THE RADIANT 39 



best 'refined' or best 'crystal' oils at the shops, or the higher- 

 priced ' safety ' oils, are what must be employed. 



The least quantity spilled will of course cause un- 

 pleasant smell. The top or flame-chamber may be lifted up 

 by the hinge, as shown in the figure, and the wicks lighted so 

 soon as they are saturated with oil, not before : it is better if 

 this be done inside the lantern, as the chimney (drawn out 

 to its full length) can then be at once placed upon its seat. 

 In most lanterns the lamp is fitted by the makers to push in 

 from the back as far as it will go, but a little room to adjust 

 to and fro is an advantage. A most important point is that 

 the lamp should be thus lighted, and the flames turned up to 

 about an inch only in height, about ten minutes before it is 

 really wanted : without this precaution a steady flame cannot 

 be had, and countless failures are traceable to neglect of it. 

 When the whole lamp has thus become hot, the outer flames 

 may be gently turned up first, then the centre one or pair, so 

 raising the flames slowly till four or five inches in height, with 

 the centre rather the highest. If either flame smokes at the 

 top of the chimney, it must be slightly turned down again ; 

 and there will be trouble from unsteadiness in this way un- 

 less that preliminary burning be attended to which I have 

 described. Broadly speaking, the rule is to keep the flames as 

 high as they can go without smoking, the outer ones rather 

 the lowest ; and if gradually warmed and adjusted as here 

 directed, they will remain steady with little trouble. 



After use once, the wicks should be smoothed before lighting 

 again, by rubbing off the superfluous charred part with the 

 finger or a bit of linen. Only occasionally may a little 

 trimming with scissors be necessary, and a set of wicks will 

 last a good while. After every time of using, all superfluous 

 oil must be poured back into the tin, or it will gradually 

 diffuse itself all over the surfaces of the lamp, and it will be 

 impossible to avoid offensive smell. Of course the glass in 

 front of the flame-chamber, which is loose for removal in all 

 lamps, will always be kept clean. 



