A lamp, a lantern, or an oil-stove should not be placed where it could
possibly be upset. Neither should it be blown out until the wick has
been turned half-way down, as the flame might be blown into the oil,
thus causing an explosion. To turn down the wick too low, however, is
also dangerous.
All brass or metal work on a lamp or oil-stove should be kept clean and
bright, as dirty metal retains the heat, thus causing vapor to rise
from the oil, and making an explosion possible.
THE WORLD'S GREAT FIRES
Ever since men have built their houses of wood, and have crowded their
dwellings together in cities, there have been terrible conflagrations,
destroying, in two or three days, property which has been gathered
together at a great cost of time and labor. Thousands of people have
been made homeless, and fortunes have been lost in a single night.
As long ago as 65 A. D., when Nero was Emperor of Rome, more than half
the city was destroyed by a great fire, and the people were obliged to
flee to the hills for safety.
Constantinople has suffered eleven conflagrations, by which more than
130,000 homes have been destroyed; and in Japan, where the houses are
built of bamboo and paper, fires sweep through the streets with the
rapidity of the wind, burning hundreds of the little low buildings in
a single hour. In fact, these fires are of such common occurrence,
and are so destructive, that the Japanese people keep their valuable
possessions in fireproof storehouses in their own gardens, and they
often have the frame and paper walls of a new house in this "godown,"
ready to put together as soon as the ashes of their former dwelling are
cool enough not to set another fire.
In September, 1666, the city of London was devastated by flames. The
fire broke out in a baker's shop, and spread on all sides so rapidly
that it could not be extinguished before two-thirds of the city had
been destroyed. All the sky was illuminated by the flames, and the
light could be seen for forty miles. More than a thousand houses were
in flames at the same time. Night was as light as day, and the air was
so hot that the people could do nothing but stand still and look on at
their own ruin.
In those days there was little fire-fighting apparatus, nothing at all
to be compared with our modern conveniences; and the flames, fanned by
a strong east wind, swept through the narrow streets, fairly eating up
the houses, which were built entirely of wood. The ruins covered 436
acres; 400 streets were laid waste, 13,200 houses were destroyed, and
200,000 persons were made homeless.
The first of the great conflagrations in our own country was the fire
in Chicago in October, 1871. This fire was caused by a cow kicking over
a lighted lantern in a barn; and, from this simple start, three and
one-half square miles were laid waste, 200 persons were killed, 17,450
buildings were destroyed, and 98,500 persons were made homeless. The
flames were fanned by a fierce gale, and spread with great rapidity,
raging uncontrolled for two days and nights.
In November, 1872, the city of Boston was visited by fire. The
conflagration was confined almost wholly to the business district,
and while only 800 buildings were destroyed, the loss amounted to
$73,000,000, and hundreds of men lost their entire fortune.
In April, 1906, San Francisco was devastated by the most terrible fire
known to all history. The fire was preceded by earthquake shocks, and,
with the falling walls and chimneys, fires were started in different
sections of the city. The earthquake also caused the bursting of the
water mains in the streets, so that it was impossible to hold the
flames in check; and before they were at last extinguished the burned
area was over three times greater than that of the Chicago fire, and
ten times that of the Boston fire. This fire destroyed $350,000,000
worth of property, and over 300,000 persons were made homeless.
The Baltimore fire, in 1904, burned over 140 acres, and $85,000,000
worth of property was lost.
This great waste is a serious problem which confronts our country; but
each one of us, by being careful, may do his share toward lessening the
loss by fire.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
It was the last night of the year, and a happy little group was sitting
around the supper table in the Hawleys' pleasant dining-room.
There were Mr. and Mrs. Hawley and their two children,--Leland, who was
a wide-awake boy of fourteen, and Rachel, who was two years younger.
Their cousins, Lawrence and Dorothy, had come to spend several weeks
with them. As they were all about the same age, the four children were
having a merry time together.
The Hawley homestead was in a little country town in New England; but
Lawrence and Dorothy had always lived in the city of New Orleans and
they knew nothing about winter and winter sports. You can imagine how
much they enjoyed everything, especially the snow.
