been quite unaccountable to them. Thus it
naturally followed that the custom of deifying
all things which the primitive mind was unable
to grasp, led in direct line to the fire-
worship of later days.

That fire could be produced through friction
finally came into the knowledge of man, but
the early methods entailed much labor.
Consequently our ease-loving forebears cast about
for a method to ``keep the home fires burning''
and hit upon the plan of appointing a person
in each community who should at all times
carry a burning brand. This arrangement had
many faults, however, and after a while it was
superseded by the expedient of a fire kept
continually burning in a building erected for the
purpose.

The Greeks worshiped at an altar of this
kind which they called the Altar of Hestia and
which the Romans called the Altar of Vesta.
The sacred fire itself was known as Vesta, and
its burning was considered a proof of the
presence of the goddess. The Persians had
such a building in each town and village; and
the Egyptians, such a fire in every temple;
while the Mexicans, Natches, Peruvians and
Mayas kept their ``national fires'' burning
upon great pyramids. Eventually the keeping