52 OUT-OF-TOWN PLACES. 



rooms and making the library do duty for the spread 

 of your table. 



" The dining-room, moreover, having only north 

 exposure, you may condemn as dismal. I propose to 

 obviate this and to give it a cheerful south light by 

 an extravagance which I dare say the architects will 

 condemn, but which will have its novelty and possi- 

 ble convenience. 



M The fireplaces of library and of dining-room, are, 

 you observe, back to back. Now I would suggest 

 that the two flues be carried up with a sweep to 

 either side (uniting in the garret) in such sort, that a 

 broad arched opening shall be left above the mantel 

 from one room into the other. This may be draped, 

 if you like, with some tasteful upholstery ; but not so 

 far as to forbid a broad flow of the warm light from 

 the bow window of the library ; while upon the 

 mantels of even height, you may place a Wardian 

 case that shall show its delicate plumes of fern 

 between your table and the southern sunlight all 

 winter long. It would moreover be quite possible, 

 owing to the breadth of partition wall afforded by 

 the two flues, to arrange folding shutters for the 

 complete closing of the arch- way whenever desired. 

 For my own part, 1 love such little novelties of ar- 

 rangement, which mark a man's house as his own, how- 

 ever much they may put the carpenters to the gape. 