They were all laughing and chatting merrily when suddenly Mr. Hawley
rose and went to the window. "I hear sleigh-bells," he said. "A sleigh
is driving into our yard."
In a moment more a knock was heard at the door, and a note was handed
to Mrs. Hawley telling her that her sister was very ill.
This sister lived several miles away, but Mrs. Hawley felt that she
must go to her at once, so her husband decided to harness his pair of
bays and drive her over.
"I am sorry to leave you, children," Mrs. Hawley said, as she tied on
her bonnet. "Have just as good a time as you can, and I will trust you
not to do anything that would displease me."
"I will take Mother over and return as soon as possible," said Mr.
Hawley, as he tucked his wife into the sleigh. "I shall try to be home
before ten o'clock; but don't sit up for me. Be good children and take
care of everything."
"Perhaps my sister will be better and I can come home to-morrow," added
Mrs. Hawley cheerfully. Then she kissed the children and bade them
good-bye, and the horses dashed off down the road with a great jingling
of bells.
The girls looked a little sober when they went back into the big empty
farmhouse, but Leland tried to cheer them up. "We'll have a jolly time
keeping house," he said. "What's the first thing to be done?"
"The dishes, of course," replied his sister; "there are always dishes
to do, no matter what happens."
The boys cleared the table, while Rachel and Dorothy washed and wiped
the dishes, and set the table for breakfast. Then they brought in some
wood and built a big fire in the fireplace.
The flames went roaring up the chimney, and the children sat for a
long time before the fire, watching the rings of sparks that twisted in
and out on the soot-covered bricks. "Children going home from school,"
they called them, and the last one to burn out was the one to stay
after school for a whipping.
"Let's roast some chestnuts," Leland suggested, when there was a good
bed of hot ashes, and he ran up in the attic to get a bagful that he
had been saving for just such an occasion.
It was fun to push the chestnuts into the fire with a long poker and
then watch them pop out when they were roasted. Sometimes they flew
across the room, or under the tables and chairs, and then there was a
great hunt for them.
"We might wish on the chestnuts," Rachel suggested. "If they pop out on
the hearth, our wish will come true, but if they fly into the fire, it
won't."
"Oh, yes!" cried Lawrence; "that's just the thing to do. Girls
first,--you begin, Rachel."
"No, Dorothy is my guest," replied his cousin; "she must have the first
turn."
Dorothy poked her chestnut into the ashes. "I wish I might spend the
whole year up here with you," she said; and when the nut popped right
into her lap the other children joined hands and danced around her in a
circle.
Then it was Rachel's turn, and she wished for higher marks in school
than she ever had before; but the chestnut jumped into the fire and
blazed up merrily.
"That's because your marks are good enough anyway," her brother told
her. "What is your wish, Lawrence?"
"I wish that I might go to London in an airship," Lawrence replied.
"And I wish that I might go to the biggest circus in the world," added
Leland, poking his chestnut in beside his cousin's.
One of the nuts popped into the farthest corner of the hearth, and the
other burned to a little black cinder; but the boys couldn't decide
whose chestnut it was that flew away, so they couldn't tell which one
was to have his wish.
"I'll tell you something that is just as good as flying," said Leland.
"Let's get out our bob-sled and go coasting. There's a moon to-night,
and it is almost as light as day."
"I don't think we ought to leave the house," objected Rachel. "Father
and Mother are both away, you know, and they told us to be careful."
"Oh, don't be a goose!" her brother replied. "The house can take care
of itself."
"We ought to put out all the lamps then, and cover the fire with
ashes," said thoughtful Rachel.
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Leland. "We won't be gone long. The fire is all
right. There is nothing left but the back-log, and that will not burn
much longer."
"I'm going to put out the lamps any way," said his sister. "I feel
sure that Mother never leaves them lighted when there is no one in the
house."
"Well, hurry up then," urged Leland. "You girls bundle up well, and
Lawrence and I will get out the sled."
In a few minutes the boys came running up to the door with the sled,
and as soon as the girls were well tucked in, they took hold of the
rope and pranced off like wild horses.
There was a full moon, and they could see the road perfectly. The air
was crisp and clear, and the snow shone and sparkled like diamonds.
