Evening star., 1936-09-08

turned to the gas logs. which were
simulated oak logs pierced with little
holes, through which the gas poured.
When lit, with the usual pop" the log
gave q nicely spaced series of jetting
flames, which often smeiled when turned
down.
The householder was between the
devil Of running the logs at "high." and
thus quickly vitiating the air In the
room, and the deep blue sea Of turning
the burners down very low, thus allow
ing them to Smell"
There are many of these devices still
In operation, no doubt with much sat-
isfaction to their owners, but in the
main they have been replaced with
the radiant heaters which do not neces-
sarily have to be placed in chimneys,
although 1t is still best to do so. If pos
sible.
The old logs gave a cheerful light as
well, Of course. and often. no other light
was required in the sitting room, where
in conversation was the great occupa-
ton and entertainment.
Many will believe that America lost
something when 1t lost its old-time,
old-fashioned. II you will, ability to
talk things over without getting mad"
about it all.
Those were the days when even poll
tics, at least in everyday conversation,
did not breed rancor In the better
circles. 1t was possible to say what
you thought, then. without having fist
fight over it. or some old friend freeze
up on you till the next campaign.
y
Recollections of gas would scarcely
be complete without some mention of
the gas range, or cooking stove. which
has held its own against all comers and
gone right ahead, what with insulated
ovens. oven controls, new designs and
the like. Perhaps the men of the house
hold appreciate the insulation and con-
trolls as much as any one. The oven
control device is a really uncanny ap-
paratus. one of the essential modern
wonders.
In the old days gas ranges shared the
honors with coal ranges. People took
their gas ranges with them. wherever
they moved. (They still do that in some
cities)
Many fudge-making party was held
around the gas stove in the days now
called Victorian. Nobody knew then
they were to be called Victorian"
whether or no. All they knew was that
the right sort of person could make the
right sort of fudge" that Victorian
delicacy, along with Welsh rabbit (often
enormously called "rarebitD was the
centerpiece of many an evenings en-
tertainment.
Usually there was some one young
lady who could make fudge better than
the rest. and to her went the Job.
eliminating in the ticklish business of
dropping q ball of the mixture into a
cup of cold water, to see if it we're of
the right consistency to cool quickly.
Properly made fudge hardened in a
few minutes. had an even gloss to it,
and a wonderful taste. Ask any of the
old-timers. 1t will be a question with
them, whether fudge ever tasted as
good since. or whether it ever can be
made as well on any other sort of
stove.
The gas industry is a wonderful ex-
ample Of the inventive genius of man,
and of persistence in the face of diff
culties. When electricity came in,"
| many predicted that gas would go
out" but it has come in stronger than
ever. Similarly. radio did not kill the
phonograph. although it almost did.
Today the most wonderful disk records
of all time are being made and sold
and played.