The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-12-18
DO NOT USE CANDLES
In Decorations in Connection With
Christmas Observance.

ShA'o1AhaS SbSNA
The insane suggestion OF lighted
window candle for Christmas eve, with
its inevitable tragic consequences, has
again made its appearance, it was stat
ed to-day by the national board OF fire
underwriters.
John H. Stedman OF Rochester, n. Y,
has originated what he calls Christ
Candle" movement and has sent out a
pamphlet urging that it be adopted in
all the homes of the country. This
highly dangerous bit OF sentimentality
is based upon the cold tradition" that
"a lighted candle set in the window on
Christmas eve win guide the Babe Of
Bethlehem to your nome that he may
bring you happiness" This suggestion
has been published by magazine Of
national circulation.
The last time that a proposition
analogous to this was put forth was in
December, 1917, when the American
Red Cross suggested that paper Red
Cross Service flags" be placed in all
windows with lighted candle behind
them. The national board of fire un-
derwriters Immediately called the at
tention Of the Washington headquar-
tiers of the American Red Cross TO the
fact that a lighted candle in close prox-
unity TO window curtains, as it would
be in large percentage of the cases,
would inevitably lead to hundreds, per-
haps thousands OF fires, with the prob
ability Of many fatalities The Red
Cross officials acted Immediately by
telegraphing all chapters throughout
the country a. follows:
Immediate action National board
of fire underwriters feels Christmas
eve ceremony involves fire risk and, in
view Of their Judgment, desire to do all
possible 10 guard against risk Please
instruct chapter heads and workers and
give wide publicity through press con
corning fire hazard involved and impor-
lance of not using a lighted candle. Be
sure direction is given for taking down
of all curtains, so that homes of less
intelligent classes will not be endan-
gered, then Christmas eve Observance
can be carried through by raising of
shades and letting light of room illumi-
nate the service flag in the window, or
an electric hashlight, rs suggested,
could be used on service flag. National
board does not expect us TO withhold
any posters or advertising already
planned"
They also prepared the following no.
tice for display in moving picture thea
tres:
important noticel DO not put a
lighted candle behind the Red Cross
"service flag" in your window upon
Christmas eve; to do so might eaure
FIRE. Your flag viii be sufficiently DIS
played if YOU merely raise the sha.ie ar
draw the curtains md have the room
illuminated"
So prompt and energetic vas their
action that the consequences of the
dangerous suggestion were averted.
Fire prevention forces are spending
much time and enegry in the effort TO
educate the public in common sense
carefulness. II is therefore discomfort
ing when a magazine of great influence
gives currency to a suggestion which
violates the most fundamental die
tates of common sense. The reality of
the. danger involved appears in the fact
that figures just complied by the ma
tional board Of fire underwriters show
that there was approximately Sl7 1900,
600 worth of damage done by fires
caused by open lights in the years 1915
to 1919, inclusive, not TO mention the
loss of life incurred.