New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-13
SOood Ashes and Progress.
UI Homo Without Fcpo-Somc Reflections on Houscmads


words stared oct OF the bulk Of print on the
page with startling 1iyidnoss. a gem Of phil
oeo-Ly criticism Of Gfe,' in the waste of
jak.s which The comic paper editor had read
and doubtless paid Toy. and which the public
WAS doubtless expected 90 enjoy. The Man
Above The Square laid aside the paper, leaned
toward his fire, took mo the poker can old
ebony cane adorned with heavy silver knob
which bore the name - an actor once loved AMI
admired and rolled the top log over slowly and
r-oatatiyely. The end OF the cane was SCARED
and burned fIom many contest with stub
born logs. and the Man Above the square
looked at the marks of service with smile
l.rare he stood the heavy stick again ia its
place ty The ilrlsiGe
1T isn't every walking stock which comes 10
sl.h a good end" he said aloud.
Then. either because le was cold or in Yenl-
r.nce for the pun. he walked over 10 the win
tous 10 uuI down the shades. but before he
ga so DE looked out into the night. his breath
making a frosty Napor on the pane Bel"" hlm
The square CLEANED in white patches under The
are lamps. and across these white spaces here
and there a belatod pedestrian, coat collar
turned W. hurried. a black shadow The cross
on The Memorial church CLEANED like a cluster
Of stars and deep in the cold sky the moon
rode silently. A chill wind was complaining
its way 10 his face and body through the
window chinks he drew down the shades
quickly and pulled the heavy draPerics together
win a rattle Of rings the RODS. Then he
turned and faced his room.
A scarf OF Oriental silk veiled the light Of the
single lamp set low his desk. and The IRE
had its own way with the illumination. j
sent dancing shadows over the olive walls. il
made points Of light q the picture frames ana
"a glowing coal Of the polished coffee nm Do Tie
corner; il pointed pleasantly out tho numnerless
hooks bat told nothing OF thor contents IL
made dark the spaces where the al'otes were.
but sufuscd the little radius Of tie hearth max
was bounded by a Morris chair and "a pipe
stand with a glow and warmth and comfort
which were irresistible The Man Above tle
Square came quickly into this charmed radius
and sank again into the chair. And some PEG
rle insist on steam heat he said.
Then he looked into the rosy pit Of wal.oUing,
good natured flames. and faucied he Was medi-
Eating But IN reality he going 10 sleep.
when he woke up the fire was out and De was
cramped and cold. lie stumbled to a corner.
turned on the steam in a radiator. that The
room might be- warm IN the morning ana ie-
tired 10 his chamber.
After all you have 20 build fire, bat the
steam lust comes" he rroWled as he craNled
sleeIily into bed.
Toward morning the steam did come. lut some
hours before he Was ready TO rise. IL came al
Intervals forcing the water up ahead and
tl,llu1uing il without resistance in the vacuum
Of the pipes against the top OF the radiator
with the force Of a triphammer and the noise u
a cannon. The Man Above the Square woke Up
and cursed The intervals between thumps he
employed IN wondering how soon the next re
port would come, which effectively prevented
his going 10 sleep again. Presently the thump-
ing ceased and he dozed of, TO awake later in
ugly temper. He went out into the sitting room
and found % cold as an icebOX.
Where In blazes is all that steam which
woke me up at daylight" he shouted down the
speaking tube 10 the jaritOr. The answer, as
usual. admitted OF no reply, even as it offered no
satisfactory explanation. He dug into the wood
box and on the heap OF feathery white ashes
which topped the pile in the fireplace like snow
the fan OF last night" he called the laid a
fire OF pine and maple IN three minutes he WAS
toastiug his toes in front Of the blaze, and good
nature was spreading up his person like the tide
VI a bay
Modern conveniences would be all right" he
chucIled looking from the merry fire TO the ugly
radiator. II they were ever convenient"
Then DE swung Indian clubs FOR a quarter Of
an hour Bumped into a cold plunge and went
rosy 10 his breakfast and the days work, with
tho cheerlness OF the fire IN his heart.
But while De was gone there entered the