The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-21
Accident Can often he Avoided.


One would suppose that with knowl-
edge OF the awful agony FIRE can cause,
ordinary caution would be the rule OF
life. As a matter of fact, fearful chances
Of accident are taken every day Of the
year by a host Of men and women. Chill
dren cannot be expected TO know as much
as their elders, so the suffering that
comes TO them is often unavoidable.
Men go to bed with lighted cigars and
pipes and fall asleep before they realize
their peril They should know better
than to take such chances even though
the number OF accidents is very small in
comparison with the list Of careless
smokers. Women carry glass lamps up
and down stairs where they are liable TO
trip at any moment, and glass is so
fragile that the danger is Increased more
than fourfOld. Lighted lamps should not
be carried about-theTe is TO excuse for
the practice, because candles are both
cheap and safe.
The worst trick OF all Is lighting the
Kitchen fire with kerosene. None Of US
know how often we are placed at the
mercy Of a careless maid, but know that
would never trust one after discovering
such habit. Just once have I walked
into the kitchen and seen the oil can
poised over a sickly fire in the range
and the fright I got then was all I cared
Tor. An hour later the girl was on her
way to search for a new place. I did not
feel sure Of my safety and that Of my
nome till the door closed behind her.
We may not remember the proper thing
to do in an emergency. but We have a
better chance II We have some knowledge
We might possibly remember TO roll orr
selves in rug and heavy wooden gar
ment rather than rush outdoors with
blazing garments If we thoroughly under
stood, beforehand that death turks out
side In the summer cottage Of a eau
tious family hang a few fire extinguish-
ers where they are most likely to be
needed. The kitchen was presided over by
a new domestic, and she was introduced
to the bright green tube hanging near
the door before she found the cooking
utensils.
@NPA'e't c4itif Sli- AAQfFSLood us use DGL
she forgot all about il a week later. when
she upset small oil stDve and left the
running oil to burn as it would while she
sought assistance Fortunately she did
not open the outer door and the man OF
the house conquered the blaze with the
eKtinguisher and an old Vgercoat. What
would you have done had you been alone
Winner he asked the terrified maid. Go
find man 70 put II out. sor," was the re-
ply. And leave the door wide open.
SUPPOSE" he said. Yes. sor." she an
swered stolldly. There was his opportun-
!ty FOR lesson and he seized it.
doubt II she would have done any
differently had another occasion required
her assistance. but there was the pos
sibility that she might remember the dan
ger OF opening doors and windows. par
ticularly as she had a bright thought one
day when she was assisting in the de-
stTuction OF caterpillar nests on the trees
near the house. Kerosene was used 20
saturate the places and a torch was then
applied. Some Of the fluid dropped on
the grass. which. being dry. burned quick
~ and the man found a stubborn blaze
getting away from him. To the house
few Winnie and back she came with a
huge watering pot which had been left
filed and standing on the veranda. She
did good work with that eXtinguisheT.
Perhaps she would have kept her head
II another fire broke out in the house