Lights are next in order. Gas hardly requires mention,
as the care of it is limited to seeing that it is not turned
too high, the flame in such case not only vitiating the air
of the room with double speed, but leaving a film of smoke
upon every thing in it. Kerosene is the oil most largely
used for lamps ; and the light from either a student-lamp,
or the lamp to which a " student-burner " has been applied,
is the purest and steadiest now in use. A few simple
rules for the care of lamps will prevent, not only danger
of explosion, but much breakage of chimne3^s, smoking, &c.
1 . Let the wick always touch the bottom of the lamp,
FIBES, LIGHTS, AND THINGS TO WOBK WITH, 49
and see that the top is trimmed square and even across,
with a pair of scissors kept for the purpose.
2. Remember that a lamp, if burned with only a little
oil in it, generates a gas which is liable at any moment to
explode. Fill lamps to within half an inch of the top. If
filled brimming full, the outside of the lamp will be con-
stantly covered with the oil, even wiien unlighted ; while as
soon as lighted, heat expanding it, it will run over, and
grease every thing near it.
3. In lighting a lamp, turn the wick up gradually, that
the chimne}^ may heat slowly : otherwise the glass expands
too rapidly, and will crack.
4. Keep the wick turned high enough to burn freely.
Many persons turn down the wick to save oil, but the room
is quickly poisoned by the evil smell from the gas thus
formed. If necessary, as in a sick-room, to have little
light, put the lamp in the hall or another room, rather
than to turn it down.
5. Remember, that, as with the fire, plenty of fresh air
is necessar}^ for a free blaze, and that your lamp must be
kept as free from dirt as the stove from ashes. In wash-
ing the chimneys, use hot suds ; and wipe with bits of
newspaper, which not only dry the glass better than a
cloth, but polish it also.
6. In using either student-lamps, whether German or
American, or the beautiful and costly forms known as
moderator-lamps, remember, that, to secure a clear flame,
the oil which accumulates in the cup below the wick, as
well as any surplus which has overflowed from the reser-
voir, must be poured out daily. The neglect of this pre-
caution is the secret of much of the trouble attending the
easy getting out of order of expensive lamps, which will
4
50 FIBES, LIGHTS, AND THINGS TO WORK WITH.
cease to be sources of difficulty if this rule be followed
carefully.
7. Keep every thing used in such cleaning in a small
box ; the ordinary starch-box with sliding lid being excel-
lent for this purpose. Extra wicks, lamp-scissors, rags
for wiping off oil, can all find place here. See that lamp-
rags are burned now and then, and fresh ones taken ; as
the smell of kerosene is very penetrating, and a room is
often made unpleasant b}^ the presence of dirty lamp-rags.
If properly cared for, lamps need be no more offensive
than gas.
Things to work with.
Page 24
Presented as published in 1881. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Lights are next in order. Gas hardly requires mention, as the care of it is limited to seeing that it is not turned too high, the flame in such case not only vitiating the air of the room with double speed, but leaving a film of smoke upon every thing in it. Kerosene is the oil most largely used for lamps ; and the light from either a student-lamp, or the lamp to which a " student-burner " has been applied, is the purest and steadiest now in use. A few simple rules for the care of lamps will prevent, not only danger of explosion, but much breakage of chimneys, smoking, &c.
1 . Let the wick always touch the bottom of the lamp,
FIBES, LIGHTS, AND THINGS TO WOBK WITH, 49
and see that the top is trimmed square and even across, with a pair of scissors kept for the purpose.
2. Remember that a lamp, if burned with only a little oil in it, generates a gas which is liable at any moment to explode. Fill lamps to within half an inch of the top. If filled brimming full, the outside of the lamp will be constantly covered with the oil, even wiien unlighted ; while as soon as lighted, heat expanding it, it will run over, and grease every thing near it.
3. In lighting a lamp, turn the wick up gradually, that the chimney may heat slowly : otherwise the glass expands too rapidly, and will crack.
4. Keep the wick turned high enough to burn freely. Many persons turn down the wick to save oil, but the room is quickly poisoned by the evil smell from the gas thus formed. If necessary, as in a sick-room, to have little light, put the lamp in the hall or another room, rather than to turn it down.
5. Remember, that, as with the fire, plenty of fresh air is necessary for a free blaze, and that your lamp must be kept as free from dirt as the stove from ashes. In washing the chimneys, use hot suds ; and wipe with bits of newspaper, which not only dry the glass better than a cloth, but polish it also.
6. In using either student-lamps, whether German or American, or the beautiful and costly forms known as moderator-lamps, remember, that, to secure a clear flame, the oil which accumulates in the cup below the wick, as well as any surplus which has overflowed from the reservoir, must be poured out daily. The neglect of this precaution is the secret of much of the trouble attending the easy getting out of order of expensive lamps, which will
50 FIBES, LIGHTS, AND THINGS TO WORK WITH.
cease to be sources of difficulty if this rule be followed carefully.
7. Keep every thing used in such cleaning in a small box ; the ordinary starch-box with sliding lid being excellent for this purpose. Extra wicks, lamp-scissors, rags for wiping off oil, can all find place here. See that lamprags are burned now and then, and fresh ones taken ; as the smell of kerosene is very penetrating, and a room is often made unpleasant by the presence of dirty lamp-rags. If properly cared for, lamps need be no more offensive than gas.
Things to work with.