Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-12-20
KINDLING FOR FIRES.
A CHICAGO MAN USES A CELlUlOID
TOILET SET.

Stove--Utilizing An Old Flour Barrel-A
Task.
A west side man was called upon not
long ago to make fire. After searching
about diligently for kindling and finding
none, he took his wife's toilet set, and, it
being of celluloid, the flames soon glowed
vigorously. 1t is scarcely needful to say
that this was during the temporary alb
sence of his better half; but she found it
out, and her lecture was not restricted to
the extravaganza Of such proceeding.
1t is rather strange that this great city,
with its manufactures of well nigh every
material, has not single kindling fac
tory, or, if there be one, directory men
fail to discover it. Understood, there are
several places where the original article is
prepared. One firm has a saw, or saws.
propelled by large engine, which turns
out daily many cords of the commodity,
cutting it into short pieces and tying 1t
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 OF resin-or kerosene dipped
WoOo. Ills 4udy 10 Quo w Iuc CduSc dS-
signed by a well known wood box manu-
facturer of this city who sells two or
three thousand wagon loads of board ends
annually. He said: There can be no
improvement made upon wood, pine wood,
l mean, that being best of all Given
plenty of this and there is not the slight
est difficulty in starting a fire in mo-
ment, more quickly and satisfactorily
ho in n4b bor
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 failure to keep
a supply at home is lack of money
The amount used is enormous If one
reflects for moment that hundreds Of
thousands of fires are started daily, he
will be ready to accept the 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 all 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 all kinds
are readily sold, if well seasoned and out
short, for this latter quality is as high a
virtue in kindling wood as in political
speech or sermon.
The reporter would by no means be un-
derstood as saying that wood is the only
material used in starting the fire upon
the domestic hearth, or in the new patent
stove or range. He would be derelict in
his duty if he failed to refer to that arti-
Gle so popular with the average hired girl,
the very danger in the use of which ap-
pears to add to its value in her eyes. It
is needless to say that kerosene is meant.
But the employment of kerosene is
scarcely more hazardous than the chop
ping up of an old board or barrel into the
requisite size for kindling. Putting up
the stove" has been the subject for q
thousand newspaper jests, it being COM
monty agreed that to adjust the joints of
pipe demands more patience than Job ex-
ercised durinr all his manifold trials; vet
one who has had experience will doubt
whether that be attended with so great
danger or with such trial of patience as
the attempt to chop kindling with an old
ak or hatchet with serrated edge and
with tendency to fly off the handle.
As to the danger, that inclines to the
side of the chopper and splitter. One
may once in while fall from q
chair when the pipe obstinately declines
to joint or to enter the chimney hole; but
one cannot we'll escape the perils which
environ him who undertakes the task Of
converting q gnarled and knotted board,
or a meek looking but weather beaten
ana shaky -four barrel into the A of
fuel If the ak do not come off and fall
upon his head or back, some BIT that
seems to require the exercise of greatest
force to break will yield with surprising
weakness and fly full into his face. Or
If he do escape these perils long and
ugly splinter is sure to pierce his hand
and cause him to bless the whole bust
ness. The need for work of this kind
diminishes year by year, thanks to civil
zation which counts duty the prepara-
ton Of kindling wood for the people.
The heaven for the kinder Of fires Is in
proximity to a southern swamp whose
black loan bears upon its surface and
within its depths the famous pine knot,
u light 'ood, as it Is called by the natives
Of all known woods this burns quickest,
brightest, longest and best. Fairly satu.
'ated with resin, it is as quick to take fire |
IS tinder. The people there use it not |
,nly as substitute for candle or other |
but also invariably for the
purpose of starting their fires, whether
n the house Of the wealthy planter or the
abin Of the poor negro. The supply Is
apparently inexhaustible, and but for
Teat expense of transportation no doubt
Is preeminent excellence as kindling
would have caused it's introduction and
General use in Chicago and through the
vest. In its absence, it's congener the
'ine of the north, less firm and less resin
us, is favorite. But shavings, old pa
ers and debris of all kinds come in as
institutes when negligence has led to
xhaustion of the legitimate supply
Given the best of material, however,
here are many people who would find its
Sc to the starting of good fire task
f no easy accomplishment. Woman has
ONE in for full share of ridicule here, it
aving been charged that she cannot start
fire any better than she can whistle or
harpen pencil. That this is a slander
pom the gentler sex is proved in the mil
ons of cases of wives who preside over
heir own kitchens and the numbers of
lem who indulgently suffer their lazy
orse halves to lie abed in winter morn
lgs until fires are built and houses are
ell warmed. Still, it is none the less an
It that must be acquired. Success will
ot follow the mere throwing together of
lot of kindling and the placing upon that
quantity of wood or coal. The bits
ust be placed compactly, yet not SO
ose together as to choke the draught.
is important, too, that little time !
lall be allowed for the fixing of the Aame
fore the fuel proper is added. &s !