STORIES OF USEFUL INVENTIONS, excerpt By S. E. Forman
1911
THE MATCH
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, 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 fame, 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.
What does the author mean by 'we may say that nature strikes a match? (5 points)
O Matches did not help people
O Matches were created by nature.
Nature provided fire for humans
Matches required natural chemicals