The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-06-13
HOUSEHOLD MATTERS.
The Care of Lamps.

| The Care of Lamps.
The disagreeable Pickering of stu.
dent lamp is sometimes caused by tiny
particles of the wick dropping into the
inside tube of the cylinder surrounding
the wick, thus preventing the oil flow.
ing freely from the barrel. Before insert
ing q new wick remove the oil barrel,
and empty the lamp entirely Of oil, pour
into the opening, down the wick cYlin-
der and wherever fluid will touch inside,
boiling water to which has been added
spoonful of spirits of ammonia.
Lamps are now so universally used
that the care of them has become one of
the daily and most important Of domes-
tic duties, not only of the country, but
of the luxurious city home. If not at
tended to every day, the perforations of
the burners become clogged with carbon
and dust in short time, refuse to move
easily, the light is dimmed, and most
unpleasant odor ensues.
If occasionally our duties exceed the
limits of our time, and we find the wick
well-nigh consumed, strip of old soft
cotton may be pinned to the end of the
wick for the nonce, and thus convey the
oil to it. - .. - -. 81.
At some inauspicious moment a hole
in the lamp chimney confronts one, no
other is nearer than the grocer's; neatly
cut piece of letter-paper, generously
covering the offending fracture, nicely
pasted on, will serve until we can do
better.
Whenever the lamps are filled, with q
clean soft piece of flannel polish the
burners and mountings of the lamps. It
is but a moments work and keeps them
bright and shining. Smoked chimneys
and ill-kept lamps are trying alike to
eyesight and temper. e..
A clear, bright light adds SO much to
the comfort and enjoyment of the even
ing occupations, that one is well repaid
for the daily disagreable task of keeping
the lamps in perfect order. Kerosene oil
and lamps are now 80 cheap that, even
in the country, it is no longer regarded
as luxury, but necessity to have an
abundance ef light for home cheer and
use.
The lamps used for sewing and read
ing should be provided with shades,
not only for the comfort they impart,
but for the positive saving they are for
the eyesight. A chimney frequently
breaks from having been too tightly
screwed on; the glass expands from the
heat of the flame. The wick is more
evenly snuffed by rubbing the charred
edge with piece of paper or soft rag,
then by trimming with a pair Of
scissors. Before using lamp wicks soak
them in vinegar, and dry thoroughly to
prevent their smoking.
Turning the wicks lightly into the tube,
and removing the chimney before blow
ing out the flame, is safe and cleanly
method of pntting out lamp. Not
only is the odor from lamp partially
turned down extremely disagreeable,
but the noxious gases from it are equally
unhealthy. The chimney may be quickly
and easily cleansed by breathing upon
and into it, and wiping and polishing it
with newspaper. A piece of red flannel
put into the bowl of the lamp, besides
giving dash of color, gathers the i'm
purities of the oil.
Burners sometimes get clogged and re-
fuse to turn up and down. This may be
remedied by putting them into an iron
kettle containing a quart of water and a
double handful of wood-ashes. After
boiling little while take out, and with
o soft rag wash and dry them perfectly.
Or they may be put into bath composed
of equal parts of milk and vinegar, and
boiled. ...-.-.
If after putting the wick into the
bowl of the lamp, and before pouring in
any oil, the bowl is crammed with
sponge, the wick and sponge then satu-
rated with the oil to the fullest capacity
of the bowl, the lamp is converted into q
safety lamp, SO that there is no danger
to life from accidental upsetting or
breakage of the lamp, or fear of spots on
table-scarf or carpet. Add more sponge
as the wick burns away; keep the bowl
full of it. The lamp will continue to
burn until the oil in wick and sponge is
exhausted.-Independent.