The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-30
THE OPEN FIRE.

THE UPEN ElkE.
On the threshold of winter-ere yet the evil
days draw nigh when life is one long struggle
to satisfy the hungry nav of the base burner,
and the entire mental and moral strength Of
whole family is absorbed in keeping the
plumber from the door, or in maintaining in
its usual fuency of speech the prosaic wooden
pump in the back yard-we find the open fire.
It is the one relic of his barbaric ancestors to
which man clings with most commendable
fondness and tenacity. There are, generally,
but few days in autumn-after nature has
dragged off all the fower-beds and intimated
her intention Of soon handing in a polar wave
in which this luxury may be comfortably in
dulged, and the devotees of the open fire may
bask in its moderate warmth with immoderate
and Unreasonable delight. Many valuable
claims may be urged as regards this meritO-
rious arrangement of light and heat Indeed,
tits only in connection with the open fire that
the beautiful word "freside" can be
used in its fullest and most
appropriate Specification. Terms so rich in
sentiment and meaning as ''the Preside" and
"the HEARTH" cannot in either practical or
poetical justice be applied to the enormous
and horribly ugly constructions of iron and
nickel which inventive man has set up in our
midst nor to the monstrous, coal eating, smoke
belching demon which abides in the cellar, and
puffs up at US. through the grated windows of
his lair, his enervating and health destroying
breath. To neither the base burner nor the
furnace, then--comfort-a adding -and-labo
ing machines though they be-bring we the
grateful tributes of our sentimental overflow
ings; but to the open fire, which plays its quips
and cranks, and wanton wiles in the very face
and eyes of all men. Fifty might such fire
be chosen as the emblem of sincerity It
harbors no base and secret designs to be
sprung upon its worshipers in paralyzing in
stantaneousness; it hath no malice it its SOUL
no pent-up and evil gases to burst
the doors open suddenly and throw
terror and ashes all over creation;
no heatdeadening clinkers gather in its peace
full breast to cast q gloom on household hilar-
ity, or fall like damper on domestic joy.
frank, ingenious and delightful; minister to
bodily comfort an inspirer to mental activity;
a stimulus to life and joy, or the silent COM
forter of nameless sorrows. This cheerful
companion has been well loved of all the poets,
and has often moved them to their sweetest
strains. Had Cowper's ''sofa" been wheeled
up to romance-destroying base burner the
world would have never known the beauties
of the Task The horrible racket of the
coal-hod and the noisy twiddling of many damp
ers would make any muse that had good COM
mon sense take to her heels to seek more con-
genial surroundings. Apart from its mental
influence, the open fire has a moral force
which is invaluable and inestimable. Only
being of adamant could sit within the
charmed circle Of its dancing, leaping, spark
ling rays, and feel out of sorts with the world,
or at war with himself for any perceptible
length of time. Its genial glance if properly
submitted to, will dispel gloomy and despond
emit thoughts, and breed those of faith, hope
and love--the priceless links which hold the
world to its orbit. Cherish we, then, the
open fire, for its beauty, its comfort, its va
ried kinds of help and inspiration; and may
the strength drawn from its improving com
partnership enable us to meet with appropriate
resignation the time when encroaching and
rigorous weather shall have necessitated
the Punishment of our now glorifed Preside,
and the substitution of that laudable but COM
mon-place affair whose sole mission seems to
be to convert coal into heat and ashes, with
an entire absence of grace or beauty.
Through all, however, may we bear indelibly
written on our hearts and in our memories
the wisdom of our much-loved poet, pro-
fessor and autocrat: Il have seen respecta-
bility and amiability grouped over the air