"The slowness of one section of the world about adopting the
valuable ideas of another section of it is a curious thing and unaccountable.
This form of stupidity is confined to no community, to no nation; it
is universal. The fact is the human race is not only slow about borrowing
valuable ideas — it sometimes persists in not borrowing them
at all.
Take the German [Masonry] stove, for instance — to the uninstructed
stranger it promises nothing; but he will soon find that it is a masterly
performer.
The process of firing is quick and simple. At half past seven on a
cold morning one brings a small basketful of slender pine sticks and
puts half of these in, lights them with a match, and closes the door.
They burn out in ten or twelve minutes. He then puts in the rest and
locks the door, and carries off the key. The work is done. He will
not come again until next morning. All day long and until past midnight
all parts of the room will be delightfully warm and comfortable.
Americans could adopt this stove; but no, we stick placidly to our
own fearful and wonderful inventions of which there is not a rational
one in the lot. The American wood stove, of whatsoever breed, is a
terror.
There can be no tranquility of mind where it is. It requires more attention
than a baby. It has to be fed every little while, it has to be watched
all the time; and for all reward you are roasted half your time and
frozen the other half. It warms no part of the room but its own part;
it breeds headaches and suffocation, and makes one’s skin feel
dry and feverish; and when your wood bill comes in you think you have
been supporting a volcano.
Consider these aspects of the Masonry stove. One firing is enough for
the day; the cost is next to nothing; the heat produced is the same
all day, instead of too hot and too cold by turns; one may absorb himself
in his business in peace. Its surface is not hot; you can put your
hand on it anywhere and not get burnt, yet one is as comfortable in
one part of the room as another." - Mark Twain, "Some National
Stupidities", 1891
Visitor Map
