ABUSE OF MATCHES by American Agriculturist

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 5, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 14.

ABUSE OF MATCHES.

By American Agriculturist

If we stop for a moment to consider the way in which we abuse the agencies for our comfort and convenience which science has put into our hands, we must acknowledge that we are only grown-up children after all. The carelessness which is almost universally prevalent in regard to the use of matches, amounts almost to criminality. In many houses it is no uncommon occurrence to see matches lying about bureaus, mantels, and shelves, loose and unguarded. Children are allowed to play with them, or at least to do so without being allowed. Farm hands smoke, and, in order to smoke, carry matches loose in their pockets. A dropped stitch in a seam of these pockets is enough to allow a match to fall through, and the hoof of a passing animal, or the boot heel of a man or boy, is sufficient to ignite it. Result, fire from an unknown cause.

The remedy for all this is simple. Let every man carry a metal matchbox. These can be had for a few cents, and it would pay a farmer to make his hired hand a present of one. Let everyone be impressed with the necessity of seeing that a match is expired before it is thrown down. In the house let every room be provided with a metal box for matches, and an equally secure receptacle for burnt matches. Above all, teach young children to let matches alone, and older ones to use them properly. A baby of ten months can be taught to pick up and bring you a pin or a match—taught it so absolutely that he would make no other use of these articles if he were surrounded by them. A little care on the part of parents and employers would prevent much loss of precious life and valuable property.—American Agriculturist.