"It seems like a winter fairyland," said Dorothy. "Let's keep watch
for the fairies. They ought to come trooping across the fields dressed
in pretty white furs, and dance under the trees to the music of
sleigh-bells."
The sled seemed to fairly fly over the snow, and when they came to the
top of the long hill, the boys jumped on and they all went coasting
down, with shouts of laughter.
Up and down, up and down they went; and such fun as they did have! Of
course they stayed out much longer than they meant to; but at last
Rachel said, "It must be getting late. Father was coming home at ten,
and he will wonder what has become of us."
The boys trotted home again more slowly, and as they came in sight of
the house they saw that Mr. Hawley had already arrived before them.
The rooms downstairs were brightly lighted, and when they passed the
living-room windows they saw him hurrying to and fro as if he were busy
about some work.
"Here we are, Father," called Leland. "We've been out coasting."
"And we've had such a good time!" added Dorothy. Then, as she entered
the living-room, she exclaimed in amazement: "What is the matter,
Uncle Henry? What have you been doing in here?"
Her uncle crossed the room and opened the windows. Then he took off
his hat and overcoat, and wiped great beads of perspiration from his
face, while the children stood in the doorway looking around at the
disordered room.
"When I came home the house was on fire," he answered, "and I've had a
pretty busy time for the last ten minutes. You children must have left
a log burning on the hearth, and a spark flew out and set the rug on
fire. Then the table and one of the chairs caught fire from the rug,
and if I hadn't come home just when I did, we might not have had any
home by this time."
"It was my fault, Father," spoke up Leland. "Rachel wanted to bury the
log in the ashes; but I told her it wouldn't do any harm to leave it
burning."
"I suppose it was partly my fault, too," said Mr. Hawley. "I've always
intended to buy a wire screen for this fireplace. It is never safe to
go out of the room and leave an open fire. When we go to town to-morrow
to buy a new rug, we will buy a screen and a fender, too."
"And the next time we light a fire on the hearth," added Lawrence,
"we'll stay at home and take care of it, even if it is a moonlight
night and we do want to go coasting."
_Why did Lawrence and Dorothy enjoy the New England winter?_
_What did the children do after Mr. and Mrs. Hawley went away?_
_Why did Rachel put out the lights before leaving the house?_
_What accident happened as a result of leaving a burning log in the
fireplace?_
_How could this accident have been prevented?_
It is never safe to have an open fire in a fireplace unless it is
protected with a wire screen. Sparks often fly from the burning wood
and set fire to rugs, draperies, and clothing, or sometimes a blazing
log rolls out on to the floor.
If it is necessary to leave the fire before it is entirely burned
out, the logs may be taken from the andirons and buried in the ashes.
This should always be done before the fire is left for the night, as
a change of wind might cause a smouldering log to become a dangerous
firebrand.
CHRISTMAS CANDLES
It was Christmas Eve,--the happiest, merriest time in all the
year,--and no one need look at a calendar to know it. The shop windows
were full of gifts and toys of every description, and in some of the
larger shops jolly old Santa Claus himself was waiting to shake hands
with the boys, or pat the curly heads of the little girls.
Crowds of people were hurrying to and fro on the streets, their arms
filled with packages of all shapes and sizes. Here was a man carrying
a doll carriage, and a woman with a tiny wheelbarrow. There was a girl
with a pair of snowshoes, and a boy with a Christmas-tree over his
shoulder; but no matter how heavy were the bundles, or how crowded
the streets, everyone seemed happy, and "Merry Christmas!" "Merry
Christmas to you!" was heard on every side in friendly greeting.
Just enough snow had fallen to bring out the sleighs, and the jingling
sleigh-bells added their merry music to the Christmas gayety. The air
was clear and crisp, and beyond the city streets, with their glare of
electricity, the stars shone with a clear light, just as the Star of
the East shone so many centuries ago upon the little Babe of Bethlehem.
Yes, Christmas was everywhere. It shone from the stars, and from the
happy faces of the children; and it made the whole world glad with the
gladness of giving.
