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, 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.
How does the author develop the idea that relying on nature was problematic? Please respond in three to five complete sentences, using
evidence from the text to support your answer. (5 points)
