CHEAP FIRELIGHTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 151, 29 June 1938, Page 19

CHEAP FIRELIGHTERS

INDISPENSABLE NEWSPAPERS

Neither sticks nor firelighters are necessary in the lighting of household flres, and where these have to be bought a considerable daily saving can be achieved by using newspaper In a truly scientific manner, states a writer in the women's section of the "Manchester Guardian." Merely crumpled paper is good for the base of a fire, but on top of this, before the coal is added, an arrangement Is required which will burn long enough for the coal to' be sure of catching. By far the best and surest arrangement is the one described here, and the making of such lighters can be undertaken by the children of the house, who will I greatly enjoy it once they have got the knack; or adults can make a few at odd moments. need be no rustling noise during the process, the operation will neither disturb readers in the same room nor interfere with enjoyment of the wireless. All that is needed is a pile of full newspaper pages—the double sheet laid out flat—and a long knitting-needle. The needle is laid across the tip of one corner and the paper is folded over it and rolled closely with the palm of the hand till the needle is covered and can be slipped out and discarded. This forms a straight, narrow rod of paper that is still enough in itself to form a foundation for further rolling, which will take up the whole sheet, extending when finished to a rod well over a yard in length. With a firm movement of the hands the rod is bent half-way across, so as to form the base of a triangle some three inches long, with | acute angles at each side and the two j points crossing and projecting at the top. These ends, in turn, are closely crossed, and each is tucked, or rather woven, into the triangle in opposite directions, so as to stay put. The finished article is so strong that it can be thrown about or stored without any likelihood of coming undone, and a single paper triangle will light more easily and burn more profitably than a quarter of a bundle of sticks. With , a little practice several dozen can be completed in five minutes, and the job of turning them out can be made into a game by racing or working to time.

For the winter cruise, a doublebreasted blue, yellow, and red box coat of wool has a large deck rug to match.