How to Keep From
Burning Up!
■ . . ^
By VIVIAN BROWN
AP News Features Writer
Every 84 seconds there is a
damaging fire in an American
home, causing an average loss of
$248.
Most dwelling fires are pre
ventable despite the fact that the
largest percentage of the 10,000
persons killed by fire last year
died in or about their own homes
when clothing became ignited
from open fireplaces, burning
matches or smoking in bed. I
The cellar-to-attic check-up
and the removal of oily rags, in
flammable paints that are not
tightly covered and old rubbish,
should be a frequent home duty.
Ashes should be kept in metal
covered containers and weather
worn flammable wood shingle
roofs should be replaced with
asphalt roofing.
At least 40 fires a day are
started because electric irons are
left in circuit. Frayed electric I
cords and defective electrical!
equipment should be replaced or
repaired by a competent electri
cian. A chimney too warm to hold
the hand against with comfort is
a fire hazard and this along with,
defective heating apparatus and
sparks on flammable roofs are
leading causes of home fires.
In the home, cotton materials
may be fireproofed by making*
a simple solution Consisting of
seven ounces of borax, three!
ounces of boric acid and two
quarts of water. First dip fabric
in water, let drip, then soak ini
the solution. The borax and boric
acid melt when heated and com
pletely cover the surface of the
treated fabric with practically
an unburnable film. You can use
this treatment on quilts, mattress
covers, blankets , slip covers,
rugs and cotton batting used in;
insulating.
DON’T BURN
UP SANTA’S
WHISKERS
AP Feature*
Look Out! Don’t celebrate
Christmas by setting the house on
fire.
Safety councils are issuing
warnings of increased fire haz
ards this Christmas, because of
wartime shortages of electrical
wiring and replacement parts.
ZOOM — Sailors lit the tor
pedo shop at San Diego Naval
air station chose Lynn Merrick.*
film player, as “/<- ni
Old, frayed and defective wir
ing may be pressed into service,
with dangerous results.
Here are some tips on how to
avoid common Yuletide fire haz
ards:
1. —Christmas tree. Keep the
tree fresh by standing it in a
pan of water. Or flameproof it
by sawing off at base at least an
inch above original cut and.
standing it in the following solu-j
tion: 1 pound ammonium sul-l
phate to IVz, pints of water. Keep
tree in cool place until it has.ab
, sorbed most of the solution. De
gree of fire resistance depends
on amount of solution absorbed.
2. —Wiring. Inspect carefully
and repair or discard if defec
tive.
3. —Rubbish. Dispose of wrap
pings and empty boxes as soon
as possible.
4. —Candies. Don’t use ’em on
the Christmas tree!
And well before Christmas
home fire extinguishers should
be put in order.
WASHINGTON’S
MOTHER HAD
WORRIES TOO
AP News Features
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. —
Just as war mothers do today,
Mary Washington worried when
her son, George, went away to
war. She wrote her half-brother,
Joseph Ball, Jr., in London on
July 26, 1759: “There was no end
of my trouble while George was
in the Army but he has now giv
en it up.”
During Washington’s service in
the Virginia military forces from
1753 to 1759, he had undergone
immense hardships and returned
to Mt. Vernon physically ex
hausted to be nursed back to
health by his mother. Mrs.
Washington’s first news of the
outcome of Braddock’s expedi
tion was that her son had been
killed.
When the letter was written,
Washington — only 27 — had|
resigned as Commander-in-chief
of the Virginia forces, had mar
ried Mrs. Custus, had been elect
ed to the House of Burgesses and
his mother’s worries as to his
safety appeared to be over.
A copy of the letter haa recent
ly come into possession of the
library of Mary Washington col
lege, in Fredericksburg — Mrs.
Washington’s old home. The
original is in the library of the
Historical Society of Pennsyl-j^
vania in Philadelphia.
READ
THE ADS
Just an Old-Fashioned Merry Christmas . • • What
memories that phrase stirs up .. •
From that first Christmas Day until the present,
Christmas has been the happiest and the most blessed
season of the year, because it is the season of kindness,
generosity and fellowship.
In the age-old spirit of good will, we express our
t
greetings, and wish you an old-time Merry Christmas.
NOME PLUMBING
COMPANY
FRED CAVOTA, Prop. PHONE: MAIN 48
i