Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-12-11
BUILDING A FIRE
An Accomplishment Most Per-
sons Can Learn.
IL Looks Easy, but It Requires Spe'
eiaI Methods-Two Recipes from
England, Where Coal and Not
Wood 10 Customary Fuel.

Iumn come, the open HIe CldimS huSh
of the affection and attention of the
household. For nothing is SO cheer
full, so comfortable aid so beautiful
to look upon as fire of logs cracking
on the hearth, or Of glowing Goals
burning in CRATE.
There are some women and some
men, as well, who think they do not
know how to light fire; SO, II they
want to be warm or want to be cheer
full or want to watch the cracking hre,
they must needs wait for some one
more skillful than they to build it.
Doubtless there are some persons
who cannot build fire, just as there
are some who cannot make geraniums
grow and some others whose cake al
ways falls in the baking. But most
persons, II they will take the trouble
to learn a thing or SO about the chin
ney where they are building fire.
and about the ways Of fires in general.
will find themselves able to master
the art of fire making.
Every one knows, of course, that q
draft is one of the first essentials for
a good fire, dry fuel is another. So
see to 1t that you have them both at
hand.
Even a poor chimney can be made
to harbor a good fire. II its drawing
powers are not good. cuddle and coax
the fire past the smoking stage. Don't
burn an all wood fire, but establish
90 L..
that the poor draft will prove suili-
GENTLY strong to carry off the coal
gas and the little smoke that the Goals
give off.
Often even a good chimney smokes
when the fire is first built. because
the chimney is cold and damp. If you
are sure that there is a substantial
layer of fireproof construction between
the chimney and any framework about
the house, light crumpled sheet OF
newspaper and thrust 1t as far up
the chimney as you can reach. Light
half a dozen of these in succession
and you will have the chimney warm
enough to start smokeless fire.
On damp day this same newspaper
warming process might be used to
advantage, as much moisture and
dampness collect in the chimney In
fogs and rains.
There must always be room for air
to circulate under and behind the fire.
If you have andirons your task is sim.
pie. Simply place the logs so that
room Is left behind them for the air
to circulate; the andirons hold them
high enough to let the air circulate
under them. If there are no androns
and no coal basket-a very good fire
of logs can be built in coal basket
lay two stout sticks like andirons and
build the fire on these.
Have plenty of kindling - paper,
shavings, excelsior, dry sticks, pine
knots or chips-and let this get well
lighted before you pile on logs or
coal
Here is an English recipe for light.
ing coal fire-and the English who
use coal to the exclusion of wood
should be authorities on the subject.
Put some cinders in the bottom Of
the crate. These insure circulation
of air. for they are porous and do not
cake down. Over them put couple
of sheets Of newspaper, crumpled
loosely and lay ten sticks of dry
wood on the paper. Put the fire well
back in the CRATE, but allow room be-
hind 1t for circulation of air. When
1t is cracking, put on shovelful Of
coal, and repeat this process until the
crate is sufficiently filed with fire.
Another English method of fire
lighting is to light the fire from the
top and let 1t burn downward-which
at first sounds something like scoop
ing up water with a sieve. This is
how it Is done: Put layer of Gin.
ders In the bottom of the crate and
cover these with a good bed Of coal
Then lay dry sticks-a dozen or So
loosely over the Goals. Put on
shovelful of coal and then put half a
dozen sheets of crumpled paper on
top. Light the paper and watch the
fire burn downward.