Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-15
"Alasl what hourly changes rise,


So sung Dr. Watts, or some other devout poet
of the last century. If it was true then, it de-
serves a ten times more impressive statement
now, in the days Of telescoping railroad trains,
exploding steam boilers, nitro-glycerine in its
various disguises, non-explosige coal oil, and
the innumerable other traps for the cautious as
well as the unwary, of which modern life is full.
Explosion seems TO be the peril which most
constantly attends us, and no wonder, when
every city house communicates with a rescr-
voir of an explosive not less energetic than
gunpowder, and every other house depends
upon a fluid as destructive as the traditional
"Greek fire" We understand the dangerous
qualities of these, and we are on our guard
against them. They are acknowledged enemies,
vanquished and brought into enforced subiec-
ton, and compelled to render domestic service,
but ever ready, upon the least relaxation of our
watehfulness, to break out into murderous re-
volt. With regard to them we are con-
stantly reminded that eternal vigilance
is the price of safety. Toward other household
familiars of proved fidelity and harmlessness our
conduct il different. We employ no precautions
with them, and fear no treachery; but of late
there are some indications that the loyalty oil
these trusted servants has been corrupted and
our homes are filled with new perils hitherto un.
suspected. 1t is not long since barrel OF
buckwheat -four exploded with fatal effect
somewhere in the west, most painful abuse of
confidence; the aft of life transforms itself
into CLUB with which TO beat out our brains.
But even this instance of domestic treason is
exceeded by another, of which the details are
given in the Shakopee, Minnesota, Mirror.
A mince pie, which woman was conveying
from the oven, "beag surcharged with steam,
exploded, throwing a considerable quantity of
the scalding contents about the face and neck
of child three years old, burning it so badly as
TO cause eonvulsions, which ended in death"
This record is saddening. What part of our do
nestle economy can we trust, if not the rich,
sprightlv and fascinating mince pie 1t is true
this, like other seductive companions, sometimes
leads its friends into excuses whose results are
unpleasant; but this is weakness, not treachery.
1t has been regarded as peculiarly festive
Wand, the fitting complement and sequel Of
hearty and jovial repasts; it was one of the par
ties to that famous interview which has made
the name of Horner familiar to generations of
children. Who would have thought thar this
apetizing compound had in it the latent posi-
bilities Of an internal machine. Henceforth we
must withhold our confidence from every arti-
Gle of household use, however seemingly inno-
cent We can never know which of them is a
mine of slumbering forces ready to burst into
destructive activity. Even the homey and I'M
pretending Goldfish or the soft and voluptuous
,custard NAV, in some way now unconjectured
conceal energies capable of whelmug us in
ruin. Every man must live as if he had lying
about his house in unexpected places, loaded
bombshells, with fuses lighted, ready to blow
him and his house into fragments.