Q. Why does not a candle set fire to a piece of paper twisted into an extinguisher, and used as such?
A. 1st—Because the flame very soon exhausts the little oxygen contained in the paper extinguisher: and
2ndly—The flame invests the inside of the paper extinguisher with carbonic acid gas, which prevents it from blazing.
Q. Why is a long wick never upright?
A. Because it is bent by its own weight.
Q. Why is a long wick covered with an efflorescence at the top?
A. The knotty or flowery appearance of the top of a wick arises from an accumulation of particles partly separated, but still loosely hanging to the wick.
Q. Why is not the end of a long wick burnt off, as it hangs over the flames?
A. Because the length of the wick so diminishes the heat of the flame, that it is not hot enough to burn it off.