Daniel Carter Beard (1850–1941)

In a world where this week's headlines include "Banff lodge fined $27K for destroying barn swallow nest with eggs", it seems odd and rather appalling to find a book with chapters on how to collect birds' nests and eggs, and how to rear wild birds (baby owls, Farley Mowat notwithstanding, are much harder to domesticate than baby hawks, and it's quite handy to have a tame hawk tethered in the garden to keep down the depredations of free-range chickens). This was the world of Sterling North, Farley Mowat, and Mark Twain.

You can also learn how to construct fire balloons, how to light a gas jet with the static spark from your own finger, and many other dangerous enterprises. Or build your own boat and sail it. (But learn to swim first, the book advises.)

The chapters on hunting and trapping could be useful in the "SHTF" scenario that "preppers" are fond of invoking. Meanwhile, we can fly hand-made kites or put on shadow-puppet shows. The script and patterns for all characters of Puss In Boots are included.… (mehr)