The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-25
KlNDLING FOR FIRES.
A cHctoO MAN USES 4 CELLULolD
TOILET SET.

long ago 20 make q IRE. After searching
about diligently for kindling ard finding
none, he took bis wife's toilet set, and, II
being Of celluloid the flames soon elOwed
vigorously. 1t is scarcely needful 70 say
that this was during the temporary alb
sence Of his better half but she found II
out. and her lecture was not restricted to
the extravagance of such n proceeding
/, Is rather strange that this great city.
with its manufactures Of well nigh every
material. has not a single kindling fac
tory, or. If there be one. directory men
fail TO discover H. Understood. there are
several places where the original article IS
prepared One firm has saw. or saws.
propelled by a large engine which turns
out daily many cords Of the commodity
cutting it into short pieces and tying II
into bundles Of convenient size. while
nigh every factory using much wood sells
the odds and ends for the purpose named.
But there is no factory which turns out
artificial material. such as prepared cake
sawdust or resin-Cr Kerosene dipped
wood. This may be due TO the cause as
signed by well known wood box manu-
facturer Of this city who sells two or
three thousand wagon loads Of board ends
annually lie said. There can be 10
improvement made upon wood, pine wood,
| mean, that being best Of all. Given
plenty Of this and there is not the slight
est difficulty IN starting a FIRE IN mo-
mcnt, more quickly and satisfactorily
than in any other way Chicago people
are shrewd and are not inclined to under
take the impossible Wood being the
best possible material. they stop at that
This, though is provided in plenty. and
the only good excuse for Il failure TO keep
q supply at home is a lack Of money.
Tie amount used is enormous. II one
reflects for a moment that hundreds OF
thousands Of fires are started daily. he
will be ready 10 accept tho statement
that many thousand tons are consumed
annually in Chicago alone At several
box. sash and door and furniture manu-
factories the reporter was told that ten or
twelve years ago they found difficulty in
getting rid Of their kindling stuff. but
that now al they have finds an immediate
market The increase in the demand is
due to increase Of population, Of course.
OF late, In particular, orders keep up with
if they do not run ahead Of the supply.
Pine is the preferred wood. but az kinds
ere readily sold. if well seasoned and cut
short, for this latter quality is as high
virtue ia kindling wood as la political
speech or sermon.
The reporter would by no means lie an
dcrstood as saying that wood Is tho only
material used in starting the fire upon
the domestic hearth. or IN tho Now patent
rr.f.tsIN frI
his duty ii he failed 90 refer 20 that arti-
Gle so popular with the aycrage hired girl,
the very danger in the use OF which APP
pears TO add to ITS value in her eyes. Il
Is needless 10 say that Kerosene is meant
But the employment Of kerosene is
scarcely mere hazardous than the chop
ping mp o. an old board or barrel into the
requisite size for kindling Putting ~
tie stove has been the subject for O.
thousand newspaper jcsts, it being con-
monty agreed that 10 a. just the joints Of
pipe demands more patience than Job cx-
crcised during all his manifold trials yet
one who has had experience will doubt
whether that be attended with so great
danger oi with such trial Of patience as
the attempt 10 chop kindlns with an old
AK or hatchet with scrrated edge aud
with tendency 90 fly of the handle
As TO the danger, that inclines 20 the
side Of the chopper and splitter Ono
may oncc in while fall from a
chair when the pipe obstinately declines
TO Joint or TO enter the chimney hole. but
one cannot well escape the pcrils which
environ him who undertakes the task of
converting a gnarlcd and knotted board
or u meek looking but weather beaten
an shaiy -four barrel into the a b q Of
fuel ii the a. do not come off ard fall
upon his head or back, some bit that
seems 10 require the exercise of greatest
force TO breal, viii yield with surprising
weakness and fly full into his face Or
if he DO escape these perils a long and
ugly splinter is sure 10 pierce his hand
and cause him TO bless the whole bust
ness. The need for work of this kind
diminshcs year by year, thanks to a civil
cation which counts n duty the prepare
ton Of kindling wood Tor the people.
The heaven for the kinder of fires is In
proximity 20 q southern swamp whose
black loan bears upon its surface and
within its depths the famous pine knot,
or light God, As IL is called by the natives.
OF all known woods this burns quickest,
brightest. longest and best Fairly satu-
rated with resin, it is as quick 90 take fire
as finder The people there use it not
only as substitute for candle or other
illumination. but also invariably for the
purpose Of starting their fires. whether
in the house OF the wealthy planter or the
cabin Of the poor negro. Tho supply Is
apparently iucxhaustibic. and but for
great expense of transp ortation 20 doubt
It's prc-omineut excellence IS kindling
would have caused its introduction and
general use in Chicago aud through the
west In its absence, It's concener, the
pine Of the north. less firm and less resin
Gus. is q lavorito. But sAaviugs. old pa
pcrs and debris Of all kinds como in az
substitutes when negligence has led g.
exhaustion of the legitimate supply
Given the best OF material. however
there are many people who would find it,
use 10 the starting OF good fire a task
Of no easy accomplishment Woman has
come in for full share OF ridicule here, it
having been charged that she cannot start
- fire any better than she can whistle o.
sharpen q pencil That this is q Islander
upon the gentlcr sex is proved in the mil
lions of cases Of wives who preside over
their own kitchens and the numbers Of
them who indulcently suffer their lazy
xyorse halves To lie abel in winter morn