The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-14
Efficient Housekeeping
 By LAURA A. HERMAN.
CAN YOU BUILD A GOOD FIREe

received an amusing letter from a column reader, the other day. It was signed Bride" and began: Now, dear Miss Kirkman, before you tell me how to cook, please tell me how to build a ire. Every one I build goes out.''
 So I think an article on building fires-furnace, stove and hearth-may be acceptable. at least to young house. keepers.
 To Build a Fire in a Coal Range: Close all the dampers except the oven damperS; remove the covers from the top of the stove and brush. all soot over the grate so as to dump the ashes into the ash pan below. (This is also the time to scrape off anything that has been spilled on the oven fiooro Now lay either crumpled paper or ;havings on the grate, filling the fire box at least one-third with this. Next place pieces of kindling, crosswise, on the paper, making sure that they reach the corners. The stick of wood should be loosely arranged in order to allow free passage of air.
 It Is now time to light the fire. Do this by applying a lighted match through the bars of the grate to the paper or shavings; when the wood is burning we'll, add shovels of coal, not too large. Do not add more coal until the shovels of 1t are glowing.
 To Build a Furnace Fire: Follow above directions for building coal ire in @ kitchen range. For furnace IS only a large stove.
 To Build a Wood Fire the Hearth: Brush the ashes from previous wood fires far back in the fireplace (of course removing an excessive amount of them.) It Is an economy to keep a certain amount of ashes on the hearth because when a fire is made these ashes VII be heated again and thus will assist in throwing out more heat. But they must be kept far back so as not to blow and so as to throw the heat forward into the room. The next step. after pushing the ashes back, to place a ''back log" on the and irons, pushing 1t well back against the center wall of the hearth. This back log is great help in building a fire; usually heavy, chunky stick of hard wood Is chosen for and it frequently lasts from one fire to another. Place crumpled paper or shavings between the andirons and cross kindling sticks on the paper-but more in hillock shape than fiat as when making a heavier sticks on the kindling so that as the flame burns along the l1ndling: It will be led up to the back log. When a back log used for new fire 1t will be small than it originally was because part of 1t will have burn ed away; when it becomes too small for use as a back log, it should be drawn forward and a new back log put in.
 To keep a large log from burning late at night when a fire is no longer needed stand the burning piece on end back in the corner or against the side. and as 1t is isolated from the heat of other pieces of wood it will soon stop burning. A fire screen IS a most important piece of hearth-fire equipment.
 To Build a Coal Fire in a Hearth Crate: Remove all ashes that are in the grate from other fires, so as to have free access of air to the fire. Place crumpled paper or shavings in the bottom of the grate and a few kindlings of charcoal on top of these. In grate fires soft coal burns with yellow flame, and because it is porous and full of gases 1t burns quickly and makes a splendid grate fire. If small paper bags are filled with hard coal, (when this is used) in the cellar and put upon the grate fire in the bags, this save the dirt and unpleasant noise of shove1ing.
 Tomorrow-Answcred Letters.
 All inquiries addressed to Miss Kirkman in care of the Efficient Housekeeping" department will be answered in these columns in their turn. This requires considerable time, however owing to the great number received. So if a personal or quicker reply is desired, a stamped and self-addressed envelope must be pnc1nSad 1xyifh