Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-01-04
THe CARE or N


f'h'''h E'NFt"sr
A handsome lamp is certainly q
great adjournment To IA room. Lamps
are now SO universally used that the
care Of them has become one of the
daily and most important of domestic
duties. not only Of the country but OF
the luxurious city home. = few re
marks on their care may not be out OF
place. considering that a clear, bright
light adds 81 much to the comfort and
enjoyment Of the evening occupa.
tons, that one is well repaid for the
daily disagreeahle task of keeping the
lamps IN perfect order.
To begin with, it is wrong 10 put off
cleaning the lamps until the latter
part Of the day, or until wanted for
actual use, as the yapor Of the oil
about a freshly filled lamp is liable to
explosion. A lamp should be filed al
least two-tlirds its depth, and one
which has but a spoonful or two of oil
IN il should never be lighted. as the
empty oil space is filed with explosive
vapor.
The disagreeable Pickering of a stu.
dent lamp is often caused b. snl.ll
PARTICLES uf the wick dropping into
the inside. tube OF the cylinder sur
rounding the wick, which prevents
the oil flowing freely from the barrel.
Remove the oil barrel before you in.
sert a new wick, and empty the lamp
entirely ~ oil, pour into the opening,
down Tie wick cyclindcr and wher.
ever luid will touch inside, boiling
water 10 WHICH has been added a
spoonful of spirits of ammonia.
In lglting a lamp be careful not TO
touch the wIck VITA the match, rs by
so doing you are liable 10 roughcn or
spread H. The proper way is 10 hold
the match orCi the wick very close TO
il and wait until the ilame reaches il.
When the lamp is III the wick should
be first turned down, and then slowly
raised.
When nearly burned away q wick
may he Heightened by a fold Of Can
ION flannel pinned 10 the end Of the
wick, which. reaching 10 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 a match and shave of the
charred end, thus insuring an even
fame. Wicks should be dipped in
vinegar and dried thoroughly at th"
fire before beingput into lamps, to pre-
vent their smoking.
A chimney frequently breaks from
having been TO tightly screwed on, the
glass expanding from the heat of the
flame. The chimney may bc'quickly
and easily e. r,l by breathing upon
and into it, and wiping and polishing
it with newspaper.
Lamps filled TO overlooking are
very uncleanly, soiling everything
brought in contact with them. The
wick should be turned down below
the top of the burner as soon as the
lamp is extinguished, and if this be
done, and the lamps are carefully
wiped every morning, there should be
no oil on the outside by evening.
Many people after filling and trim.
ming a lamp leave the wick turned up
ready to light. Thisshould not bedone.
Ii you are annoyed by not being
able 10 keep your lamp chimney clear,
try using warm water and soda, or rub
the smoky appearance with dry salt.
Lamp chinineys land all glass that is
TO be looked through, in facp should
have as little water put on them, once
they are clear, as is possible. Dry
rubbing the climneys with salt or
cooking soda and a bit of newspaper
should removc all disco!orings. The
use Of soap suds is 10 be avoided.
Lamps should be cmptied occasion.
ally and washed out with soap suds
containing soda or ammonia. This
will remove the greasy sediment from
the bottom, but care must he taken 10
dry it thoroughly before rcilling. or it
will sputtcr when lighted. Lamps arc
jerked about. left % themselves. and
not unfrequently replenished while in
actual use. by the way, why is il
that so many housckcepers keep
their common lamps behind the
kitchen or sitting room stove, the very
dirtieSt place TO be foundO To put in
fresh oil while the lamp is burning is
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