The Scientific American Boy

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The Scientific American Boy

Project Gutenberg's The Scientific American Boy, by A. Russell Bond This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: The Scientific American Boy The Camp at Willow Clump Island
Author: A. Russell Bond
Release Date: May 15, 2005 [EBook #15831]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY ***

Produced by Don Kostuch

Transcriber's Notes:
The locations named are in western New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. Lamington, NJ (pg. 20) is near exit 26 on Interstate 78, east of the Delaware River. Lumberville, PA (pg. 24) is on the West side of the Delaware River on Highway 32, about half-way between Bethlehem and Philadelphia, 25 miles southwest of Lamington. The Pennsylvania Canal runs along the west bank of the Delaware river. The Delaware and Raritan Canal is on the east bank. Raven Rock (pg. 24) is across the river from Lumberville, about a half mile northeast.
There are several large islands that may have inspired the story. About 5 miles north (upriver) of Lumberville is Walls Island and Prahls Island where the river is aligned north/south, as shown on the map on page 16. About two miles east (downriver) is Eagle Island and Hendrick Island.
The use of white lead indicates the lack of understanding of its poisonous nature.

This is a glossary of terms that are unfamiliar (to me).
Balustrade A rail and the balusters (posts) that support it.
Belay To secure a rope by winding it on a cleat or pin.
Brad Slender wire nail having a small barrel shaped head.
Bulkhead An upright partition dividing a ship into compartments to provide structural rigidity and limit the spread of leaks or fire.
Clapboard Long narrow board with one edge thicker than the other. Used to cover the outer walls of frame structures.
Dint Force; effort; power.
Drawknife Knife with a handle at each end of the blade. A drawing motion shaves a surface. Also known as a drawshave.
Fall and Tackle Apparatus for raising heavy loads. A rope and pulley blocks.
Ferrule Metal ring put around a tool handle to prevent splitting.
Freshet Sudden overflow of a stream caused by heavy rain or a thaw.
Gunwale Upper edge of the side of a vessel. Gunnel Could serve as a gun mount.
Journal Part of a rotating shaft that turns in a bearing.
Keelson Timber fastened above and parallel to the keel of a boat for strength.
Percaline Lightweight glossy cotton fabric used for book binding.
Pintle Pin on which another part pivots.
Scantling Small timber for construction.
Sheave Wheel with a grooved rim, used as a pulley.
Slab Outside of a log cut off to square it for lumber.
Spoke-shave Drawknife for shaping spokes and rounded edges.
Stay (a mast) Strong rope or wire used to support a mast.
Step (a mast) Place a mast in its step (block where the heel of a mast is fixed).
Thole Device on to the gunwale (side) of a boat to hold the oar. Acts as a fulcrum for rowing.
Trunnion Pin; two small cylindrical projections on a cannon on which it pivots. French "trognon" means "stump".
White lead Lead carbonate, a heavy white poisonous powder, used in paint pigments.

End of Transcriber's Notes

THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY.

[Illustration: Fun in Swimming]

The SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY
OR
The Camp at Willow Clump Island
By A. RUSSELL BOND

NEW YORK
MUNN & CO., Publishers 1906

COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY MUNN & CO., NEW YORK

PRESS OF THE KALKHOFF COMPANY NEW YORK

PREFACE
All boys are nature lovers. Nothing appeals to them more than a summer vacation in the woods where they can escape from the restraints of civilization and live a life of freedom. Now, it may appear to be a bit of presumption to attempt to advise the boy camper how to spend his time. Surely the novelty of outdoor life, the fascinating charm of his surroundings, will provide him plenty of entertainment.
But, after all, a camp generally affords but two major amusements, hunting and fishing. These have been fully covered by a vast number of books. However, there is another side of camp life, particularly in a boys' camp, which has been very little dealt with, namely, the exercise of one's ingenuity in creating out of the limited resources at hand such devices and articles as will add to one's personal comfort and welfare. It is, therefore, the aim of this book to suggest certain diversions of this character for the boy camper which, aside from affording him plenty of physical exercise, will also develop his mental faculties, and above all stimulate that natural genius which is characteristic of every typical American boy. To this end the story contains descriptions of a large collection of articles which can be made by any boy of average intelligence, not only in the camp but