The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-06
The Pleasures Of
the Fireside

homeIy surroundings ~ also prcSup-
poses home lover, Il person who sits
by the ilrcsidc and loves It's clear blaze,
and can build castles or see pictures In
tho flames and the red Goals, when tho
heart of tho fire Is glowing.
The tircsidc doesn't mean radiator,
or n hot water system. or gas logs, or
IN electrical heating apparatus. These
are all very fine In their way, and
come nopularly under tho head of
what is known as labor-saving con.
triyances. rho nrcside Is not labor
saving, or even economical 1t is a
LUXURY in its way But to those who
indulge in IT'S pleasures It seems an in
vestment that repays time and labor
and money expended on 1t.
II would be hard 10 say when fire.
side Is most enjoyed. IT is certainly
pleasant companion In the early
morning hour. Breakfast is partaken
OF with greater zest TO an accompan-
iment OF the cheerful song with which
= fircside begins its morning work,
bringing out reflective brightness from
the breakfast table furnishings, and
keeping time with the conversational
hum around the board
But seat on the rug In the gioan.
Ing, circle gathered in the intimate
evening association, tastes the full
flavor of confidence that the ncighbor-
hood Of the freslde inspires. Every
thing disagrc able and jarring and in
har'nonosa Is shut out Secrets, tender
condolences, Interchange of thought
all these arc born OF the time and tho
surroundings, and hearts arc drawn
closer and life seems sweetcr Wills
the hour lasts.
Fircsides arc a survival. They hav.
no part or place in tho highly ornate
modern buildings in which up to- dato
convenienccs and arrangements have
taken their place. Firesides have
mostly gone, but they have taken some
thing With them in their going. The
spirits OF the freside. the household
gods to whom the ancients paid rev.
crence. whose protection and blessing
rewarded conjugal and flial affection.
are conspicuously lacking. Around the
radiators families do not gather as OF
yore. and oftener than otherwise the
day draws to its close without re-
ncwal of that intercourse which rem
ders. or should render, home so dear
to Its indwellerg.
The frcside Is an emblem OF hos
pitaltty in its trucst sense, the hearty,
neighborly sense that Is whole souled
and generous. Such hospitality is also
survival and unique In It's way. It
has gone out OF general use in the
1ostle and hurry burIy of the day. It's
rasity renders :. all the mire appre-
ciated when 1t goes along with the
dancing. leaping flames. and answers to
the cheerfulness they symbolic.
The nreslde has been homo fea-
ture since first humanity began to
live indoors. under the roofs and with
In walls. The great Yule log has sent
Its sparks UP the chimney's throat, and
roared its defiance to wind and storm
since tho earliest Christmas celebra-
ton. Christmas would not seem like
Christmas without its fires and fire.
sides. with its rows OF stockings for
little g.ft-receivers to pounce upon and
40 into IN the early dawn OF Christmas
morning
This being the case. 1t would seem
pest that there are few fresides left,
and few old-fashioned folk who stu
are given TO dreaming beside them,
and sharing over them with their
friends the best they have to bestow
OF sympathy and love.-The Passerby.
Bits of Wisdom.
AT a wedding in our family the bride
was showered on her way to the carri-
age with colored confetti. 1t " $ rain
ing. and wherever the confetti fell It
left either red or blue spot Tho
spots were indelible. Several guests
had light dresses ruined white con-
feti is much prettier, resembling, a,
1t does. a snow storm. and can do no
harm to clothes.
For busting the sick room, our family
physician recommended placing large
handful of cotton batting in a steamer
until 1t is light and moist, then dry
Ing 1t partially and using it as an
ordinary buster. The damp cotton
holds the dust Each duster should
be burned after it is used.
After a bottle of glue has been open
ed, rub little fat of some kind. such
as lard or cold cream, around q sound
cork, before inserting 1t In the bottle,
and the cork will pull out easily The
fat excludes all air. Glass shoppers
should be treated in the same way.
] became a possessor recently of a
wonderful piece of old lace. The col
lar was in fairly good condition. al
though somewhat yellow from age. but
the lace on tho undersleeyes was gen
A'iiSis I'll HIo idIc Wd5 LOO dCil- i
cato for any ordinary method of wash
Ing. so / took a quart glass jar, some
liquid soap and put the undersleeves
In, filing the Jar with cold water. III
placed the jar in an agate kettle and
after bringing 1t to the boiling point
left 1t on the back of the stove for
three or four hours. I carefully shook
tho lace back and forth in the Jar
until the water began to look as IL
1t needed to be changed. l then turn
ed off the first water and replaced it
with clean hot water, repeating this
several times The last time / left 1t
In sunny window for day. After
] had squeezed out the water I pinned
the lace on to dry towel When the
lace was partly dry I pressed II, Per-
haps this method would he too much
work for common lace. but never hav-
Ing owned any real rose point before, |
| was anxious for the best results.
Essentinia to Sncccsn.
Tho essentials TO success necessary |
to inculcate In a boy BY parents. ana
teachers are not numerous or diff |
cult; honesty, neauless. punctuality |
and reliability, With training other
f,f