Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-08

able time Of IL than we suspect, when we
clarnor so loud for furnace heat, steam
heat, gas and electricity for heating pur-
poses and such like.
When the modern houses have hot
afr pipes all about and there are double
doors and windows. we wonder how old
people survived the fifty-year ago win
tiers in the north and northwest, but
they did get along and lived about as long
as moderns. according to statistics. They
may have slept some colder and their
backs may have been chilly while there
cheeks were red and scorching. neverthe-
less they got along. II the coal strike
lasts until January there will be no I'M
friendly criticism Of wood fires. provided
we get wood to burn in our open freplac-
es. II wood can be procured nobody need
freeze.
And with lead pipes and iron pipes and
filters and zinc tanks, one never knows
what one is drinking in big city. so with
hot air pipes and registers and all the
other modern arrangements for heating,
you are never quite sure as to supply of
regular heat, unless you probe into tie
outs and ins OF this modern business for
your own satisfaction.
And when you steam and swelter and
perspire' for several hours in steam heat,
you are fortunate IL you are not chilled
through and through when you strike the
air outside.
For one like 10 see the water drawn
out OF a nice clean. good-looking well
in an honest bucket without fiddle
diddling with all sorts OF metal pipes,
and with considerable uneasiness as to
poison and so forth. Also delight to see
the fire and like Tx Marvel" dream
dreams and find faces in the glowing
Goals and build chateau en- Espagne in
front OF the blaze.
admit you that starting a wood fire
with wet chips on a cold, raw morning
Is poor fun, and you may so cover up
coal FIRE until the next mornings labor
win be light. and it is very nice to turn
on gas and heat when you are lazy or
hurried. but when you do get a fine wood
FIRE you are warm. comfortable and sat
isfied and the fire makes up a part OF the
rooms furnishings. especially cheerful
and gratifying TO the eye.
Bituminous coal was but little used in
the south before the war in dwellings and
1 was not young woman by any means
when enjoyed my first fire of anthracite
coal. Present dependence on coal fires
was unknown TO the early Gays of the
republic, and while the northern people
were economical with wood. using heating
stoves for warmth and economy. the
southern people had famous wood-piles.
stores OF fat lightwood" and log-heap
fires in snowy or freezing weather on open
hearths.
big house" and cabin had all the wood
that was needed or could be used by white
and black.
A back log was laid on. then a
smaller one in front. between the two an
armful Of loose kindling was chinked in,
and then the smaller fagots were heaped
upon this foundation until the blaze went
roaring UP the capacious chimney and
everybody was soon warn as a toast
When the boys on the farm got good
and warm" they went up TO the garnet
and struggled under a pile OF homemade
blankets. quilts and "coverlids' until the
call from below stairs in the early morn
ing aroused them from sound and re-
freshing sleep TO build fresh fires in the
chimney places.
People did not seem to suffer with cold
when can first recollect as we do now.
Possibly did not myself. Tight houses
were not considered healthy by the farm
ers. And the health OF the population
which was accustomed to cracks between
the house logs and roaring fires in wide
chimney openings will bear comparison
with the steam-heated and jug-tight lodg-
Ing places of the present day.
We are not 70 be pitied very much II
We can secure good wood fires.