Evening star., 1932-12-31

laws Of physics In q rudinentary form.
No doubt the idea of the fue came
when q fire was built in cave which
accidentally had hole In the top.
The smoke filtered out and in going
set some hairy person to thinking. If
the smoke goes out that hole, he
thought, why wouldn't 1t 60 out better
If prevented from going to any other
part of the cave?
At any rate, the fireplace is very
much with us and It's accouterments
add to the pleasure which the affair
gives in the we'll regulated household.
This, however, only II the andiroIS
and the rest are in keeping with the
fireplace as a whole and as hole.
Small f1replaces overloaded with trick
gadgets look absurd; the larger one Is
the easier it is to supplement 1t with
sasiar sash iI1eenes snd en nsss a make its care
First comes the fire screen. There are
many types, variously ornamented,
among which may be mentioned the
the popcorn pepper" type, the most
hopper which fits securely around the
mouth OF the fireplace and keeps all
sparks from leaping out.
While this type is not as ornamental
as the other, it does q better job of
watching over the fire, and Is the only
sort which should be used when burn
ing logs are left in the fireplace over
night.
The more ornamental screen Is quite
adequate, however, if q human eye
checks up on it every now and then,
and, since the fire is the center Of at
traction, usually there will be no want
of such occasional inspection.
One of the most absurd things, It
seems to us, is this habit OF some folk
of building a nice fire. then turning
their backs on it while they play bridge.
A fireplace in operation Is a show all
by itself. Not every one, of course. will
be content to do nothing but watch the
Pickering f1ames-that Is reserved for
the connoisseur OF such things-but
certainly one loses much of the pleas
ure if real attention is not given to
the various stages Of the controlled
confagration.
The fire set, all in shining brass, with
its component poker, tongs, shovel, and
perhaps brush or broom, is the next
essential. To poke around at burning
logs with piece Of kindling is neither
pleasant nor profitable. Here, as else
where, the proper sort Of tools add to
lIIc CllJOyulCLt Va IllC WI n oilo 40 llct
results.
The wood basket Is another essen
tial In wicker. or iron, or brass, or
combinations of these, it looks very
trim by the fireplace. with its quota of
logs already to be put on. Here again
art combines with utility. What greater
nuisance is there than<to hurry out to
the pantry, or down into the basement,
or out into the yard, or to the garage,
to secure few more logs?
Some readers, no doubt, wonder If
we have forgotten the andironS, the
one essential of the perfect fireplace,
next to the chimney itself. No. we
have kept that until last that is all.
While logs may be burned on a
proper bed of ashes alone, a good pair
of andirons makes for better COM
bustion and. above all, adds to the
artistic nature of the appearance Of
the entire fireplace.
With andirOnS, the fancy Of mankind
runs riot. There are huge ones, tiny
ones. ornate ones, plain ones, beautiful
ones. ugly ones
The proper andirons for the indi-
vidual fireplace is no easy selection.
Once they are secured let them alone
thereafter. for no improvement can be
made The important thing is that
none need be made. This is something
we are inclined to forget in an urgent
age.