Smyrna times., 1860-02-02
MISC ELLA n EOUS.
OLD Fashioned Comforts.

OLD Fashioned Comforts.
One Of our cOtemporarles Everyi naturally
grows comfortable over the contemplation of
s,me of The domestic comforts of our fathers.
lie Gays. and with much force, that our ances-
tors were frugal, self denying people, Injured
To h4rdsh ps from tie cradle they were con-
tent TO be without almost all the lIxuries Of
life, but they enjoyed some of its comforts to
which many Of us are strangers--olI fashioned
comforts we may term them-and among these
the old fire. place, as 1t used TO be termed, held
no mean rank. How vividly the picture Of one
OF those spacious kitchens of the oIden time
comes to our mind, with its plain furniture.
and sanded floor, innocent of paint, but as white
as the neatesi of housewives could make it. In
one corner stood the old clock, its very face
wearing an aspect of good cheer, and seeming
TO shine benignanuy upon miniature moon
over its head, which tradition said, had at a re-
uaote period followed the rising and setting OF
It's great prototype in the heavens, though its
days OF active service were long ago over.
But the crownng glory Of that kitchen was
not its white sanded floor nor the high desk
with it's pigeon holes and secret drawers which
no venturous yOungsler ever dared invade, nor
yet, the old clock ticking so musically in one
Corner but it was old fashioned Fireplace, with
its blazing embers, huge backlog and iron fire.
dogs, that shed glory over the whole room,
gliding the plain and homely furniture with
its bright light, and rendering the place fit
type of true Pennsylvania homes in "ye olden
time"
Never were there such apples as those which
swung round and round upon strings before the
bright fire of winters evening-never such
baked potatoes as those buried deep in the ashes
upon the hearth-Dever such corn-stalks as
those which caught golden hue from the bla-
upon spit, filling the room with savory oders
so sosUggestve Of dainty repast.
Before the fire was the wooden settle, and
here the children were wont 10 sit Of the long
evenings, telling stories, cracking nuts, con-
nlOg their lessons for the morrow, or listening
IN silence to the words ofwisdom that fell from
the lips of their superiors; and anon gazing in
silence into The bright fire and coDjurlng uf
all sorts OF groiesque and faciful images from
among the burning Goals. No tabled geDii with
their magic lamps Of enchantment could build
such gems as the child could discern amid tht
blazing embers of the old fashioned fire. place.
And we must not neglect the chimney Cor
ner where sat our grandfather ia his accustom
ed seat--his hair silvered with the SHOWS o
many winters--a venerable man, to whsm OLE
age had come irostly but kindly" and who's
last days were like those Of N Indian Summer
serene and beautiful, even ill The stars appear
ed in heaven.
How pure was the air of the room in thes
days! The huge ire-plac and its brisk draugh
carried off the impurities Of the atmosphere
and left the air pure. life-giving and health
ful /; now we crouch around hot cooking stove
and think it strange that we feel so stupid an
drOwsy of au evening; or we huddle about al
tight stoves and wonder that the air seen
burnt and impure; or we sit down in chill
rooms heated by a furnace, and marvel thI
with all out costly furniture, soft carpets, brig
mirrors aud damask curtains, they are sue
~hSSiiSss FidCceg GU lihC OhA AoNo VI
Pennsylvania home.
We can heartily join with our cotempora
In expressing the regret that, in all the s
called Improvements in our advance ofciviliz
tion. the fire should have been permitted 10
out forever ia our old fashioned fire places, tn
burying nthe ashes of the pas. so many mea
health, home comfort, good cheer and hap
ness. Yet, we htink the destruction of heal
aud comfort is not necessarily the result
abandoning the old fashioned Fireplace, but
negiecting to supply its placeby an equivale
by means off proper ventilating arrangeme
10 osupply o1lr rooms constantly with fresh
and to carry of the foul, poisonous atmosphe
This could be done in every dwelling at v,
trihiag cost, ind as pure an atmosphre uniform
maintained as existed with the old open heart