Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-12-18
THE CHRONICLE.
Written for the CHRONICLE.
THE OLD FIREPLACE.

THE OLD FIREPLACE.
What q crowd of pleasant memories
are recalled by the mere mention Of
the name. 1t is an old and loved as
sociate which is connected with the
happiest period of our lives. 1t is a
gentle remembrancer of youth, of
home and comfort. 1t was in the
shadows Of the old chimney corner
that we dreamed of our brilliant
future; there fancy constructed her
gay frost work which vanished when
confronted by the stern realities and
uncompromisipg facts Of life. The
source of much felicity is the old fire.
place with its cozy, hOspitable look.
But the American, in the conscious
pride of his practical tenets, in his
strong love for a "bread and butter"
philosophy, and in the heat of his ad
miration for new gimcracks, has
Ostracized the homely old fireplace
and now it is rapidly becoming a
thing of the past. 1t has been BAN
ished from respectable society. 1t
can only be tolerated at present in 3
lumbermAn's hut or an Irishman's
shanty.
This state of affairs exists not on
account Of the supplies Of wood being
exhausted, not because black, shape
less and unsightly metal stove is more
cheerful or comfortable than broad
fireplace, but simply because that
stern arbiter of human action, public
opinion, says that the stove is prefer
able. The stove is recommended on
the score of cheapness, convenience
and many other speciOus pleas.
Now we are very well aware OF the
fact that the average American
breaches and practices habits Of fru-
gality. We heartily commend him
for his economic principles. No one
can be happy who disregards their
monitions. But we think there may
be questions in regard TO what true
economy is. We know farmers who
almost starve their stock and sell
few tons of hay. Is this real econo-
my? We know others who live in
ignorance, because books and papers
cost money. Is this econUmy? We
have seen people work with worn out
tools, because it would be a consider
able Expense to get new ones. Is this
good management? And we know
that. the great mass of farmers and
villagers throughout the Western Re-
serve have abandoned the old fire
place with its cracking logs. fol the
narrow, stilted CRATE with its black,
smoking coal. We most respectfully
ask, Is this true economy? Many are
ready to answer in the Affirmative
You say, sit costs more to cut the
wood than TO buy the coal therefore
coal Is the cheaper fuel" Let US ad-
NIT your assertion in regard to the
comparative est of wood and coal,
and have you established your point?
Ought you not to take into consideTa-
ton something beyond mere dollars
and cents? When you 90 to your
tailor for new cnat you donot always
buy the one that costs the least money.
And why Simply from the fact that
you consult your taste in reference 10
color, quality of cloth, &c. All that
we ask is that you apply the same
taste when you are getting your win
ter's fuel. Do you really like acoRi
fire better than wood ? II so, then
your use Of coal is true economy; 9th
rwise it is not. But who that has
spent the evenings of his youth around
the broad, warm and generous hearth
stone of an oldfaShiUned fireplace, can
honestly say that he prefers coal to
wood We have known persons who
were accustomed tu q coal fire, to en-
ter q room in which 5 fine wood fire
was glowing. They were loud and
enthusiastic in their expressions of
pleasure and enjoyment. They esteem
ed it 3 rare luxury. Iu very truth we
believe that an ample hearth warmed
by blazing wood fire, is one of the
greatest snd cheapest luxuries within
the reach OF our farmers. Their wood
lots will furnish enough dead or fallen
trees. for the winters fire. which might
otherwise not. The labor spent in
cutting will be fully rewarded during
the long winter nights as they sit and
watch the lurld tongues of flame leap
lug upward. Who is so blind to fact
that ne would ignore the influence Of
circumstances. A child that is brO't
up in good society will uneonsciously
adopt the manners of that society
The mention OF name, an old scene
or some other equally accidental and
trivial occurrence, may recall a flood
of remembrances almost forgotten.-
The middle aged and elderly men and
women of to-day spent their youth
full evenings in cracking nuts on
genial hearth-stone, or in tracing the
mystic figures OF The glowing embeIs.
Let one of these revisit a room warm
ed by. bright wood fire. What q
host of pleasant memories are recalled
What an air of quiet contentment and
peace seems to envelope them! The
troublesand hustle Of the present are
laid aside and enjoyment rules for the
hour. The thought Of an oldfashion-
81 fire place suggs sts at once the
sturdy race Of pioneers who snbdued
the primitive forests, conquered the
savage, and laid the foundation for
our present greatness ana prosperity.
Their simplicity, energy and honesty
cannot be too highly esteemed or too
loudly extolled; soIfcitous are we then,
to retain the old wood fire as souvenir
of morality, kindly feeling and hap
piness. There is an essence cOncen-
trated within the pores of the hickory
or oak which being diffused, fills the
atmosphere, effects the sensitive
nerves and induces mood favorable
for introspection or quiet thought.
DOnold G.. Mitchell, wrote the
"Reveries of a Bachelor" Any one
who has ever read it will call il a good
book and valuable acquisition TO our
literature. But of all the pretty allu-
sions in that famous work, the allu.
.sions to the wood fire are the prettiest
aud. pieasantest. Mr.. WArneris Back
Log Studiesp Is a rare and unique
book, and the mere mention of the
title is an assurance that it is some.
thing different from the common run
Of books.
Ignore 1t, though We may, still there
IL something inherently attractive
and hospitAbis in cracking fire. It
Is genial, generous and joyous. It is
friendly. Let all. so long As the ma.
pie and beech are abundant, retain the
oldfashioded IRE place with its broad
hearth and enjoy one of life's really
great luxuries. ELM.
1-- .H --e..-. -. 80