Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-01
Newspaper Trench Candles.


Newspaper Trench Candles.
trench candles are
I'M being made by wounded soldiers
in France for the benefit OF their
fellows in the trenches: they have been
made by organizations and Institutions
of learning in many parts OF America
notably in New York. Massachusetts
and Indiana-for use by the Red Cross
in its work Of mercy abroad. Re-
Gently the stubby little candle has
como into q wider field Of usefulness-it
has been saving lives during the cold
weather that prevented transportation
Of fuel in SUFFICIENT quantities to fur
nish heat to the poor. and It has lighted
and warmed the chill trenches and tents
Of American camps in midwinter.
This little roll Of newspaper has. be-
sides its great place in alleviating war
an endless fund Of Amusement for the
shut-ins. the social clubs and the aged
during recent weeks. Clubs hold can-
die bees, whore everybody rolls strips
Of newspapers into little trench candles.
after which the consignments are turn
soaked In para1an. At ono candle bee.
which was followed by music and dane
ing. q thousand candles were rolled.
This newly developed branch Of the
industry. which -as hrst started In lit
tie Italian towns abroad. came up un-
expectedly. Tho woman who has cur
tailed her social activities during tho
season in order to teach interested per-
sons how to make the candles and who
makes, examines and paraffins moro
America thought that during the coal
shortage the poor in tho tenements
might need heat and light. She and her
sister took seven thousand candles to
the tenements of the poor. where they
furnished all the light and heat supplied
for days ut a time to infants. the sioux
and tho poverty-stricken.
One little trench candle gives ON
more heat and light than do nve or
more wax or ta1low candles in . group.
Cooking 10 done over them; soldiers
warm their shaving water on them.
and they often supply all the heat and
light that could be had IN emergencies
In our American trenches. where our
boys are learning the games OF war
before they go to France.
The trench candle looks 80 very SIM
pie that one may not realize how i'm
portant 1t is that the candle shall DC
manufactured with care. They are CALI
ed trench candles because they are used
in the trenches and field hospitals when
surgical operations must be performed
The tiny candle does not drip or mare.
as do wax and tallow candles, and 1t
gives forth a greater light. hence It's
importance In the foreign trenches.
Every soldiers kit contains one. FUR
or Of the American Trench Newspaper
Candle Association. Miss N: Ceclie
Gaffney, who is also president ana
other officer In a number OF CLUBS.
Miss Gaffney receives shipments OF
candles from any part of the country
most of which come unparalleled. She
examines them, throws out the imper
feet candles, and parafhns them All.
after which she expresses them 10 tno
Red Cross shipping department TOT use
abroad. During th Mise ssr Ssftne1 diverted
tens of Thousands Of candles to use
among the poor. and still supplies can
dies for the 'tenements.
since the value Of the candle In sur
eical work lies in its tight. nom
ming qualities, 1t 10 important to know
exactly how to make the candle tigne
and paraffln It SO that II Will give
the greatest possible light TOT tne
longest period of time. The canole
and is only as tall AZ the column OF
a newspaper Is wide.
It has been found that the best size
of candle is made from ono sheet OF
newspaper. eight columns in width. IN
any case. eight columns are required.
The sheet Of paper is cut along the
line between the columns. Some kindly
newspaper offices have cut old news
papers in strips by means OF tneir
cutting machines and delivered rnH s.- inc
must be even. and 1t Is necessary TO
roll them on a hard surface-such as
q table, q board. q book, or anything
Of frm quality. The first two columns
are laid together. one on top OF the
other.
The candlemaker then rolls them
into a tight roll. Over this the third
strip of paper is rolled, and then the
others, one at q time. until eight have
been rolled. Holding the tight. hard
the candlemaker ties bit of string
around the middle. to prevent the
paper from loosening. After a large
pile has accumulated. and 1t IL q
dies to be made at one candle bee.
fifty or more are stood on end closely
together, just as one sees sticks or
kindling wood arranged. Around the
pile is tied string that binds them to-
end In q receptacle full of hot paraf-
I'm. Indeed. the object of tho string
10 merely to assist in handling the
bundle in the hot liquid. II the recep-
tacle is not filled by the bundle. other
tom is full of little candles. all stand
ing upright. and entirely covered with
liquid prafin. Tho liquid is allowed
to boil. or simmer. for three-quarters
Of an hour, when the candles are easily
lifted out by sticking a fork through
the outside string and lifting the en-
tire lot out at one time.
The encircling string is removed. the
little individual strings clipped away.
and the smooth. hard little candles
watef-ttRht
ready for duty in hospitals abroad.
trenches or tenements at home. The
loose candles are also fished out Of
each bundle, more paraffin is added.
usually a pound cake. Ten pounds Of
parafln will make go candles. and
when the parafin is purchased in large
Quantities-such as ten or twenty
bounds lots-the price is low. In pound
packages. however. the price varies
from nine to fifteen cents. according
to the place whore the purchase Is
made