Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-05-20

veterate May house-cleaner Exactly SO
why? Not only can we not see the
slightest use in taking down the stoves,
if that he the way of heating, but we
hold that in country houses there should
never be day in the whole year in
which fire cannot be built at q mo-
ment's notice. In summer an open fire.
place is preferable to a stove, but if
there is no fireplace leave the stove, for
there will he but few weeks in the whole
summer in which little fire in the morn
ing or evening will not be needed to
ventilate the room or to dry it, if not to
remove the chill. In malarious districts
this is of special Importance; few
sticks will prevent what much quinine
may not cure, and be vastly cheaper.
So we insist that in the family or living
room of every country house there should
always be fire laid in fireplace, CRATE
or stove, ready to diffuse comfort when
needed, even If it be in July or August.
But in houses heated by stoves there are
several which may come down without
detriment, and those which remain in
place should be properly cared for,
which brings us at last to taking down
the stoves.
IL IuC SbONC COuucCtS 10y onOAt,
straight piece of pipe directly with the
chimney there will be little trouble in
replacing 1t next fall; if instead of this
there are, as is more commonly the case,
several lengths of pipe and more or less
elbows then too much precaution cannot
be taken. Some hold the theory that
stovepipe once taken down can never
be put up as it was before without call
ing in filter. Stove-pipes make great
havoc with domestic patience, but a
proper foresight at the taking down will
help greatly to felicitous putting up.
Wherever two ends of pine, whether
sections or elbows, come together they
should be marked, whether intentionally
separated in taking down or not. Ii
large pipe is taken down in the fewess
possible pieces some others will separate
and all be in confusion, hence the only
safety is to number each joint, that is,
whenever two lengths or sections, in
GLIDING elbows, come together, with two
numbers, as IL, p, etc. Do
this before disturbing the pipe; chalk
will answer, but the marks must be re-
newed, if blurred by handling, before the
pipe is put away for the season. Where
anthracite coal is burned, a simple
humping of the pipe will remove the
gathered ashes and dust; pipe to
bituminous coalstove will show more de-
Dsit, and will need more thorough
cleaning, but in those of wood-stoves
the deposit is often very heavy, and, if
the pipe is a long one, of highly acid
and corrosive nature. Ii this be not re-
moved when the pipe is taken down now
the work of destruction will go on all
summer, and when it is to be put up in
the fall it will often be found COM
pletely honey combed and useless.
Hence pipe of this kind should have
every incrustation upon it's interior re-
moved by thorough humping and a
brush of twigs. To arrest the corrosion
of what deposit remains the interior
may be coated with ordinary lime-wash
or whitewash. Both stove and pipe
should be thoroughly blackened before
they are put away for the summer.
The object of backing stove is not
solely to improve it's looks, but it is to
cover the surface of the iron with coat
ing that will prevent rusting. Some
times kind of black varnish is used,
which makes the stove look very well,
but when fire is built it burns off with
most unpleasant odor We know of
nothing so good as plumbago or black
lead, and all the stove blackings put up
in packets under various fancy names
are some form of this, more or less pure.
Black lead is of such greasy" nature
that properly rubbed upon the iron it
will adhere and form continuous film
all over it so as to thoroughly protect the
surface from the action of the air, and
consequent rust, but it will not resist
water, and the stoves should be stored
where the rain cannot reach them. The
old method of mixing the backing with
water and applying it wet, and then rub
bling with brush with some dry black
ing, is founded upon correct principles,
and if we'll done will give complete
covering. All movable parts, such as
legs, small doors and the like, should be
placed inside of the stove before putting
it away, or there will be much hunting
for them next fall.
If there is no convenient place to store
the stove, or for other reasons it is neces
sary that it should remain in the room
where it has been used, it may be, in
most cases, easily concealed, and even
converted into slightly and convenient
piece of furniture. All that is needed
is board of suitable size to set upon the
top of the stove; this has strip at each |
corner for a leg; the legs may be braced, !
il need be, and the whole covered and |
draped, according to fancy, with chintz |
or other convenient matefial.-ADaerSedn |
1<,a.s a. Il