There never was a time when the world was without fire, but there was a time when men did not know how to kindle fire and after they learned how to kindle one, it was a long, long time before they
learned how to kindle one easily. In these days we can kindle a fire without any trouble, because we
can easily get a match; but we must remember that the match is one of the most wonderful things in
the world, and that it took men thousands of years to learn how to make one. Let us learn the history
of this familiar little object, the match.
Fire was first given to man by nature itself. When a forest is set on fire by cinders from a neighboring
volcano, or when a tree is set ablaze by a thunderbolt, we may say that nature strikes a match. In the
early history of the world, nature had to kindle all the fires, for man by his own effort was unable to
produce a spark. The first method, then, of getting fire for use was to light sticks of wood at a flame
kindled by nature-by a volcano, perhaps, or by a stroke of lightning. These firebrands were carried to
the home and used in kindling the fires there. The fire secured in this way was carefully guarded and
was kept burning as long as possible. But the flame, however faithfully watched, would sometimes be
extinguished. A sudden gust of wind or a sudden shower would put it out. Then a new firebrand would
have to be secured, and this often meant a long journey and a deal of trouble.
In 1827. John Walker, a druggist in a small English town, tipped a splint with sulphur, chlorate of
potash, and sulphid of antimony, and rubbed it on sandpaper, and it burst into flame. The druggist had
discovered the first friction-chemical match, the kind we use to-day. It is called friction-chemical
because it is made by mixing certain chemicals together and rubbing them. Although Walker's match
did not require the bottle of acid, nevertheless it was not a good one. It could be lighted only by hard
rubbing, and it sputtered and threw fire in all directions. In a few years, however, phosphorus was
substituted on the tip for antimony, and the change worked wonders. The match could now be lighted
with very little rubbing and it was no longer necessary to have sandpaper upon which to rub it. It
would ignite when rubbed on any dry surface, and there was no longer any sputtering. This was the
phosphorus match, the match with which we are so familiar.
Which line from the text shows the problem with the first matches? (5 points)
A sudden gust of wind or a sudden shower would put it out
It could be lighted only by hard rubbing, and it sputtered and throw fire in all directions
It is called friction chemical because it is made by mixing certain chemicals together and rubbing them
But the flame, however faithfully watched would sometimes be extinguished
lol