Winter has arrived, and with it a tendency to hibernate. Today was so miserable that I hardly ventured forth. Instead it made me think about the phrase, “It ain’t a fit night out for man or beast.” W.C. Fields made this famous.
But what did this mean a hundred or two hundred years ago? Perhaps those hardy families stoked their fires as best they could, sat by their fireplaces until the embers died and then crawled under covers made of down. Maybe they played games in the evenings or turned to reminiscing. Or possibly playing the fiddle. It was a simpler time.
Now an evening that ain’t fit for man or beast most likely includes watching TV, surfing the Internet, and maybe sitting by a fire. But not one that is the sole source of heat for the home. (See paragraph above.) I suspect it doesn’t include much reading or doing crossword puzzles or any other activity that is particularly solitary. Instead perhaps it includes Netflix or On Demand or Tivo.
Even though the activities have changed, it’s still gratifying to know how to deal with a night not fit for man or beast.
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