IN THE BEGINNING 



Fig. 



tunately for me, about this time I found an essay 

 on chimneys and fireplaces, written a century or 

 more ago by Count Rumford. As the Count 

 knew nothing of coal as a fuel, 

 the dimensions of his chimneys 

 were based on the burning of 

 wood, and made large enough 

 for the purpose. The back of 

 his fireplaces sloped forward, 

 making a narrow opening for the 

 smoke toward the front. This 

 narrow opening extended up for 

 a foot or more, and then dropped 

 back square making a shoulder or shelf. If there 

 is any back draught in such a chimney, the cold 

 air strikes this shoulder and the hot air carries 

 it up again at once, giving it no / / 



chance to get into the room and 

 take the smoke with it. 

 This little sketch (Fig. i) 

 shows the method of 

 construction. Three 

 of our fireplaces 

 were arranged to- 

 gether, back to 

 back, with one 



Fig. 



II 



