ipot with two-thirds of clean water
and left to soak during the night will only require warming in the
morning by placing the pot in a larger one and surrounding it with hot
water. The quantity of glue being varied according to requirement is
far preferable to the old-fashioned iron glue-pot which darkens the
glue and is in other ways objectionable. If the injury or want of
adhesion extends only to a trifling distance round the edge and has
happened at a time when good glue and proper appliances are not to hand,
the routine pursued must still be the same as if they were: first by
obtaining a well-worn table knife, the thinner the better (but if the
household knives happen to be new and strong you may call on some artist
friend, borrow his palette knife, clean it, have ready some clear water,
a cushion or a substitute, and some rather thick gum). If time will
allow, the strings should be taken off the violin, and then placing
it face downwards on the cushion, the knife having been dipped in the
water, can be inserted gently at the part requiring attention. (Diagram
1.)

[Illustration: DIAGRAM 1.]

You will soon tell by the sound in moving the knife about whether the
separation has been recent or of long standing, if the latter, the
slipping of the knife will cause a slight grating sound and when drawn
out will show signs of dirt. The knife must be rinsed and re-inserted
a sufficient number of times until all the evidence of dirt has
disappeared, the knife coming away clean and not gritty. Care should
be taken meanwhile to keep the violin on the tilt so that the water
introduced on the surface of the knife does not run inside but outward
to the edge; the parts should also each time be wiped by a clean
absorbent piece of cotton or linen. The knife can then be charged with
gum instead of water and inserted as before, the process being finished
by the wiping.

But now the question will arise how about the closing up and pressing
together of the parts. For this, assuming that the part to be rejoined
is not of great extent, the chin-rest--almost every player now uses
one--can be applied to the part and fixed in the usual way. If there
is not one to be had, some pieces of ordinary deal, the softer the
better--fire wood will do--cut into shape as depicted (Diagram 2) can
be fitted, but very loosely to allow of thin wedges being used to
tighten the grip (Diagram 3). They must be very gently pushed in, or
the border of the vio