Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/600

446

may be undertaken by boys who have gained some experience in making the simpler things already described in this article.

In size this lantern is not limited, and it may be made from 12 to 36 inches high, not including the suspension chain and rings and the drop of flower pendants at the bottom.



For a lamp 20 inches high, having six sides, each panel can be made on a wire frame. The middle panels will measure 6 inches high, 4 inches wide at the top, and 3 inches at the bottom. The top panels will be 5 inches across at the widest place, and the lower ones. 4½ inches. One of the middle panels can be arranged to swing on hinges in order to place a lamp within the lantern, and to make it possible to line the inside of the middle part with some plain silk or other material. At the top and bottom, the ends of the heavy wires forming the skeleton frame should be curled. At the six corners, brackets may extend out for a distance of 5 inches, where, at the ends, sconces for tapers or small candles may be hung from wires as shown, or these may be omitted entirely. Each little sconce is 2 to 3 inches deep and 2½ to 3 inches in diameter, and in them candle-holders may be placed, over which colored-glass globes will appear to good advantage.

From the top of the lower lobe six arms may support flower-drops 4 or 5 inches long; and from the extreme bottom a pendant of flowers will make a good finish. Fig. 17 shows the lantern in perspective, but of course it must be borne in mind that it has six sides, and the patterns of the six sides, of the top, middle section, and bottom are all like those in one complete section that faces the reader as he looks at the illustration. No matter what size this lantern is made, the proportions here given should be carried out, as otherwise the graceful shape may be lost. A long chain made up of links and rings may be used to suspend the lantern.

The interior may be arranged for an oil-lamp, or electric light, or a cluster of candles, and, if preferred, the middle panels may be lined with silk. The lining should be plain, not figured, and of a thickness depending upon the light desired. For variety the string of flowers at the bottom of the lamp may be made with six points instead of four,

sheets of metal of different kinds can be used to great advantage in decoration; and it would seem hardly possible that strips of stovepipe iron, sheet-lead, brass, copper, and