Gas is very generally used now in towns. It is the cheapest light there is, and the dirtiest. It defaces and tarnishes gold, blackens the ceilings, and unbinds books; nevertheless it is popular on account of its cheapness and the amount of light derived from it. In halls, over doorways, in passages and kitchens, it is really valuable, and as a means of lighting streets a great public boon. Gas chandeliers, which alone belong to our article on furniture, may be of any degree of elegance. In dining-rooms they should be of bronze; in drawing-rooms, gilt. Petroleum and paraffin lamps are the cheapest next to gas, but the burning them is attended with considerable danger. In fact, an increased premium is required by insurance offices for premises where paraffin is burned. There is also a disagreeable vapour arising from these oils which is very objectionable.

The Duplex lamp in which silver oil is burned, is now generally preferred to all others; but unless very carefully filled and trimmed, there is often a disagreeable smell with it. We are old-fashioned enough to prefer the colza oil to any other still.

Reading lamps of pretty form and very reasonable are now to be bought, and are a great additional evening comfort.

Moderator lamps, with colza oil, are, we think, the best lights yet known, after gas. They may be purchased at any price, from 17s. or 18s. Some of them are exceedingly pretty.

For a small household, one moderator lamp will suffice. For a large establishment, where gas is not burned, as in country houses, about four will be sufficient. Chandeliers and wax candles supply the most delicious of lights.

A nice hand lamp is also desirable.

Moderator Lamps

It is useless to describe, in detail, the mode of making a moderator lamp, as the way it is constructed has not much to do with its management. The Moderator lamp is an Argand lamp in principle, with an arrangement for forcing the oil up from a reservoir in the pedestal by means of a piston and springs. These lamps are very apt to get out of order, and after being once repaired are still more liable to being so; the greatest care and cleanliness is required in the management of them. The upper portion of the lamp should be kept quite clean by washing it very often with strong soda and water to remove the clotted oil. The cotton wicks, before putting them freshly in, should be dried in the oven for twenty minutes. In winter the oil-can should be placed near the kitchen fire before the oil is poured into the lamp, and the lamp must not be kept in a cold room or the oil will congeal and not flow freely. Every day the lamp must be trimmed, the black edge of the cotton wick must be cut off very evenly* with scissors made for the purpose, and fresh oil must be added. The chimney and globe must also be kept very clean or the light will be impeded. Never wash the chimney; if once wet it will break as soon as the lamp is lighted.

Clean it with a brush leather made for the purpose and sold with the lamp at the lamp shops. Wash the globe in soda and water. The lamp should always be lighted with a wax tape?-, as, if ends of lucifers fall in, or bits of burnt paper, they will make the inside of the lamp and the oil dirty and injure its efficiency.

The oil-can must also be kept very clean, as dirty oil will at once spoil a lamp. To clean the can, drain it thoroughly first - then take a small mop (such as is used for cleaning lamp-glasses) tie it tightly to a long stick, and wipe out the can well. Make a strong soap-lather, with carbolic or yellow soap, pour it into the can; rinse well with it. Then rinse thoroughly with clean water, and drain till dry.

Colza oil is used for this lamp; it costs 4s. gd. or 4s. 6d. per gallon; half-a-gallon a week in depth of winter suffices for one lamp.

How To Prevent Lamps From Smoking

Soak the wick in strong vinegar, and dry it well before you use it; this answers very well.