The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-01-15
THE CARE OF LAMPS.
One of the Most Important Domestic Du-
ties of the Present Day.

Ties OIL the Present Days
A handsome lamp is certainly great
hdornment to 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. A few remarks on their care may
not be out of place, considering that a
clear, bright light adds so much to the
comfort and enjoyment of the evening
occupations, that one is well repaid for
the daily disagreeable task OF keeping
the lamps in perfect order.
To begin with, it is wrong to put off
cleaning the lamps until the latter part
of the day, or until wanted for actual
use, as the vapor of the oil about a
freshly-flled lamp is liable to explosion.
A lamp should be filled at least two
thirds it's depth, and one which has but
spoonful or two of oil in it should
never be lighted, as the empty oil space
is filled with explosive vapor.
The disagreeable Pickering of a
student lamp is often caused by small
PARTICLES of the wick dropping into the
inside 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 cylin-
der and wherever fluid will touch inside,
boiling water to which has been added
spoonful of spirits Of ammonia.
In lighting a lamp be careful not to
touch the wick with the match, as by so
doing you are liable toroughen or spread
it. 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 wick may
be heightened by fold of Canton fan
mel pinned to the end Of the wick, which,
reaching to the battom 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 insuring an even
flame. Wicks should be dipped in vine
gar and dried thoroughly at the fire be-
fore being put into the lamps, to prevent
their smoking.
A 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, soiling every thing 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
filing and trimming lamp, leave the
wick turned up ready to light. This
should never be done.
If 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 fact) should have az
little water put on them, once they are
clear, as is possible. Dry rubbing the
chimneys with salt or cooking soda and
a bit OF newspaper should remove all
discolorings. The use of soap suds is to
be avoided.
Lamps should be emptied occasionally
and washed out with soap suds contain
ing soda or ammonia. This will remove
the greasy sediment from the bottom,
but care must be taken to dry it thor
oughly before filling, r it will sputter
when lighted. Lamps are jerked about.
left to themselves, and not unfrequently
replenished while in actual use. By
tbs way, how is it that SO many house
keepers keep their common lamps be-
hind the kitchen or sitting-room stove,
the very dirtiest place to be foundry To
put in fresh oil while the lamp is burn
ing is pretty sure to occasion mischief.
There is no reason to doubt that, if the
kerosene lamp were fully understood
such practice would be discontinued
and fewer accidents would 10 the result
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