MATCHES. 



419 



ference in the number of fires ; and, if a certain kind of match is pre- 

 ferred for its convenience, it will not be abandoned because it has an 

 extra element of danger. Fires may result from the overturning of a 

 box by a cat or dog, or by the gnawing of the ends of matches by rats 

 or mice ; but these occurrences are exceptional, and rarely happen. 



There is said to be only one factory in America where wax-matches 

 are now produced. This has been established within the last few 

 years, is running altogether with French machinery, and is supplying 

 a growing demand. The makers of wax-matches do not come into 

 competition with other manufacturers, but find their custom among 

 those who are attracted especially by the novelty and pleasing ap- 

 pearance of the matches. Their higher cost prevents them from com- 

 ing into general use, and the fact that there is a monopoly in their 

 manufacture exerts some influence in regard to the price. Great care 

 is taken in the designs for the boxes, and no pains are spared to make 

 them ornamental and attractive. Improvements and new patents are 

 constantly being made in them. The most recent variety has a small 

 hole in the lid which acts as a candlestick. As soon as the match is 

 lighted, the unburned end is inserted in the lid of the box, and an 

 illumination is provided which lasts according to the length of the 

 taper. The usual wax-match gives a fine light, which continues one 

 or two minutes that is, four or five times as long as wooden matches. 

 This can be increased with their length, and a very respectable im- 

 promptu candle may be obtained by the contrivance referred to. Fur- 

 ther attractions are provided by arranging the difierently-colored 

 heads according to curious and artistic devices. They can be pur- 

 chased, having a composition resembling the parlor-match, or in the 

 form of safety-matches. All wax-matches must be made so that they 

 will take fire upon slight friction on account of the less resistance 

 afibrded by the body of the match ; but they are not on this account 

 any more dangerous than the parlor-match. Though sometimes used 

 by smokers, they are not well suited to this purpose, as in lighting a 

 cigar the fatty matter can be detected by the taste. 



The Japanese have contributed their stock of curiosities to this 

 department also. They have a variety of paper matches, w^hich burn 

 Avith a small, scarcely luminous flame, forming, as the combustion ad- 

 vances, a red-hot ball of glowing saline matter. When the match has 

 been partly consumed, a succession of bright sparks shoots out from 

 the head, and gradually a brilliant scintillation is formed similar to 

 that observed in burning a steel spring in oxygen, only much more 

 delicate, the separate sparks branching out in beautiful forms. TJiese 

 matches are composed of carbon, nitre, and sulphur, and there has 

 been no difliculty in imitating them. 



Many efforts have been made to construct the heads of matches 

 without phosphorus. There is a match in Germany at the present 

 time in which this '">inlt has been reached, but none of the cases dis- 



