Evening star., 1934-10-18

place. Nothing looks sillier than huge
andirons in small fireplace, or very
| small ones in a very large one.
| It is in matching thu various "fit-
ments," as they have been called, to
the side of the wall Of which the hearth
Is the feature that true artistry may
be used. Nor need this necessarily
be an expensive job. Most persons
/ have seen firesides where nothing but
dull black iron has been used, and
yet the ensemble has been one Of
taste and charm.
However, seldom the fire is lit, the
best artistic effect Is secured by max
ing the hearth look as if it could be
lit at any moment. This gives the
sense of use, without which any deco
: ration is merely decoration and not
much else.
Thus the artist Of the fireside Is
driven back onto the doctrine of util-
| lty. Today even so-called blind" fire.
| places-that IS, without any draft-are
made into things of utility by the use
Of gas heaters or electric devices which
simulate Pickering logs. Let no one
laugh at this deception. 1t is most
happy one, and, properly used, some
cheering effects can be secured with
them. We have known otherwise bare
walls turned into most lively enter
tanning pictures by their use.
The real fireplace, and we speak Of
the one in which logs are used, has
some disadvantages. The building Of
the bottom layer of paper and kindling
is very distasteful to some. The neces-
sary cleaning up of the hearth after
the fire has died down is something of
nuisance, even If the ashes can be
brushed dowr through an opening into
pit to one side of the furnace. Many
houSeholderS like to have a bed of
ashes of an inch or two in thickness,
on the theory that it helps keep the
entire fire warm while it is going.
The real reason for keeping some
ashes on the hearth is that they add
to the realism which every true hearth
ought 70 have, and which the fake fire.
place, however good in its place, can
not have.
Ashes are the very essence of logs
and of fireplaces. Therefore, do not
be in too great hurry to use the
pretty little broom, but leave plenty,
so that the very presence may remind
every spectator of the brilliance that
was and may be at any time.
These ashes are not cold and life
less, after all, but hold in their proper
using promise Of the brightness of
lovely flowers al other seasons, stirred
| tnta ifa kty fka Ry1A
ties of hard wood ashes.
Ashes are not a complete fertilizer
in any sense. They possess plenty of
potash, however, one Of the essentials,
and also serve admirably to tighten
the texture Of compact soils.
The common practice of placing
boughS Of Autumn leaves in the fire.
place is to be frowned upon. They are
out of place there. If one insists upon
them, let them be put in front of the
firescreen.
The fireplace. by the way, is one
Of the very finest places in the home
for the display Of cut flowers, either
on the mantel itself, or down on the
hearth, preferably to one side or both
sides of the hearth.
This placement is especially fetching
in the case Of such Autumn flowers as
the chrysanthemurls and dahlias, al
though the gladiolus and the rose ask
no better position.
Rather tall vases look best for this
use. 1t is needless to say that the
fire should not be lit while the flowers
are there. for it would wilt the blos-
SONS and vie too much with them.