274. _Preparation of common Cement for joining Alabaster, Marble, Porphyry, or other Stones._--Take of bees'-wax two pounds, and of rosin one pound; melt them, and add one pound and a half of the same kind of matter, (powdered,) as the body to be cemented is composed of, strewing it into the melted mixture, and stirring them well together, and afterwards kneading the mass in water, that the powder may be thoroughly incorporated with wax and rosin. The proportion of the powdered matter may be varied, where required, in order to bring the cement nearer to the color of the body on which it is employed. This cement must be heated when applied; as must also the parts of the subject to be cemented together; and care must be taken likewise, that they be thoroughly dry. When this composition is properly managed, it forms an extremely strong cement, which will even suspend a projecting body of considerable weight, after it is thoroughly dry and set, and is therefore of great use to all carvers in stone, or others who may have occasion to join together the parts of bodies of this nature. Melted sulphur, applied to fragments of stones previously heated (by placing them before a fire) to at least the melting point of sulphur, and then joined with the sulphur between, makes a pretty firm and durable joining. Chips out of corners, and similar little deficiencies in the stone, may also be filled up with melted sulphur, in which some of the powder of the stone has been mixed: but the stone should be previously heated. 275. _Strong Cement._--To prevent the escape of the vapors of water, spirit, and liquors not corrosive, the simple application of slips of moistened bladder will answer very well for glass, and paper with good paste for metal. Bladder, to be very adhesive, should be soaked some time in water moderately warm, till it feels clammy, it then sticks very well; if smeared with white of eggs instead of water, it adheres still closer. 276. _To scour a Hat._--Rub yellow soap on a hard brush, dip it into boiling water, and brush the hat round with the nap; if the nap be clotted, continue to brush it till it is smooth, and free from soap; then, if requisite, scrape out the dirt, by passing round the hat an edged piece of wood, or the back of a knife; next, beat the nap with a cane, hang the hat to dry, and pass a heated flat iron two or three times gently over it; brush it afterwards. 277. _Management of Razor Strops._--Most razor strops are spoiled by being left too dry; a drop or two of sweet oil, frequently added to the strop, would remedy this; and, after using the strop, passing the razor on the inside of a warm hand, gives the smoothest and finest edge; putting the razor in warm water makes it cut very keen, and perhaps nothing makes a better razor strop than crocus martis, with a little sweet oil, rubbed well on leather with a glass bottle.