In the little town of Lindale, just as in all the other towns and
cities, there was the greatest excitement. The houses were brightly
lighted, people were hurrying to and fro in the streets, doors were
carefully opened and closed, stockings were hung beside the chimneys,
and Christmas trees were decorated with tinsel and candles and loaded
with gifts for young and old.
But in the big brick church in the center of the town was the best
Christmas tree of all. It stood on the floor and held its head up to
the very ceiling, where a star gleamed with a golden light like the
brightest star in the sky.
The branches were covered with frost that sparkled like diamonds, and
under the trees were heaped big snowbanks of white cotton. Ropes of
tinsel and strings of popcorn were twined in and out in long festoons,
and tiny Christmas candles were set everywhere among the branches. Big
dolls and little dolls peeped out through the green leaves, and here
and there were Teddy bears, white rabbits, curly-haired puppies, woolly
lambs, parrots on their perches, and canaries in tiny cages,--all
toys, of course, but toys so wonderfully made that they looked as if
they were really and truly alive.
[Illustration: Photograph by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y.
Fire Drill for the Firemen]
Piled high on the banks of snow were the Christmas gifts, big packages
and little ones, all in white paper tied with red and green ribbons;
and when the candles were lighted the whole tree looked as if it had
been brought from fairyland and set down here to make the children
happy.
This tree, with all its gifts and decorations, had been arranged by the
pupils and teachers of the Sunday-school for the little children of the
Lindale Mission.
For two or three months these "Willing Helpers," as they called
themselves, had devoted all their spare minutes to getting everything
ready. They had contributed toys and games, they had earned the money
for some of the gifts, they had brought tinsel and gilded nuts from
home, they had strung the popcorn, and, best of all, they had spent
two happy evenings decorating the tree and tying up the packages.
Now, at last, it was Christmas Eve. At seven o'clock the church bells
began to peal out their merriest welcome, and from all the houses came
boys and girls with their fathers and mothers, eager to enjoy the
pleasure of making others happy.
The little children of the Mission school were gathered in the chapel,
and when everything was ready the doors were thrown wide open and they
came marching in to see the tree.
As they moved slowly up the long aisle toward their seats in the front
of the church, they sang a Christmas carol, keeping time with their
marching; and their childish voices made the very rafters ring with joy.
The church bells pealed out once more, and a little boy at the head of
the procession jingled some sleigh-bells, while every one joined in the
chorus of the song:--
"Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas bells,
Oh! sweetly, sweetly, chime;
Let your happy voices on the breezes swell,
This merry, merry Christmas time."
The Sunday-school pupils answered with another carol, and the
superintendent made a little speech of welcome. Then, when the children
were all on tiptoe with excitement, there was a loud jangling of bells
in the street, a stamping of feet at the door, and in came Santa Claus
himself, with his great fur coat, his long white beard, and a heavy
pack on his back.
Behind him came six pages, dressed in red and white, with little packs
on their backs. They ran up and down the aisles, giving bags of candy
to the children, and all the while the Christmas candles burned lower
and lower, the tiny flames danced and flickered, the hat wax melted and
dripped from bough to bough.
At last the superintendent of the Sunday-school began giving out the
presents, and some of the teachers went to help him. Santa Claus
himself called out the names, and the children ran up to receive their
gifts from his hands.
In the midst of all this joy and happiness everyone forgot the lighted
candles, until suddenly some one screamed, "Fire, fire! The tree is on
fire!"
Then what a commotion there was! Men ran forward to put out the blaze,
but it was so high up that no one could reach it. Two or three boys
hurried down to the cellar for the step-ladder, several men ran to get
pails of water, women snatched up their little children and took them
into the street, hatless and coatless, while the teachers gathered up
the few remaining gifts and tried to calm their frightened pupils.
In less time than it takes to tell it, the boys came rushing upstairs
with a step-ladder, men came back with buckets of water, and Santa
Claus climbed up to put out the fire which was running swiftly from
one branch to another. In his hurry he knocked off another candle, it
dropped into the white cotton and set the snowbanks blazing; but there
were plenty of men to put out the flames before they could do any
damage.
