Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-20
The Last Fire.

The destruction by fire on Saturday night
in this City of one of the finest, and in some
respects the most splendid conccrt-room in
the world, joined with that of one of the most
beautiful marble structures in the country,
is an event which provokcs reflection. 1t is
but last week that Metropolitan Hall echoed
with the strains of one of the finest orclcs-
tras; it is but last week that expectation
seemed eager touching the interior mag
nifcence of the Lafarge Hotel, about to be
opened to rival or outrival any in the City
Now both these buildings are resolved into a
pool of hot and smoking ruins, fanked by
portions of fire-scarred walls, which seem
ready to leap into the gulph below. For this
truly deplorable event, alike calamitous for
taste, art and convenience, we see no cause
but negligence. Here was property worth
some four hundred thousand dollars, which
in certain points of costly splendour and ar
tistic uses, has not its equal on this conti-
nent but it seems to have been left to take
care of itselfand burn up at will. In the dead
of the night, when the world dreams in conf.
dcnce, the alarm of fire is given afrcsh-the
tiremen being already on duty at a minor con-
hagration-and then there is the old hurry
skurry-thc terrible vibrations of doubt and
speculation as to whence proceed these flaring
ravs which jerk from black night into plain
for miles around Such is the history of the
late fire. 1t had already worked its way into
the bowels Of the building before it was con-
fronted by our fremen.
In witnessing the manner in which the fire.
men extinguishcd it, preserving the circum-
acent buildings from destruction, though
frequently ignited from the shower and spray
of sparks which for three mortal hours lit
upon them-in seeing how these devoted le-
gons of peace, remained under the toppling
and earth-shaking walls, up to the moment of
their final leap-we were reminded OF courage
as snblme as that which historian or bard
has sung-whch has made myths of heroes
and named capitals after captains. No for
lorn hope could present more exalted bravery,
or more mechanical skill.
We have not got through the worst part of
the fire-winter yet. 1t is disgraceful that there
should be so many fires among us. Such de-
structon of fproperty-ofth the blood and sweat
and labor of freemen-sccms more like drum
ken New-Zealanders than civilized beings.
We find no parallel to it in European Chris
tendon.
The loss of the Metropolitan Hall is at
present irroparable. No building in the City
for n moment competcs with 1t in size and
splcndor, conioincd with the best location. 1t
was equally good for music or defamation
for arts or philanthropy. 1t was, when lit
up at night, of remarkable brilliancy, and
withal harmonious and carried out he Greek
idea, that the eye and ear require smultane-
Gus nurture from the muses.. The building
of Metropolitan Hall grew originally ont of
the excitement attending the Jenny lhnd
fayer. An enthusiast, named Tripler, ad-
yanced heavy sum, and built it, and be-
coming bankrupt thereby, mortgage fore,
closed upon his work and his enthusiasm, and
he was ruined--the late owner enjoying the
results
As no artistic building is as rule put up
except on the ccnt-pcr-ccnt princlple-and
enthusiasm is rare thing connected with
capital--we have no expectations that new
music hall will be erected in the place OF the
one just destroyed, On this conslneraton,
the destruction of Metropolitan Hall must be
considered terrible blow to Art, from which
it may take many years to recover and there
fore, the flaming ruins have sadness Pecu