HOUSES AND GARDENS 



well be discarded for something simpler. The grate may be surrounded by a 

 broad space of tiles only, or the brickwork of the chimney breast may be 

 surmounted by a single shelf. 



Above all, the fireplace should connect itself with the general treatment of 

 the room, and the wood mantelpiece is at its best when it constitutes an 

 enriched and accentuated portion of the panelling which covers the remaining 

 walls. 



Of all the defects in a house, smoky chimneys are, perhaps, the most 

 trying and the most common. In the new house they are most apt to be 

 caused by the coldness and dampness of the flues, and represent a painful 

 initial experience which does much to obliterate the pleasure and comfort of 

 existence in surroundings otherwise harmonious. With a modern contracted 

 grate, designed on scientific principles, the danger of smoke is minimised, but 

 the large, hospitable open fire, however carefully designed, is apt to give 

 trouble at first. 



So essential, however, is this type of fireplace to the homeliness and beauty 

 of at least the central hall or houseplace, that it is well worth facing a possi- 

 bility of some difficulty in this respect, instead of resorting to the inglorious 

 safety of the mean and paltry-looking modern fireplace. Such precaution as 

 circumstances will allow are, of course, taken by contracting the orifice of the 

 flue and by introducing no flat surfaces for the smoke to strike against, and 

 by gathering and curving the flue to prevent down draught ; but in some 

 cases where every precaution is taken until the flue becomes thoroughly 

 dried by use there is a tendency to smoke. It is important, in view of this, 

 that fires should be lighted and kept burning during the later stages of the 

 building, so that the flues can be dried and tested before the house is 

 inhabited, and any slight modification that may be required can then be made 

 beforehand. It will often be noticed, for instance, in modern open fires, that 

 a piece of thick glass is fixed across the upper portion of the opening. It is 

 better to fix a piece of metal brass or copper in this position, and after a time 

 it will probably be found that this can be removed. The object aimed at is 

 to get the fire as unconfined as possible without smoke. To shut the fire in 

 a small and low recess is to lose that liberal aspect which is so important and 

 to shirk the difficulty of the problem, and the important point is to get what- 

 ever nice experimental adjustment done before the house is inhabited, and for 

 this purpose the metal placed across the upper part of the fire is an expedient 

 which does not spoil the appearance and can easily be either removed 

 altogether or raised to the maximum height which the completely aired flue 

 will allow. In special cases where down draught is caused by special winds or 

 local features, a special form of chimney-pot may be required, and of these 

 the Boyle extractors are the most satisfactory. 



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