Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-09-06
THE HOUSEHOLD.
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 oiltiowing
freely from the barrel. Before insert
ing new wick remove the oil barrel and
empty the lamp entirely of oil, pour into
the opening, down the wick cylinder
and wherever fluid will touch inside,
boiling water to which has been added
a 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 attended
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.
1t 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.
AT some inauspicious moment hole
IN the lamp chimney confronts one; no
other is nearer than the grocer's; a
neatly cut piece of letter paper, gener-
ously covering the offending fracture,
nicely pasted on, will serve until we can
do beLrer.
Whenever the lamps are filled, with
clean, soft piece of flannel polish the
burners and mountings of the lamps. 1t
is but moments work and keeps them
bright and shining. Smoked chimneys
| and ill-lept lamps are trying alike to
eyesight and temper.
olo Xii IN
the comfort and enjoyment of the even
ing occupations, that one is we'll repaid
for the daily disagreeable task of keep
ing the lamps in perfect order. kero-
sene oil and lamps are now SO cheap
that, even in the country, it is no longer
regarded as luxury, but necessity. to
have an abundance of light for heme
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
snufed by rubbing the charred edge
with a piece of paper, soft rag, than by
trimming with pair Of scissors. Be-
fore using lamp-wicks soak them in
vinegar, and dry thoroughly to prevent
their smoking.
Turning the wick slightly into the
tube, and removing the chimney before
blowing out the flame, is safe and
Clearly method of putting out lamp.
Not only is the odor from lamp
partially turned down extremely disa-
greeable, but the noxious gases from il
are equally unhealthy. The chimney
may be quickly and easily cleansed by
breathing upon and into it, and wiping
and polishing it with newspaper. 4
' piece of red flannel put into the bowl o!
, The lamp, besides giving dash of color
Burners sometimes get clogged and
refuse to turn up and down. This may
be remedied by putting them into al
iron kettle containing quart of waite
!. and double handful of wood ashes
g After boiling little while take out, an
b with soft rag wash and dry them per
= fectly. Or they may be put into a bati
composed of equal parts of milk an
vinegar, and boiled.