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Show EVOLUTION IN HOUSE HEATING. From Bonfires In Living- Rooms to Grates. In the primitive fireplace the smoke was supposed to pass through an opening op-ening in the roof, but, falling In this. It escaped, with the occupants, through the handiest side opening. The Middle Mid-dle Ages set the hearth against the wall, and built a projecting hood of brick or stone above to carry off the smoke. Gradually, the fireplace was built with two flanking Jambs, which supported it, and thus the present form of fireplace was evolved. As. the armorial ar-morial bearing was a prominent feature fea-ture of decoration In these times. Its embodiment in the treatment of the fireplace became common, and the already al-ready important fireplace became the central feature of the room. At a later la-ter period, the fireplace was let into the wall, as is the common form today. to-day. At first, the fireplace opening was of small dimensions, but, on ths theory that the larger opening meant an increase in-crease of heat, it was enlarged to great size. Then, when the tendency to draw children ' and furniture up the chimney, chim-ney, or let in all the outside cold come In through the enormous opening, found little hindrance In the iron doors employed to remedy the defect, they went back to the smaller opening as a relief. Country Life, . .. |