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

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Marioara Popescu
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a very useful life hack. I always needed to draw a duck without pencil leaving the paper and l strugled so much...

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Craig Wright
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"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."

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Chris Causey
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the stick is wet, its raining. If the stick is dry, its sunny. If the stick is gone, its windy.

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Stille20
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hmmm. Interesting. I feel like this could be use for certain kinds of flower arrangements.

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Craig Wright
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"How to attract the larger male match during mating season using a captured female."

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Crochet Rox
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This chick likes it better when you forget the water and leave the wine in the nottle!

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Bessy Eek
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not about how to avoid eggs cracking, it's how to keep cracked eggs whole while boiling — are you people illiterate? Consider the fact that people in those days wouldn't throw away an ENTIRE, NUTRITIOUS egg just because it was a little damaged.

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Craig Wright
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whosoever knocks over the urn now, must agree to consume all of the sand, as is customary.

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Flora Polvado
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apologies to germaphobes, but it is far easier on the form arm and wrist, especially with a full pitcher.

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Linda Stark
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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Pam Thompson
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Add this final step - hold your arm overhead with fingers 'loosely' straightened - gravity will help blood leave the finger. Jeweler's trick.

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Ariel
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Walking in backwards from a cold place to a warm place also stops glasses from fogging up.

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Craig Wright
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maidens are often quick-witted and nimble. How are we to catch them and extract the hair for this experiment?

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Cassie
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This works in the northern hemisphere. The method is different for the southern hemisphere. http://www.wikihow.com/Use-an-Analog-Watch-as-a-Compass

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Craig Wright
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Be sure to take photos of your experiment using the Gallagher quad copter - pictured at bottom right. Now with compass and extra nicotine."

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Ellen Jakub
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bodkin - a blunt, thick needle with a large eye used especially for drawing tape or cord through a hem.

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Mary Magennis
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if you soak an egg for a week in vinegar, the shell disappears & the egg becomes see-through & pickles

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Helen Eldridge
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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Craig Wright
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Simply insert one of Gallaghers delicious cigarettes into each hole and light. Smooth. Cancery. Cures trees."

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Cat-lover
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Water? Well, if it is water-based paint yes... Otherwise, I would use some kind of oil.