The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-18
'AFRIENDLESS MATCH
The Parlor Match, Condemned in
New York, Has No Friends
Here. ~
Fire Fighters and Insurance Men
Say It's Frequently Guilty
of Arson.

"A Parlor Match which will be pro-
hibited In Greater New York after Jan. l,
is also unpopular in Minneapolis, especial
ly among firefghters and fire insurance
men,.
The lively entertainment heretofore pro-
vided by the ordinary parlor, or separable-
head match, will give place in New York
to the more decorouS delights afforded by
the safety match, to be lighted on box
after you have found 1t. and by the sui
phur match, that used to fumigate our
fathers. The parlor match has been pro-
hibited by the city fire commissioner, fol-
lowing recommendation Of the board OF
combustbles," because in Manhattan
the parlor, match is legally a combustlole
1t Is classed with niger chasers, SKY
rockets and dynamite bombs. 1t can be
sold only by licensed vendors. The parlor
match has caused 1900 fires IN Ne" YORK
city in the current year.
At Chicago Chief Musham Of the fire de-
partment assailed the parlor match. he
had known OF many cases In which this
match had caused destructive fires. On
one occasion a Chicago woman had
trodden upon a parlor match as lightly as
a Chicago woman could. Her skirts
caught the spark, and few moments
later she was burned to death.
Eyes. the parlor match is very dan
gerous," agreed Manager j. A. ;Brant OF
the Minneapolis Underwriters associa-
ton, this morning. IT'S wonder they
don't set more fires than they do.
think the New York authorities have done
we'll to prohibit the sale and use Of the
matches. Some such action Is necessary
to keep people from preferring the parlor
match to the safety match.
only a short time ago I was lighting
the gas in my bathroom at home with
parlor match. l heard a slight noise be-
hind me. When turned about I saw sew
eral Turkish towels in full blaze. Part
of the burning head Of the match had
broken off and flown in the fringes of a
towel. Had I stepped out Of the room In
stead Of turning about the house would
soon have been on fire. SO have tried to
get every one about the house to use
safety matches. But the box on the side
of which these matches must be lighted
isn't always at hand, and although I have
hung up about the house pieces of the
chemically prepared paper. l could never
induce servants to abandon the parlor
match. It's so much easier to light.
What the Public Should Demand.
Still. if parlor matches could not be
sold here. people would soon learn to use
either safety ma tches or the old time
sulphur match. The old match, of course,
doesn't always ignite the same day you
strike it, and it smells like a lesson in
chemistry. Another sort Of match, that
would have more the odor of violet and
circumstances, would probably be IN
vented If the public demand was press
Ing"
Superintendent J. T. Ruane of the local
fire insurance patrol doesn't like sulphur
matches. He says that they destroy the
aroma Of his Havanas. But he knows
that the parlor match is q work Of the
evil one and should be abolished If pos
sible.
"Parlor Matches he added. 'have
caused many fires here. There's no
doubt about that. I can't give any
statistics until I've looked the matter
up.
But if New York goes back to sulphur
matches. she will simply be in line with
many other eastern cities. 1 remem-
Der that at most eastern hotels I never
was able to get parlor matches. The
hotels had sulphur matches only.
Whether this was done as a precaution
against fire, or because the landlords
were behind the times. 1 never inquired.
But used to have lots Of trouble in
getting sweet light for my cigars
What Mr.. Canterbury Says.
Nor would Chief Canterbury of the fire
department offer a word Of sympathy for
the friendless. red-headed parlor match
They're the cause of great many
fires said he. THE broken heads f1y
into corners and are forgotten until the
house is blazing. People step on these
matches and start fire on the floor with
out noticing it. Children easily cause
trou'''" with the little fire brands and
Its common thing for mice or rats to
get asst rodent for lunch by nibbling a
parioi match On our records M &, M
means mice and Matches
according to our report for last yea r
only six fires out of more than LOO were
caused directly by matches so far as we
could learn. But a large proportion OF
fires always arise from uncertain or un-
known causes. Here the parlor match,
l believe. is very frequently to blame. But
II that match wasn't redheaded, it might
not be quite SO mischevous"