The Arizona sentinel., 1881-08-20

It matters little how much may be said or written against any habit that is avOwedly per nicious or dangerous,-people will continually disregard these pertinent facts and experiences, and, in moments of haste or care lessness, will do what will cause themselves either years of mis- cry or bring certain death. For illustration, how much has been sad about lighting fires with in- fiammable oils, and yet how often is the public press called upon to chronicle the sad results of these experiments. Last week one California newspaper recorded the death or disablement of no lesJ than four persons, from this cause What make these rases still more depIorabIe are the cir cumstanceS which usually sur- round them. In nine cases out of ten the victim is some poor woman, who, with household duties far beyond her strength. with cares of a seemingly trivial nature that would make d strong man stand agast, with helpless children dependent upon her and demanding little attentions, which, without being arduous, consume time what with all this as daily routine, from which there is no respite, is it to be wondered at tfat she occasion. ally gets belated? Is it to be wondered at, that, to prepare the evening meal for those whose happiness and welfare is dearer to her than her own comfort, she resorts, for just this once," to artificial means in regaining To st time, and puts in motion a factor which sine is powerless to control, and which brings so much suffer ing to herself, and sorrow to those whom it was her highest aim to please. Evel her fail ings leaned to virtues side" This, although only an imagin- ary example, is none the less true, and will be found to be at the bottom of majority of these accidents. An exchange. in speaking of this, says:
 Are these warnings of any use to the people? x Nearly all kerosene explosions in dwelling houses result in the death of d woman or a little girl. They are Tn haste, and only make the experiment "just for once," be. cause they are in hurry. Their clothing is inflammable, the accidents are fatal, and their sufferings from burning terrible in the extreme. We wish that every girl and every woman. could for a moment see a victim of kerosene accident. It might be a lesson that would be valu- able to them. No other warning seems to be beeded. We sug, gest that all hOusehOlders of this city have posted conspicuously in their kitchens, that "Kerosene and all other oils are not to be used in lighting fires under any circumstances.
 The above paragraph points out a remedy that would possibly be effective in cases where the cir cumstances will permit; but let us hope that none will be called upon to see a victim of a kerosene explosion. It also suggests a preventive, which, If human na- ture was different, might be good but we fear it will not. There is one, and only one, way by which the pos sibility of these fearful calamIties can be avoided. Let every state legislature or mL- nicipal government make 1t a felony for any storekeeper or oil merchant to sell, as an iliumin- ating fluid, oils that are of such a proof as to be explosive. Coal oil, properly refined, c.n be handled In almost any way and not be dangerous. We have frequently taken such oil and applied a lighted match to 1t, in an open can; have poured it from a cOm> mon can, such ss Is used in every