The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-29
STOVES AND THEIR USES.

It is rather late in the season, by the calen-
dar but the polar winds have held the warm
and balmy winds in allegiance, and the spring
has been further distant by one or two tons Of
anthracite than the provident housewife had
anticipated. We may hope to see the winter
stoves closeted soon, or sent off to the dealers
for summer storage and repairs, and the gen.
ial open CRATE take its place for the tickle
April. It is to be hoped most of these stoves
will be permanently retired, for in the forms
and styles in use the last ten years the
whole pandemonium of cast-iron and nickel
plated ugliness has been turned loose upon
the people, A merely useful stove, with
sheet-iron cylinder, and cast base and top,
lined with fire brick, is not Objectionable, if
not attractive. 1t fills the bill, heats quickly
and gets the best use of the fuel, and is free
from the dangers of escaping gas, and
will utilize any kind of fuel The great
improvement of these stoves was in the addi-
ton of the inner, self-feeding magazine
burning only at the base. To this was added
the arrangement of hampers and fues
making them self-heating and capa-
BILE of holding the fire for months
with only morning and evening firing, and
the control and moderation of the fire for
warm days and variable climate. Such a
stove, neat and tidy, is the necessity Of city
cottages, and might be made for 500 with its
latest Improvements and in artistic shape.
But, as in our modern styles of architecture
the trouble began with the ornamentation
The stove designer has expended his ingenuity
in nickle plated knobs, bands and frills, conven-
tional and grotesque floral ornaments, and the
whole topped off with unmeaning figures, vases,
| urns, helmets porcelain dishes, clocks, grifins
and the like absurdities. The nickel-plated
monstrosity is then named the s1nvincible,"
or the Terrible or the plutonic fends are
invoked, and it is called the 'Etna" or
''Vesuvius," or, with diabolical dexterity, the
softer and domestic sentiments are brought to
aid, and it is christened the CLONE Blessing"
etc. These names, with dates, are spread over
the front, and the parlor orhall is made an
advertising stand of the rival makers.
The American anthracite stove has become
the perfection of all that is convenient,
economical and comfortable, but at the same
time a grotesque and even hideous object to
a. 1ofo
sham chimney pieces in the most prominent
part of the room. are the idols to which, six
months in the year, we must bow down and
worship.
There are indications that the gala day of
these styles has gone by, and that plain stoves,
with cast panels and square forms, will con-
test their place. Fine effects have been pro-
duced with tiles, particularly in open stoves
These have been made in modest designs,
beautiful. Stoves are a necessity to which
we must submit, but there is no reason why
they should not be made to add to the
decorative effect of the room, objects
of beauty as well as utility.
But the nickel-plated monstrosities have
had their day, and there is an evident renais-
sance in stoves, which is bringing to the front,
in panels and tiles, the old myths, which rep
resent fire as the starting point Of all human
culture, and the hearth as the center of the
family and the germ of civilization.