61. In the event of private theatricals you may not, or your friends may
not, like their drawing-room to be filled with a strong sulphurous
smoke, which is pretty certain to hang about the drapery of the room and
the dresses of the company for some unpleasantly long time. I shall
therefore give you now two or three formulas for coloured fires which
may be safely used in a room, and which contain no sulphur.
But first let me give you this caution, which it is most highly
important that you should attend to:—
NEVER BURN ANY COLOURED FIRE COMPOSITION INDOORS, OR IN ANY INCLOSED
SPACE, WHICH CONTAINS ORPIMENT, REALGAR, OR ANY PREPARATION OF ARSENIC
AMONGST ITS INGREDIENTS. THE FUMES FROM SUCH COMPOSITIONS MUST BE VERY
INJURIOUS. THEY CAN ONLY BE USED WITH SAFETY OUT-OF-DOORS.
COLOURED FIRES FOR THEATRICAL
PURPOSES.
WHITE.
No. 14.
Chlorate of potash 12 parts.
Nitre 4 „
Sugar 4 „
Stearine 1 part.
Carbonate of baryta 1 „
This does not give a pure white light, for it is impossible to get a
real white without sulphur, but when used to overpower theatrical
lamplight, it is to all intents and purposes white.
YELLOW FIRE.
No. 15.
Chlorate of potash 6 parts.
Nitre 6 „
Oxalate of soda 5 „
Shellac 3 „
Nitrate of baryta may be substituted for nitre in the above formula with
advantage, provided it be very dry and fine.
GREEN FIRE.
No. 16.
Chlorate of potash 2 parts.
Sugar 1 part.
Nitrate of baryta 1 „
This green colour is but faint in itself, but gives a very good
reflection.
RED FIRE.
No. 17.
Nitrate of strontia 4 parts.
Chlorate of potash 1 part.
Shellac 1 „
These colours are for the most part very rapid in their combustion, and
therefore may be used in cases if you please. But as coloured fires for
theatrical purposes are only required to last a short time, the more
brilliant they are during that time the better.