Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-02-15
A F!REPROOF MAN,
BY ADDISON P. rlUNRoE.

Ny horse had cast shoe, and
stopped for repairs at blacksmith
shop in Lime Rock, a quaint lit
hamlet in the northern part Of one {
our New England states. The villag
o couple of miles distant from ii
nearest railroad, consists of the pos
Office, smithy aad bakers dozen {
rural dwellings; pretty and peacef,
place with rustic views that man a,
customed to the hustle of city life ca
fully appreciate.
While waiting for my horse to b
shod, Learned that few rods furthe
on, over the crest of the hill, were til
famous1ime kilns. I had heard of tn
kilns ct Lime Rock since my boyhood
but [ had never chanced to come tha
way before, so, telling the loquaciou
blacksmith that I would return fo,
my horse soon, l strolled over the hill
to Investigate.
/ was met by the kiln-tender, 8
strong, robust man about so years OF
age, who welcomed me cordially. and
volunteered to show me the modus
operandi of the affair, which he did
thoroughly. I can remember that
when he flung the big iron door of his
furnace open with the words, "This
fire burns night and day and never
goes out" although I was ten feet
away from the door, I was glad to
screen my face with my hands from
the terrible heat; and yet, as if the
fire were not hot enough, he COM
menced to throw on great sticks of
cord wood, which blazed mp instantly.
Having finished the inspection of
the place, was about to thank him
and wishdraw, when I Glanced to
make the remark that in this quiet
little village of Lime Rock one could
forget all the cares of life, all its ex-
elements and tragedies.
Young man," he said, stfor Is
years / have burnt lime in this place,
and although my. previous years were
spent IN far more exciting places, yet
the nearest approach to "a terrible tras-
edy happened to me in this same
- :, I
fastened to assure him thai. Ishould
feel honored if he would favor me
with the particulars of his adventure:
Offering me stool and filing and
lighting his pipe, he told me the fol-
lowing tale: 80,
cit will be ten years ago the 10Th
of next December that the exciting
incident in which I figured occurred.
AS have already explained to you'
we have gang of mon here through
the day, but only one man through the
night, his duties being to tend the tlre
and draw the lime, which latter is done
tbree times in each "a hours. was
then the night mau and was on duty
on the 18th of December of which L
speak. ~.
.It was a cold, clear moonlight
night about 10 o'clock. I was alone,
the last lounger having gone home,
and I had just replenished the great
fre when the latch was lifted, and a
stranger walked in. He was tall,
muscular, well-built man, should say
about 40 years of age, clad in large
overcoat and wearing silk hat; he
had fine, intellectual face, with flow
ing side whiskers and sharp black
ewes: eyes that seemed to have the
faculty of looking beneath the surface;
in fact, they attracted my attention
almost before 1 observed his other
features.
ssNow I like company in the long
winter nights, and as 1 pushed forwart
a stool 7 bade him cordial good
evening"
"sGood evening, he returned pleas
sntlv, and throwing of his overcoa
he seated himself opposite to me.
"T do not often have callers a
night, 1 said, 'but they are AWAY
welcome.
WELL he replied, the fact is
am walking down to the station to tax
the midnight train into P: A
7 had plenty of time aud saw the re
Aection of your fire [ thought woul
drop in, get warm md have cha
with YOU before; finishing my walk.
r"Well, he. was good talker, m
ti,e passed pleasantly, and after W
had onversed some 20 minutes ma
learn,fS that he was professor
chemistry in b university
p and that he was an enthusla:
in his profession.
Suddenly he asked. me If L woni
let him see my fire. I stepped arour
and threw open the big furnace doc
the heat was intense, but although
stood within three feet of the ope
door, unlike most visitors. he nelth
moved away nor seemed to pay al
attention to it, but drew nearer II an
thing, with his sharp, black ey
fixed intently on the flames.
Shutting the door said:
"'You are different from most pc
pie, professor; everyone cannot stal
the heat as you did
{" Il should be able to stand it,
replied, it has been the study OF 4
life. :,
ssHe paced back and forth excited
his fingers working convulslveiy' a
his ewes still fixed on the furna
door. The sight of that fire had Il
strange effect on him.
"The study of your life? What
you mean?"
g 4 will tell you, he replied, cal
ing himself with an effort and resn
ing his seat. 'As I have said, ht
made chemistry my life study, but
have studied it with fixed purpo
aud that purpose is to invent &C
nonpd that will render the body
apy living animal impervious to II
Think of the renown tina: awaits
man that can render the human bt
tireproof! Think Of the suherlngs
deaths caused by fire that he co
vanouish! have labored hard tor
,oor. on1 at last at last he