When the fire was all out, and the children had gone home, and were
tucked safely in their little beds, the tree was left standing alone
in the dark church. But it no longer looked as if it had come from
fairyland. All the upper branches were burned off, wet strings of
tinsel and popcorn drooped from the ends of the boughs, the gold star
was black with smoke, and the snowbanks seemed to have suffered from a
January thaw.
The next morning some of the fathers and mothers came to clear away
the remains of the festivity and its disaster, and the children came
to help them. "We'll never have another Christmas-tree as long as we
live," declared one of the older girls. "Oh, yes, we will," her brother
told her. "We'll have one next year for the Mission children; but we
shall know better than to have it lighted with candles."
"Or, if we do use candles," added one of the teachers, "we'll have six
boys to watch them every minute, and we will put out every one before
we distribute a single gift."
"That's right," said a voice that sounded very much like that of Santa
Claus; "this fire has taught us a good lesson, but it came very near
spoiling all our happiness. No one can be too careful of fire where
there are so many little children. One child's life is worth more than
all the Christmas candles in the world."
_What is the happiest day of the year for children?_
_When is Christmas Day?_
_What do you do on Christmas Eve?_
_Have you ever had a Christmas tree?_
_How was it decorated?_
_Why is it dangerous to light it with candles?_
_Why is it dangerous to use cotton to represent frost and snow?_
_How was this fire caused?_
_How could it have been avoided?_
Christmas candles cause many fires. A Christmas tree should be fastened
firmly so that it cannot be upset. It should not be decorated with
paper, cotton, or any other inflammable material. Cotton should not be
used to represent frost or snow, as it catches fire easily. If the snow
effect is desired, asbestos or mineral wool can be used with safety.
The candles should be set upright in the holders, and should be placed
so that they cannot set fire to the branches above. They should never
be lighted by children. They should be watched constantly, and should
be extinguished before the gifts are distributed, as they sometimes
set fire to clothing. This more frequently happens if the person who
distributes the gifts is dressed as Santa Claus, as his long beard and
the cotton fun on his red coat and cap are especially inflammable.
Electricity is a safer method of lighting a Christmas tree. Wiring
is now especially prepared which can be easily applied to the tree,
and connected to the chandelier like an ordinary electric lamp. Bulbs
in the shapes of birds, animals, clowns, etc., make the tree very
attractive.
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF FIRE
In case of fire it is necessary above all things to "_keep cool_." Try
not to get excited, and so waste precious moments in running about to
no purpose. Act quickly, but keep your mind on what you are doing.
If it is only a little blaze, throw water on the thing that is burning,
try to smother the flames with a heavy rug, or beat them out with a wet
broom. If oil is burning, never pour on water, as this only spreads
the oil and makes matters worse. For an oil fire use sand, earth from
flower-pots, or big panfuls of flour.
If the fire is well started and you see at once that you cannot put
it out alone, call for help by shouting "Fire!" at the door or window
where some one will be likely to hear you.
Then summon the fire department. The best way to do this is to run to
the nearest fire-alarm box, break the glass which will release the key,
then unlock the door and pull down the hook. This rings the alarm at
the engine-house. Everyone should know the location of the nearest box,
and the way to ring the alarm.
If you can send some one else to ring the alarm, telephone to the
nearest fire station. The number of this station should always hang
in a conspicuous place near your telephone. If there is no fire alarm
system, and you have no telephone, shout "Fire!" and arouse the
neighbors.
If you leave the house to summon help, be sure to _close the door_.
Fresh air will make the flames burn faster, and spread more rapidly. If
the fire is in one room, try to keep it there by closing the doors and
windows. If it is in a closet, shut the door until you can get help. In
this way you may save the whole house from burning.
After you have given the alarm try to save what you can. Valuable
papers should be taken care of first; then jewelry, silverware,
heirlooms, and anything you especially treasure. Think about what you
are doing. _Don't waste time_ trying to save a looking-glass or clock,
when you might put a handful of expensive silverware in your pocket.
If you are awakened in the night by the smell of smoke or the crackling
of fire, do not stop to dress. Wrap yourself in a blanket or quilt, and
waken everyone in the house, remembering especially little children and
sick or aged people.