Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-18
The Old Undertook.


Probably there are few children Of the present
day who have ever seen or even heard OF the old
fashioned Undertook and matches Yet fifty
years ago the friction match, now so universally
used, had but just been invented, and did not
come into general use for many years. Before the
year 1885, or Whereabouts, h0usekeepers were
obliged To use matches OF domestic Manufacture.
These were small pieces OF white pine wood, per-
hapS twice the size OF our match, the ends Of
which had been dipped In melted birthstone. A
small iron skillet In which TO melt the birthstone
was once a common k1tch utenSil In many fam
lilies in New England, II not elsewhere. The only
way TO light one OF these birthstone matches was
to bring 1t In contact with spark OF fire. For this
purpose there used to be kept in every house a
small tin bIx f1lled with burnt rag, and this was
called Undertook. In order to obtain light
common gun-fint was struck with considerable
force against piece OF steel made OF convenient
upon the burnt rags made sufficient fire TO enable
one 10 readily light the match.
These snouldering rags qor che sparks thus
obtained did not produce a bldZe) were erward
extingulShed by round tin cover called damper
TO thus create tre required some experience
especially In damp weatner OF win dv cold fingers
make "a bad piece Of work" with the flint and steel
and to succeed only with great patience in 'strtk
ing light" II one happened 70 DO cross or
nervous the chances were that he could not
succeed at all; nor was II an 1nfreQuent sight TO
see The good wife OF the house running across the
street with shovel 10 borrow shOvelful OF alive
GOALS from a neighbor, the chimney-smoke OF
whose dwelling proclaimed that Sine had u fire.
Inc ClanRc 10 Inc maJCu Oh COIuulcTCe was one Ol
the rrst OF what we now consider modern conve-
nences. In many families It was one OF the 'chil-
dr. MS chores" 70 prepare WOOD for the matches,
and to dip the ends In melted birthstone. These
matches were sometimes to be bought In shops,
but New England economy more frequently led
each family TO prepare It's own. Still II was not
uncommon for poor children to make tri1e OF
money by selling punches OF matches TO their more
In sparseiy settled neighborhoods great care
was exercised at night by The head OF the house
to 'keep the fire." He took precaution that there
should be good bed of "live GOALS" at the hour OF
retiring; these he covered with many shovelfuls
OF ashes to prevent them from burning out. The
lext morning the Goals were usually found to be
start the days ire 1t was not an impossible feat
to thus preserve the family fire through the year,
without recourse TO Undertook and matches.
The modern friction match was welcomed oy
old people objected to It, considering 1t a danger:
Gus article as doubt 1t is when carelessly used
or LEFT lying about The first friction match In
vented required TO be drawn across piece Of fine
sand-paper In order to produce light. This was
called lucifer, and was much safer, although not
80 convenient, as tue present match. Then came
the present patent friction matches, which used
to be called '9oco-focos." There were no fancy
match boxes IA "old times" and the undertook was
not considered an ornamental article, but was
kept out Of sight In the cupboard or on the kitchen
We md in Salem newspaper Of June 80, 1885,
the following: 4 Observation-Disclosures the
convenience Of tnoss dangerous little articles.
hands, but which with all their charms bid fair TO
prove q heavy curse to the community, we learn
that there Is one man In Salem, respectable
generally expect to fnd such things, but who has
his premises. At his house and shop he sticks 70
shows his wisdom In g doing. How many more
can say - muchs"
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