Under what circumstances did Rollo first hear the alarm of fire? What did he observe in the street when he looked out the window? What is a reservoir? How was the water conveyed from the reservoir to the vicinity of the fire? Describe the successive steps of the process by which the fire was extinguished. What did Jonas say in regard to the reason why the fire was not communicated to the other buildings of the block?
CHAPTER XIII.
THE FIRE IN THE WOODS.
When Rollo and Jonas reached home the next day, Rollo gave Dorothy an account of the conflagration which they had witnessed in the city.
Dorothy did not appear quite so much interested in his narrative as Rollo had expected. There are, in fact, a great many scenes which it is very interesting to witness, but which it is very uninteresting to hear described. This is a distinction which a great many travellers, older and more experienced than Rollo, are apt to forget. Or rather it is one that they do not understand at all. They attempt to describe to their friends scenes of grandeur or sublimity which impressed their minds very strongly when they witnessed them, and are surprised to find that they cannot make a similar impression upon others by means of the description.
Besides, Rollo’s account was confused and indistinct. It is possible to create a strong impression upon the mind by a description of a storm, or of a conflagration, or of any other grand scene. But, then, the description must be given skilfully. It must be clear and distinct, and the several circumstances which contributed most to the production of the general effect, must be presented fully to the mind, and in a regular and proper manner. This Rollo failed to do. He was not experienced in the description of complicated scenes.
Accordingly, when he got through with his narrative, and perceived that Dorothy did not enter at all into the enthusiasm with which he related it, he paused a moment, and then said,—
“Did you ever see a fire in a great city, Dorothy?”
“No,” said Dorothy.
“Well, it is a very grand sight, I can assure you,” said Rollo. “I don’t believe you ever saw such a grand sight, in your life.”