The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-03
Caring ofLamps.

EEThe regular trimming Of lamps, says
Good Housekeeping, is one of the necessary
morning duties, and appropriately follows
the bedroom work, although it can be done
during any ten vacant minutes there may
be before going upstairs. The dovetailing
| of work, to make one task fit in with an
| other so that there are no lost minutes, is the
| secret of accomplishing very much in a
short time. If you have no regular lamp
scissors (which cost very little, save your
others, and also save the bits of carbonized
wick from dropping about, by devoting an
old pair to the purpose.
In trimming the wick cut off as little of
the charred part as possible; generally it is
sufficient just to clip off any inequality of
the burned surface. Some people do NOT cut
the wick at all, but simply wipe it off with
paper, but the edge sometimes remains
ragged after this; then the scissors may be
used with advantage to make it even; if the
| flame is not even, you may be sure there is
| some tiny point on the wick; see that the
corners are very slightly rounded off, to
L prevent points of flame. If they are cut
/ of too much, however, the fame will be too
fnarrow, and the light not sogood as the size
Of the wick will allow.
Every drop of oil must be wiped from the
burner. and nothing answers for this pur-
pose better than newspaper, which can be
| Immediately burned. If a cloth is used, it
must either be washed out Immediately, or
it will cause the place in which it is kept,
and everything near it, to smell of kero-
sene.
When you are sure the lamp and burner
are quite free from oil, polish the chimney
The common dubious chimney is best
cleaned, when only dim, with soft newspa-
per; if smoked aud fly spotted, wash it in
soapy hot water, and wipe it dry. Do not
be satisfied to place a chimney that is not
brightly polished on lamp; like we'll
blackened stove clean lamp gives an air of
cleanliness and cheerfuness to the plainest
room, while handsome one in which the
ordor of kerosene is perceptible and a
smoke-dimmed chimney visible, will seem
| neglected and depressing.
For the cylinder chimney. which is the
most difficult to clean, have found nothing
so good, after trying all sorts of contrivancs,
| as the brush with wire handle sold for the
purpose. With daily use of this, the chin
| ney seldom needs washing and is always
| bright. The brush must be used dry; hold
the chimney in your left hand with d1ster
or newspaper to prevent your touch from
dimming it; then with the right hand push
the brush sharply up and down; polish the
outside with paper; less than a minutes
work each day will keep the chimney in
perfect order.
Once in a while wash the brush and dry
it thoroughly. The burners of all lamps
require washing in soap and hot water once
a week.
When lamps cease to give a good light
| many people throw them away and get
new. There is usually nothing the matter,
except that the perforations are choaked
with carbon and dust. Boil them for half
an hour, in an old saucepan in which you
have good teaspoonful of washing soda to
each quart of water; rinse them and set
them to dry. This will generally remedy
the difficulty.