People don't often look back on the early 1900's for advice, but what if we could actually learn something from the Lost Generation? The New York Public Library has digitized 100 "how to do it" cards found in cigarette boxes over 100 years ago, and the tips they give are so practical that millennials reading this might want to take notes.
Back in the day, cigarette cards were popular collectibles included in every pack, and displayed photos of celebrities, advertisements, and more. Gallaher cigarettes, a UK-founded tobacco company that was once the largest in the world, decided to print a series of helpful how-to's on their cards, which ranged from mundane tasks (boiling potatoes) to unlikely scenarios (stopping a runaway horse). Most of them are insanely clever, though, like how to make a fire extinguisher at home. Who even knew you could do that?
The entire set of life hacks is now part of the NYPL's George Arents Collection. Check out some of the cleverest ones we could find below. You never know when you'll have to clean real lace!
More info: The New York Public Library
This post may include affiliate links.
It looks like the steam also makes human bodies dissappear. Creepy!
I have broken enough glasses already . I wish I had known this trick.
This is a very useful life hack. I always needed to draw a duck without pencil leaving the paper and l strugled so much...
"Test the purity of butter by rubbing it on a fresh burn. If the burn still burns, it's butter. If the burn ignites then it is lava."
If the stick is wet, its raining. If the stick is dry, its sunny. If the stick is gone, its windy.
Ok, this one I will try. Do they have a hack for when the candle is too small? ;)
"How to attract the larger male match during mating season using a captured female."
This chick likes it better when you forget the water and leave the wine in the nottle!
Whosoever knocks over the urn now, must agree to consume all of the sand, as is customary.
Apologies to germaphobes, but it is far easier on the form arm and wrist, especially with a full pitcher.
Milk works, my husband had a pen that leaked in the pocket of his nice white shirt and I soaked it in milk. All the ink went.
Just need to find some potassium. I just had some...must be with my stash of sand.
To avoid the risks of cancer from smoking simply eat your weight in asbestos
I just want to know where people got all these chemicals back in the day. ha
You would be surprised at what one could buy over the counter, potassium, cocaine, cyanide....
Load More Replies...
You can also "astonish" your friends by putting the potassium directly into your mouth - the flames and explosions can be quite astonishing and can be used to light the cigarette (if you're still conscious)....
What are you? A barbarian? Everyone carries Cuthbert & Sons Fine Potassium products.
Load More Replies...
Even 100 years ago, would it really be easier to get potassium (which *must* be stored in 100% water free environment, like kerosene) than to get some, say... matches? Not to mention the certainty of having one's head entirely burned by this hack :D
You're missing the point. Using matches is of course easier, but the point here is to astonish your friends. Burned head will add to the astonishment.
Load More Replies...
LOL you might get some skin/lung irritation there by the vapours of potassiumhydroxide dissolved in water droplets.
Where would one obtain that small piece of potassium? And really - not enough gas to poison ANYone LOL
Potassium was easy to buy then until the matchbox girls strike and awareness of phossy jaw.... Not pretty!
and now you know why people used to take a drink with a cigarette or cigar in their mouth, with the end going in the glass... they were lighting it!
And prepare them in advance because nothing is funnier than your pants on fire for no (visible) reason.
"How to discover your house's hidden interdimentional portal or rift."
Add this final step - hold your arm overhead with fingers 'loosely' straightened - gravity will help blood leave the finger. Jeweler's trick.
Maidens are often quick-witted and nimble. How are we to catch them and extract the hair for this experiment?
"Be sure to take photos of your experiment using the Gallagher quad copter - pictured at bottom right. Now with compass and extra nicotine."
Bodkin - a blunt, thick needle with a large eye used especially for drawing tape or cord through a hem.
And if you soak an egg for a week in vinegar, the shell disappears & the egg becomes see-through & pickles
And you will have wasted a horrible amount of water :/
Or if you haven't got wire, get a piece of thread and put a loop in each end. One end goes round the pencil and the other round a drawing pin or straight pin stuck into the paper.
"Simply insert one of Gallaghers delicious cigarettes into each hole and light. Smooth. Cancery. Cures trees."
Especially useful after walking with brads inserted into the soles of one's shoes.
I used to make these by rolling the old news paper into tubes then flatten them and then plat them, they used to burn longer doing it this way.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chilblains/home/ovc-20165478 Chilblains (CHILL-blayns) are the painful inflammation of small blood vessels in your skin that occur in response to repeated exposure to cold but not freezing air. Also known as pernio, chilblains can cause itching, red patches, swelling and blistering on your hands and feet.
For a moment I was not sure about the 'spirit' part. I would use water with salt. Still this could be a very nice gift.
This could be a cool paper craft idea. Just be careful what the ink is put on.
Modern blacksmiths soak their handles that are loose in pure antifreeze - not the diluted stuff. The plastics go into the crushed wood cells and swell it like water, but they don't evaporate...
....with no adverse consequences from ingesting the alum itself. Just like mercury.
