802. _To extinguish Fires speedily._--Much mischief arises from want of a little presence of mind on these alarming occasions. A small quantity of water, well and immediately applied, will frequently obviate great danger. The moment an alarm of fire is given, wet some blankets well in a bucket of water, and spread them upon the floor of the room where the fire is, and afterwards beat out the other flames with a blanket thus wet. Two or three buckets of water thus used early, will answer better than hundreds applied at a later period. Linen thus wet will be useful, but will not answer so well as woollen. 803. _To escape from or go into a House on fire._--Creep or crawl with your face near the ground, and, although the room be full of smoke to suffocation, yet near the floor the air is pure, and may be breathed with safety. The best escape from upper windows is by a knotted rope; but, if a leap is unavoidable, then the bed should be thrown out first, or beds prepared for the purpose. 804. _Hints respecting Women's and Children's Clothes catching fire._--The woman and children in every family should be particularly told and shown, that flame always tends upwards; and, consequently, that as long as they continue erect, or in an upright posture, while their clothes are burning, the fire generally beginning at the lower part of the dress, the flames meeting additional fuel, as they rise, become more powerful in proportion; whereby the neck and head, being more exposed than other parts to the intense and concentrated heat, must necessarily be most injured. In a case of this kind, where the sufferer happens to be alone, and cannot extinguish the flames by _instantly throwing the clothes over the head, and rolling or lying upon them_, she may still avoid great agony, and save her life, _by throwing herself at full-length on the floor, and rolling herself thereon_. This method may not extinguish the flame, but, to a certainty, will retard its progress, prevent fatal injury to the neck and head, and afford opportunity for assistance; and it may be more practicable than the other, to the aged and infirm. A carpet or hearth-rug instantly lapped round the head and body, is almost a certain preventive of danger. 805. _Method of rendering all sorts of Paper, Linen, and Cotton, less combustible._--This desirable object may be, in some degree, effected, by immersing these combustible materials in a strong solution of alum-water; and, after drying them, repeating this immersion, if necessary. Thus, neither the color nor the quality of the paper will be in the least affected; on the contrary, both will be improved: and the result of the experiment may be ascertained, by holding a slip of paper, so prepared, over a candle.