which is heavier on the top end H) to cause it to fall clear of the path of the trapdoor.  The door then swings shut in the direction of the arrow, the latch I engaging a slot in the door as it closes, and the dog has locked himself in for the night.  The latch I is made of an old-fashioned gate latch which is mortised in the bottom joist of the kennel.  When releasing the dog in the morning the door is set for the evening.  —­Contributed by Victor Labadie, Dallas, Texas.

** Polishing Cloths for Silver [32]

Mix 2 lb. of whiting and 1/2 oz. of oleic acid with 1 gal. of gasoline.  Stir and mix thoroughly.  Soak pieces of gray outing flannel of the desired size—­15 by 12 in. is a good size—­in this compound.  Wring the surplus fluid out and hang them up to dry, being careful to keep them away from the fire or an open flame.  These cloths will speedily clean silver or plated ware and will not soil the hands.

In cleaning silver, it is best to wash it first in hot water and white soap and then use the polishing cloths.  The cloths can be used until they are worn to shreds.  Do not wash them.  Knives, forks, spoons and other small pieces of silver will keep bright and free from tarnish if they are slipped into cases made from the gray outing flannel and treated with the compound.

Separate bags for such pieces as the teapot, coffee pot, hot-water pot, cake basket and other large pieces of silverware will keep them bright and shining.  —­Contributed by Katharine D. Morse, Syracuse, N. Y.

** A Book-Holder [32]

Books having a flexible back are difficult to hold in an upright position when copying from them.  A makeshift combination of paperweights and other books is often used, but with unsatisfactory results.

[Illustration:  Fig 2.  Box Corner Makes a Book Holder]

The book-holder shown in the sketch will hold such books securely, allow the pages to be turned easily and conceal the smallest possible portion of each page.