The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-14
THE CARE OF LAMPS.

A handsome lamp is certainly great
adornment to room. Lamps are now
SO universally used that tie care ofthem
has become one of vhe daily and mo t
important of domestic duties not only
of the country but of the luxurious city
home. A few remarks on their care
may not be out OF place. says Pfior rod
Kitchen, considering that clea., bright
light adds 50 much to the comfort and
enjoyment of the evening occupations,
that one is well repaid TO the daily S
agreeable task of keeping the lamps in
perfect order.
To begin with, it is wrong to put of
cleaning the lamps until the laiIer part
of the day, or until wan ed for actual
use, as the vapor Ofthe oil about fresh
ly filled lamp is liable to explosion. A
lamp should be filled at least two-thirds
its depth, and one which has bu, spoon
full or two of oil in it should never be
lighted, as the empty oil space is filled
with explosive vapor.
The disagreeable fiickering of stu
dent lamp is often caused by small par
ticles of the wick dropping into the in
side tube of the cylinder surrounding the
wick, which prevents the oil flowing
freely from the barrel. Remove the oil
barrel before you insert a new wick, and
empty the lamp entirely of oil, pour into
the opening, down the wick cyliuder and
wherever fluid will touch inside, boiling
water to which has been added spoon
full of spirits of ammonia.
In lighting lamp be careful not to
touch the wick with the match, as by so
doing you are liable to roughen or spread
1t. The proper way is to hold the match
over the wick very close to it and wait
until the flame reaches it. When the
lamp is lit the wick should be first
turned down, and then slowly raised.
When nearly burned away Il wick may
be heightened by fold of Canton fan
mel pinned to the end of the wick, which,
reaching to the bottom Of the lamp, will
feed the wick as the oil burns out, Don't
cut your wick, but, turning it just above
the tube, take match and shave off the
charred end, thus insurlng an even flame.
Wicks should be dipped in vinegar and
dried thoroughly at the fire before being
put into lamps, to prevent their smoking
chimney frequently breaks from
having been too tightly screwed on, the
glass expanding from the heat Of the
flame. The chimney may be quickly
and easily cleaned by breathing upon and
into it, and wiping and polishing it with
newspaper.
Lamps filed to overlooking are very
uncleanly, solling everything brought in
contact with them. The wick should
be turned down below the top of the
burner as soon as the lamp is extin-
guished, and if this be done and the
lamps are carefully wiped every morn
ing, there should be no oil on the out
side by evening. Many people after fill
ing and trimming lamp leave the wick
turned up ready to light. This should
never be done.
II you are annoyed by not being able
to keep your lamp chimney clear, try
using warm water and soda, or rub the
smoky appearance with dry salt. Lamp
chimneys land all glass that is to be
looked through, in facD should have as
little water put on them, once they are
,lear, as is possible. Dry rubbing the
chimneys with salt or cooking soda and
bit of newspaper should remove all dis
colorings. The use of soap suds is to be
avoided.
Lamps should be emptied occasionally
and washed out with soap suds contain
ing soda Of ammonia. This will remove
the greasy sediment from the bottom,
but care must be taken to dry it thor
oughly before refilling. or it will sputter
when lighted. Lamps are jerked about,
left to themselves and not unfrequently
replenished while in actual use. To put
in fresh oil while the lamps burning lie
pretty sure to occasion mischief. There
is no reason to doubt that. If the kero-
sene lamp were fully understood such
practices would be discontinued and few
or accidents would be the result.