St. Landry democrat., 1893-07-15
AROUND THE HOUSE.

should be cleaned by using only a
little water at time and changing often ;
q soft flannel cloth is better than cotton
or brush, and that piece of pine stick
with sharp point should be used for the
corners.
How TO AVOID FIRES FROM GAS AND
LAMPs.-There are few days when our pa
pcrs do not contain records of serious eX-
plosions, which Il tritling amount of care
would have avcrtcd. Very few housewives
take the trouble to master the simple laws
of physics, which govern the working Of
these various explosions. They act by
hearsay, not by direct knowledge. The
| plumber has told them the range would
| blow up" if fire is kin1led when the
water back is frozen. In too many cases
they try the experiment with the lnev-
liable result of IN explosion.
Now if the hOusekecper had understood
the workings of the water back III the
range, the danger from this source would
| have been sef-cvidcnt without any hear
say warning on the subject. The fire.
quent explosions from kerosene oil
| are due to reckless carclcssn,ss. 1t
| is COMMON for servants to kindle fire
! with oil. Unless the maid of ll-work is
| one of those rare persons who can be
trusted to do her work conscientiously,
it is best to keep the oil where she cannot
get it. 1t is really an easy matter to
keep little locked box, which may be
opened once day, when needed for
filling lamps. 1t is not likely Il careless
maid will take the trouble to pour oil
from a lamp, but if you are doubtful the
kitchen may be furniscd with the meta
lamps which are SO arranged that valve
closes the opening when any attempt Is
made to pour oil out. 1t is strange how
often people yirld to a sudden impulse
in such a matter as this. Save bacon
and ham rinds, scraps left from trying
ont fat and greasy papers to assist in
kindIing the fire if you wish, but let
kerosene oil or any explosive oil entirely
alone. When we realize the fact that
millions Of individuals use nothing but
kerosene for illuminating their houses,
and that the vast ma iority use only glass
lamps, it is certainly astonishing that we
do not have more accidents from this
source. 1t seems self evident, that
for the sake Of safety when the lamp is
upset, the font should be Of metal or
some material that will not break or
spread the oil; and there certainly should
be some valve arrangement to prevent the
oil pouring out Of the openings as it does
in some lamps when they are upset. 1t
is the lighting OF this oil from the lighted
wick which usually causes the serious
trouble. AS point of fact very few
scientists now believe that the frequent
accidents, or so-called explosions of
lamps are worthy of the name. On the
contrary they are fires spread by lighted
OIL not explosions, and like all fires that
are unrestraiued, they work destructive
course ia a few moments. 1t is the duty
of every mother to be lcycl-headed
and to train her children to be
cool and collected at such times as these.
Nowhere is cool judgment needed SO
often as in the household. When we
realize what dangers may Turk in gas
pipes, which have been imperfectly laid,
as many of them are, it is also astonish-
ing that more accidents do not occur
from this source. When there is the
slightest odor of gas about the house the
premises should be carefully inspected
until the leak is found A good house.
keeper will do well to inspect the fix
lures once in a while, as they are often
put together by careless workmen, and |
may become loose or unscrewcd. The |
stop-cOck of the gas fixtures has been |
known to be loosened SO that it finally |
fell out before anyone was aware Of 1t, |
and stream of gas filled the house, |
which could only be stopped at the |
main. Every woman should understand |
that when a certain per cent of gas has
become mixed with the surrounding air
the result is a dangerous explosive that !
the presence of the first flame may
kindle into deadly power. AS soon as
the odor of gas is noticed the windows
should be opened, not only for the pur-
pose of purifying the atmosphere, but
because they are liable to be blown out
as soon us the needed quantity of gas has
become mixed with the air. One Of the
most beautiful and complete of American
country houses was totally destroyed by
fire because the lights in the house were
not eXtinguished before the search began
for the escaping gas which the noses Of
the household perceived.
1t seems as if enough has been said
concerning the dangers of axphyNiation
from the gas of a coal stove to Warn
every one. Yet when occasionally a
family is sent to death from this cause it
is usually found that for years they have
been accustomed to arrange their stove
hampers at night SO there was little or no
escape for the inevitable gas that would
be generated by the burning coal. For
years they have been saved by some acct
dent, and the olIy marvel is that they
have escaped SO long.