Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-04

One of the Most Important Domestiz
Duties Nowadays.
A handsome lamp is certainly q
great adornment to a 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 re.
marks on their care may not be out of
place. considering that clear, bright
light adds SO much to the comfort and
enjoyment of the evening occupa-
tons, 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 freshly filed lamp is liable to
explosion. A lamp should be filed at
least two-thirds its depth, and one
which has but spoonful or two of oil
in it should never be lighted, as the
empty oil space is filed with explosive
vapor.
The diGagreeable Pickering of a stu
dent lamp is often caused by small
PARTICLES OF 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 new wick, and empty the lamp
entirely of Oil, pour into the opening,
down the wick cyclinder and wher-
ever fluid will touch inside, boiling
water to which has been added a
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 to roughen 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 a wick
may be heightened by fold of Can
ton flannel 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 insuring an even
flame. Wicks should be dipped in
vinegar and dried thoroughly at the
fire before being put 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 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 everything
brought in contact with them. The
wick should be turned down below
he top of the burner as soon as the
amp Is extinguished, and If this be
lone, and the lamps are carefully
wiped every morning, there should be
no oil on the outside by evening.
Many people after filing and trim
ming a lamp leave the wick turned up
'eady TO light. This should not be done.
II You are annoyed By not being
lble 10 keep your lamp chimney clear,
ny using warm water and soda. or rub
ne smoky appearance with dry salt.
amp cninineys land all glass that is
o be looked through, in fact, should
lave as little water put on them, once
hey are clear, as is possible Dry
ubbing tie chimneys with salt or
cooking soda and bit of newspaper
houl9 remove ali discolorings. The
Use of soap suds is to be avoided.
Lamps should be enptied occasion
lily and washed out with soap snds
soda or ammonia. This
vii remove the greasy sediment from
he bottom. but care must be taken To
ry II thoroughly before refilling. or i,
I'll sputter when lighted Lamps are
arled about, left TO themselves. and
ot unfrequentiy replenished while in
ctuai use. by the way. why is i, |
nat so many hoasekeepers keep
aesr common lamps behind the |
ltchen or sitting room stove, the very |
irtiess place 20 De found0 To put in |
'esh oil while the lamp is burning is
retty sure 10 occasion mischief. There |
no reason 10 doubt that. If the kero-
ane lamp were fully understood. such |
ractces would be discontinued. and /
ever accidents would be the result
% -l.a. and Iitai.nn 1