Not many lamp chimneys needed nowadays but I still have two oil lamps ,kept for emergency lighting.
Acidic or alkali particles can burn or corrode the cornea. If you get something acidic (e.g. Cement dust, lime or concrete dust) or alkaline (e.g. Bleach or washing powder) the eye will need to be irrigated thoroughly, with at least a litre of water (I use 2-3 litres of saline or hartmanns solution). This is best done in at your nearest Emergency department. Have this done immediately, do NOT wait until the next day, particularly if you wear contact lenses. It can cause nasty ulcers! Do NOT use oil, it will make things worse!
Interesting variety of useful tips, with a few entertaining things thrown in. I'm going to use the sliver removal trick next time! And now if you'll excuse me, I have to go draw a duck...
And just make sure the pencil stays on the page!
Load More Replies...
14 pages??? I love BoredPanda and I like this post, but it's not a 13 page kinda love ;) A button to show all at once would be awesome...
It used to be that way, when you went to the bottom of the page it would load more pictures or whatnot but then about a year or so ago they changed it to a multiple page view... annoying
Load More Replies... 
So basically if you have potatoes, salt, sand, and a bunch of chemicals lying around, you can do anything.
Back in those days you had all that stuff around
Load More Replies...
Basically you need a barrel of salt, hot water, and a potato.
It's amazing how many things can be cleaned with a Potato or a Lemon!
Wanted to see more but it only shows a few goaing to draw the duck now
Pretty cool how these 'how tos' were on cigerettes packs back then but now they are a true killer.
20 pages and did not find the one about cleaning metal. Screw u BoredPanda
I thought it was "100yr old" tips not "100" tips 😂😂😂😂 but I still read all 97, and some funny comments
I like this its very good to see simple do it yourself ways to get things done simple
A fascinating insight into the world where most homes had at least one servant who did little but clean and polish every day, and the family made do and invented items that we now go and buy easily at the bottom of the road. But I must admit the funny comments that readers made had me frequently in stitches and made my afternoon. Judging by the regular appearance of the same readers' names, I wasn't the only one who read the whole lot right through. Thanks for the advice, and thanks even more for the light-hearted replies. Great fun.
water is already a fire extinguisher, it doesn't need anything else to make it extinguish fire
You know that you shouldn't use water on every kind of fire, right?? Please tell me you know that. http://mentalfloss.com/article/64498/why-you-shouldnt-use-water-extinguish-grease-fire
Load More Replies...
Good tips. Wish they didn't carry the Gallaher's 'Cigarettes' name on. I'm so anti-smoking, but I will pass it on. thanks.
Great I just love knowing the natural way to do things instead of buying products
This brought back my grandma. I remember her doing, or at least talking about, most of these:)
Welp, I'm sure ready for the next time I need to stop a runaway horse or clean some lace. Yessirree bob.
Interesting variety of useful tips, with a few entertaining things thrown in. I'm going to use the sliver removal trick next time! And now if you'll excuse me, I have to go draw a duck...
And just make sure the pencil stays on the page!
Load More Replies... 14 pages??? I love BoredPanda and I like this post, but it's not a 13 page kinda love ;) A button to show all at once would be awesome...
It used to be that way, when you went to the bottom of the page it would load more pictures or whatnot but then about a year or so ago they changed it to a multiple page view... annoying
Load More Replies... So basically if you have potatoes, salt, sand, and a bunch of chemicals lying around, you can do anything.
Back in those days you had all that stuff around
Load More Replies... Basically you need a barrel of salt, hot water, and a potato.
It's amazing how many things can be cleaned with a Potato or a Lemon!
Wanted to see more but it only shows a few goaing to draw the duck now
Pretty cool how these 'how tos' were on cigerettes packs back then but now they are a true killer.
20 pages and did not find the one about cleaning metal. Screw u BoredPanda
I thought it was "100yr old" tips not "100" tips 😂😂😂😂 but I still read all 97, and some funny comments
I like this its very good to see simple do it yourself ways to get things done simple
A fascinating insight into the world where most homes had at least one servant who did little but clean and polish every day, and the family made do and invented items that we now go and buy easily at the bottom of the road. But I must admit the funny comments that readers made had me frequently in stitches and made my afternoon. Judging by the regular appearance of the same readers' names, I wasn't the only one who read the whole lot right through. Thanks for the advice, and thanks even more for the light-hearted replies. Great fun.
water is already a fire extinguisher, it doesn't need anything else to make it extinguish fire
You know that you shouldn't use water on every kind of fire, right?? Please tell me you know that. http://mentalfloss.com/article/64498/why-you-shouldnt-use-water-extinguish-grease-fire
Load More Replies... Good tips. Wish they didn't carry the Gallaher's 'Cigarettes' name on. I'm so anti-smoking, but I will pass it on. thanks.
Great I just love knowing the natural way to do things instead of buying products
This brought back my grandma. I remember her doing, or at least talking about, most of these:)
Welp, I'm sure ready for the next time I need to stop a runaway horse or clean some lace. Yessirree bob.
