40 Life Hacks from 100 Years Ago That Are Still Useful in Today’s Society

In the early 20th Century, Gallaher’s Cigarettes printed a special series of 100 “How to do it” cards that included some truly useful and helpful tips for everyday situations and problems. The entire 100 card collection is part of the New York Public Library’s George Arents Collection and was recently digitized. Here, below are 40 helpful tips via Twisted Sifter. 1. How To Pull Out Long Nails 2. How To Detect Dampness in Beds 3. How To Kill a Tree Stump 4. How To Make a Simple Gate Latch 5. How To Make Corks Fit 6. How To Treat Sprains 7. A Hint When Boiling Potatoes 8. How To Make a Fire Extinguisher 9. How To Clean Real Lace 10. How To Make a Water Fountain for Chicks 11. How To Adjust a Door 12. How To Test Butter 13. How To Cool Wine with Ice 14. How To Clean an Oil Painting 15. How to Extract a Splinter 16. How To Treat Squeaky Boots 17. How To Remove a Tight Ring from the Finger 18. How To Carry a Heavy Jug 19. How To Clean Bottles 20. How To Measure With Coins 21. How To Clean New Boots 22. How To Cut New Bread Into Thin Slices 23. How To Detect Escaping Gas 24. How To Draw a Circle Without a Compass 25. How To Keep a Paint Brush Handle Clean 26. How To Draw an Ellipse with String 27. How To Preserve Valuable Vases 28. How To Remove a Stuck Glass Stopper 29. How To Take Ink Stains Out a Handkerchief 30. How To Pick Up Broken Glass 31. How To Remove Sea Stains from Brown Shoes 32. When Boiling Cracked Eggs 33. How To Separate Glass Tumblers 34. How to Light a Match in the Wind 35. How To Fit a Large Candle 36. How to Tell the Points of the Compass with a Watch 37. How To Revive Cut Flowers 38. How To Judge the Freshness of a Lobster 39. Three Useful Knots 40. How To Stop a Runaway Horse (Images: George Arents Collection/ The New York Public Library, via Twisted Sifter)