MATCHES 57 



the material which rubs against it. This is not flint, but 

 the action of the lighter is very much like the old flint 

 and steel. 



b. Make sparks with the lighter. To do so, quickly 

 rub the parts together. Feel of the sparks. Are they 

 hot? Make the sparks in illuminating gas. Does the 

 gas light? If there is no gas try lighting a piece of 

 cloth which is very wet with alcohol. Do gas and 

 alcohol have to be very warm in order to begin to burn? 



The modern way of obtaining fire is by means of 

 matches. How do you light a match? What causes the 

 match to light? So the modern way is much like the 

 ancient way, after all. The only difference is that the 

 materials on the head of the match begin to burn at a 

 very low temperature, just as gas and alcohol were set 

 on fire by sparks which were not noticeably hot. As 

 soon as the match begins to burn its temperature rises 

 to more than 1000F. 



Since matches are so easily set on fire, or ignited, as 

 it is called, they should be kept where there can be no 

 friction. It is not safe to keep them in the cardboard box 

 in which they are sold, for sometimes mice gnaw through 

 these boxes and ignite the matches by biting them. The 

 best way in which to keep matches is in a tin pail, or box, 

 having a tightly fitting cover. Not only is that the safest 

 way but the covered matches will also be kept dry and 

 good. 



