Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-04
The Management Of Lamps and OH.
The lady of 4 house I'm which We are snna-


The lady of n house I'm which We are some
times guest, was In great trouble with her
lamps, OF which she had three or four differ
ent styles for burning kerosene. one lamp
after another, a short time ago. began 20
burn poorly; new wicks were put In ali
around. but IN few hours they were a. had
a. before. Being taken into consultation,
we suggested that she had a poor oil, bui
the oil was Pratt's. and bought I'm the oriei-
nal packages. besides, there was the Ger
man students lamp. IN which the SAM OIL
burned splendidiy. We became Interested
IN the case, and made a careful diag,I0-fs as
The physicians say. The oil was Of a gooi
kind. the wicks were new. the lamps o.
different styles, each apparently perfect and
as good as ever; while ali the lamps but one
nad been gradually growing bad, ana were
row nearly useless, this burned as wei as
ever and as well as any lamp need TO burn.
minutes thought given 10 the difference
between the students lamp and others gave
u The clue TO the trouble. Asking for n
glass Jar. an empty fruit Jar was brought
and ali the oil from one of the delinquent
lamps, with previous shaking, was turned
Into IL, The appearance OF the oil in the Jar
was such a. TO call forth an exclamation OF
surprise, and well n might, for Id looked
like muddy water. Here was the cause OF
all the trouble, an accumulation OF dust aud
other impurities. The lamps had been fillef
month after month without emptyiug: the
wicks look up the clear oil, leaving the
particles OF dust behind; the lamps being
daily nlled, this dirt gradually accumulated
until al last IL was present In such quanti-
tles as 10 clog up the wick and so DESTROY
their porOsity that they could not take up
enough oil TO give proper light. Clean OH
and pew wicks being supplied. the lamps
gave as good light as ever. But how did
the students lamp help you 10 guess what
was The matter" we were asked Because
We saw that the wick was not In the main
body of the oil, but was fed by tube which
We noticed started from the oil reservoir az
some distance above the bottom, 20 that the
impurities could settle, and not reach to
lie WICK. On emptying OF the outer reservoir
OF this famp, the oil was found 10 be as
bad as Ia the others. but the particles OF dust
dirt in the oil induced us TO go a step farther
and inquire where the main supply OF oil was
Kept; we found that the can was In an Open
sned, and not far from where the coal ashes
were sified; tie funnel used 10 Ill the feeding
can was Kept close by. Here we had the whole
story, the funnel daily wet with oil. was
where IL could catch whatever dust might
be noating In the air, with an extra supply
when the coal was sifted. When the feeder
was filled. the dust from the funnel was
The lamps, where IL accumulated with the
results we have stated. OF course this, the
main source OF the trouble, Was easily
remedied by providing proper place for
The OIL can and funnel. The lady was de-
nghted at nnding so reaGy way out OF her
troubles, and we relate the case in order
that others may profit by the experience.
AZ m ost OF The lamps now in use are OF some
Elnd OF metal, their contents cannot be seen,
and IL Will be well TO ascertain occasionally
the condition OF the oil within them. With
the utmost care some foreign particles Will
Ind their way into the oil, and after a long
time that in the lamp will be quite impure.
II the oil emptied from the lamp is allowed
10 the bottom. and the clean portion may be
carefully poured of for use. See that the
oil vessels and funnel, IL one Is used. are kept
away from the dust A gleTtcda AgriciitlnIs,.