The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1892-05-13
THE OLD FIREPLACE.
Romantic Associations That Cluster
Around It's Memory.

Romantic Associations That Cluster
Around It's Memory.
The spirit OF innovation has invaded
nearly every farmhouse In the land.
and caused the old fireplace TO be filed
up. In many cases II was an invasion,
pure and simple An Improvement may
be always an innovation, but not every
innovation is an improvement. Few,
IL any, houses, can be found where the
fireplace Is used as IL was before the
stove as utensil for cooking came in.
TO use. The stove was an improve
ment, and no one would think OF going
back To the fireplace and it's swinging
cranes IL marched into the sitting
room, parlor, into every room where
there was II fireplace, and demanded
that the "blaclSened holes I'm the wall"
should be filed mp and forever removed
from sight Then came the smart pnr.
Tor stove, perhaps with nickel trim.
mings and kind OF graveyard urn on
top
q, how much was blotted out when
that broad fireplace disappeared! What
rccollections, "reminiscences, old-time
feeling and sentiment, aye, and sacred
memories were buried. walled up, in
that brick and mortar! And what
cheerfulneSs and companionship was
shut in and stayed forever! The room
has lost something, n delightful, enter
tanning companion, always bright and
CHEEKY IL attended To. But now the
hearthstonc Is cold, and on IL stands q
black, stupid thing, often contrary,
often smoking; n thing on legs, with
its gorgon eyes staring through ISM
glass spcctacles.
II was long time before the older
members of the family could be recon.
ciled To the stove. When the days
work was done and the family gathered
| for evening enjoyment, then it APP
| pearcd as IL something had gone out of
| their lives as IL cherished friend was
| silent forever.
In the long winter evenings how the
farmer enjoyed himself before the
| burning logs He smoked his pipe,
may be warmed his mug of cider, OF
made flip by heating irons and thrust.
ing them into the cider; or toying with
the poker, pcttcd the fire and drew out
roasted apples and chcstnuts 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 fire.
places! On winter nights, when backs
grew cold while faces burned, the
Jester in the circle exclaimed: "Atten.
ton, all hands. right-about face, now"
and the company turned its back TO the
fire till warmed. All, there was some
thing hearty, generous, free, in IA brisk
elk or hickory fire, in comparison with
which the handful of Goals in the black
box called a stove appear mean and
stingy.
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 en-.
joyment? Because, in many cases, the
fireplace was considered "old-fash'
toned" hence the younger members of
the family prevailed, and innovation,
or fashion, laid in ruins one OF our most
useful institutions, the open wood fire,
for n roaring wood fire attracts, enter
tains and keeps ITS audience at home,
while the stove repels, and may drive
to worse company. A fireplace will
win where n stove will lose. What en-
ioyment is found in looking at a stove?
A fireplace, or fircplaces, ought To be
i'm every house. old or new. They are
| domestic agents for great good. They
! purify and keep the air good, and they
do great deal toward keeping the oc-
cupants of the house good, and in
health and spirits. II fireplace re-
mains, and fashion wishes to demolish
IL, resist 20 the last Do not let that
usurper the stove, with its black and
brazen front, come in everywhere,
bringing its poisonous breath. Blu.
fashion may no longer demand such
sacrifices, for the age is turning back
TO fireplaces, 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 -- Geo A.