The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-08-06
The Old Fireplace.

Geo A. stockwell. in American Agricultnrist.
The spirit of innovation has invaded
nearly every farmhouse in the land, and
caused the old fireplace to be filled up. In
MANY cases it was an invasion, pure and
simple. An improvement may be always
an innovation, but not every innovation Is
an Improvement Few, if any, houses can
be found where the fireplace is used as it
was before the stove as a utensil for cook
ing came into use. The stove was an i'm
provement, and no one would think of going
back to the fireplace and its swinging
cranes. 1t marched into the sitting room,
parlor, into every room where there was a
fireplace. and demanded that the "black
ened holes in the wall should be filled up
and forever removed from sight. Then
came the smart parlor stove, perhaps with
nickel trimmings and a kind of graveyard
urn on top.
0, how much was blotted out when that
broad fireplace disappeared What recol-
lections, "reminiscences, old-time feeling and
sentiment, ave, and sacred memories were
buried, walled up, in that brick and NOR
ship was shut in and stayed forever The
room has lost something, delightful, en-
tertaining companion, always bright and
CHEEKY if attended to. But now the hearth
stone is cold, and on it stands black, stu
pid thing, often contrary, often smoking;
a thing on legs, with its gOrgon eyes staring
through isi0glass spectaeies.
1t was long time before the older
members of the family could be reconciled
TO the stove. When the days work was
done and the family gathered for evening
enjoyment, then it appeared as if something
had gone out of their lives, as if a cherished
friend was silent forever
In the long winter evenings how tbs
farmer enjoyed himself before the burning
logs He smoked his pipe, may be warmed
his mug of cider, or made flip by heating
irons and thrusting them into the cider; or
toying with the poker, petted the fire and
drew out roasted apples and chestnuts.
And how the fire laughed and leaped,
talked and sung and told stories, entering
into the spirit of all the merry making.
What merry times went on around these
frepiaces On winter nights, when backs
grew cold, while faces burned, the jester in
the circle exclaimed: Attention, all
hands, right about face, now" and the
company turned its back to the fire till
warmed. All, there was something hearty,
generous, free, in brisk oak or hickory
fire, N comparison with which the handful
of Goals in the black box called a stove
appear mean and stiDgy.
Why was innovation allowed to run
rampant through the house? Why was it
not restrained, or rather compelled. to keep
its hands off the fireplace in the room where
the family gathered for enjoyment? Be-
cause in many cases, the fireplace was con-
sidered "old-fashioned,' hence the younger
members of the family prevailed, and limo
walton, or fashion. laid in ruins one of our
most useful institutions, the open wood
fire, for roaring wood fire attracts, enter
tains aud keeps its audience at home, while
the stove repels, and may drive to worse
company. A fireplace will win where a
stove will lose. What enjoyment is found
in looking at a stove?
A fireplace, or freplaces, ought to be in
every house, old or new. They are domes-
tic agents for great good. Tney purify and
keep the air good, and they do great
deal toward keeping the occupants Of the
house good, and in health and spirits. If
fireplace remains, and fashion wishes to
demulish it, resist to the last Do not let
that usuper, the stove, with its black and
brazen front, come in everywhere, bringing
its poisonous breath But fashion may
no longer demand such sacrifices, for the
age is turning back to freplaces, and they
are growing more numerous and larger
every year, which shows that people are
awaking to their senses, or to the senses of
their parents or grandparents.