.
Violent exertions however are no more to be recommended than inactivity;
for whatever fatigues the body, prevents the benefit of exercise, and
tends to weaken rather than strengthen it. Fast walking, immediately
before or after meals, is highly pernicious, and necessarily accelerates
the circulation of the blood, which is attended with imminent danger to
the head or brain. On the other hand, indolence not only occasions
diseases, and renders men useless to society, but it is the parent of
vice. The mind, if not engaged in some useful pursuit, is constantly in
search of ideal pleasures, or impressed with the apprehension of some
imaginary evil; and from these sources proceed most of the miseries of
mankind. An active life is the best guardian of virtue, and the greatest
preservative of health.

F.

FACSIMILES. To produce a facsimile of any writing, the pen should be
made of glass enamel, the point being small and finely polished, so that
the part above the point may be large enough to hold as much or more ink
than a common writing pen. A mixture of equal parts of Frankfort black,
and fresh butter, is now to be smeared over sheets of paper, and is to
be rubbed off after a certain time. The paper thus smeared is to be
pressed for some hours, taking care to have sheets of blotting paper
between each of the sheets of black paper. When fit for use, writing
paper is put between sheets of blackened paper, and the upper sheet is
to be written on, with common ink, by the glass or enamel pen. By this
method, not only the copy is obtained on which the pen writes, but also
two or more, made by means of the blackened paper.

FAMILY PIES. To make a plain trust for pies to be eaten hot, or for
fruit puddings, cut some thin slices of beef suet, lay them in some
flour, mix it with cold water, and roll it till it is quite soft. Or
make a paste of half a pound of butter or lard, and a pound and a half
of flour. Mix it with water, work it up, roll it out twice, and cover
the dish with it.

FAMILY WINE. An excellent compound wine, suited to family use, may be
made of equal parts of red, white, and black currants, ripe cherries and
raspberries, well bruised, and mixed with soft water, in the proportion
of four pounds of fruit to one gallon of water. When strained and
pressed, three pounds of moist sugar are to be added to each gallon of
liquid. After standing open for three days, during which it is to be
stirred frequently,