Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-09-14
THE STOVE ON POSTS.
California Tourists See Strange
Sight.
1n FranciscO AfQON0NL.

san FRANCISCO dfQOhuW'
There were of us in the party-slX' count
ing Long Tom, the guide. After TWO DAYS
hard climbing, which the burros endured
with exemplary fortitude, we arrived III
the little valley high up IN the mountains
through which threaded the trout stI .Sll,
"Jest Won all 90 over into the cabin there
and make Yourself comf'ble while 'tend
10 gettin' this stuff unpacked," said Long
Tom; there amt no one there. My paru-
ner he's down below
1.-The cabin appears to be two CABINS,
said the Colonel, as we approached IT.:
THAT is for economy in ridge-poles, said
the doctor, sleeping apartments on one
side and kitchen on the other. In tIe
space between you keep your fishing Jackie
and worms
We entered the right-hand section OF the
twin cabin which proved TO be the kllcnen
side. There was not much furniture
table of hewn logs, char oil DENT sap
pings and a rough bench.
However. we did not notice such furnl-
t1re as there was for each member OF the
party, as he stepped over the mgh tnreSh-
old. had his attention instantly at ,racted Oy
thestove. and a roundelay of CALCULATIONS
went along the group.
well. that staggers me, said the STOCK
broker
"H'm.r said the professor, in mystic
rious tone, and rubbed his chin
The stove was plain, small, cooking
range rather old and rusty. The strange
thing about it was its position. us aoOre-
waited legs stood upon large cedar posts.
which were planted in the floor, and were
over four feet in height. rms brought Uhe
stove way up in midair so that the top was
about on a level with the face ofthe co lionel
and he was a siX-footer.
We formed in a circle about the Stove,
and stared at it as sOlemnly rs group OF
priests around a sacrificial tripod. we Ielt
of the posts: they were firm ana sohd,
showing that the mysterious arrangement
was a permanent, not temporary one.
Then we all bent our necks and opened our
mouths TO look up at the hole in the roof
through which the stovepipe vanished.
Suddenly the stock broker burst out into
a loud laugh.
"Oh. l understand it now" said he
Understand what" asked the colonel,
sharply.
"Why Long Tom has his stove holsted
up so high from the floor
so do ." said the doctor; "but suspect
that my explanation is not the same that
any one else would offer"
"Well. / will bet that l am right said
the stock broker, land put up the money"
Il am in this said the Judge; II have
clear idea about that stove, and will back
it."
make it a jackpot" said the colonel;
81 want TO take hand
The stockbroker drew a small yellow
coin out of his pocket and dropped II on
the table.
"He has the stove up there, he said, "to
Get better draught In this rarified noun
tain air there is only small amount OF
oxygen to the cubic inch, and combustion
is more difficult to secure than in the lower
latitudes. ! have heard that if you get
high enough up, you can't cook an egg
that is. | mean, water won't boil-or some
thing like that, he continued, thrown into
sudden confusion by the discovery that the
professors eye was fixed upon him with a
sarcastic gaze.
us that supposed to be science" de-
manded the professor.
well. - said the stockbrOker, doggedly,
''never mind the reasons. Experience IS
probably good enough for Long Tom. He
finds that he gets better draught for his
stove by having it up in md air, so he has
it there"
The right explanation, began the pro
fessor, sis the simplest My idea is that"
Excuse me- interrupted the stock
broker tapping the table; ''are you in this
pot"
The professor made a deposit, and pro-
ceeded:
"Have you noticed that our host is a very
tall man, Like msst men Of his height, he
hates TO bend over. If the stove were near
the floor, he would have to stoop down low
when he whirled a fiap-iack on speared
rasher of bacon. Now he can stand up
and do it with. ease. Your draught theory
is no good; the longer the pipe, if it IS
straight. the better the fire will burn
professor" remarked the colonel, Il
regret to have to tell you that your money
is zone. Long Tom told me on the way up
that his partner did all the cooking. and he
is a man of rather short stature The
colonel then paid his compliments to the
jackpot and continued: Now, my idea IS
that the stove heats the room better there
than on the floor. II is only cooking
stove. to be sure, but when the winter Is
cold il makes this room comfortable. Be
ing up in the middle of space II heats 1t all
equally well. which it could not do II IT
were down below
The doctor greeted this theory with
loud laugh. Colonel he said, you are
wild-way off the mark Hot air rises, of
course. and the only way TO disseminate it
is to have your stove as low as possible:
According to your idea, it would be good
plan TO put the furnace in the attic OF a
house instead of in the basement
Il think" said the Colonel, that / could
appreciate your argument better if you
would ante"
The pot is mine, said the doctor, as he
deposited his coin; you will all adopt my
idea the moment you hear it, and Long
Tom, who will be here in moment, will
bear me out This room is very small, 1t
has but little floor space and none of it goes
to waste Now, if we had put the stove