Dear Bingley: I was attempting to allude to the notorious problems of fireplaces causing very powerful drafts, so that the part of the bodynearest the fire might be overheated, but the other side would lose body heat to the current of air rushing into fireplace and up the chimney. I had a fireplace in three houses, and they were a censored expurgated unprinted disappointments. Now fireplace enclosures of glass radiate heat well,and prevent excessive draft, which no chimney damper can manage to my satisfaction. I am sure the old British castle fireplaces did not even have chimney dampers. A good old German Kachelofen or a modern wood stove is far preferable.There are also fireplaces called heatalaters, made of steel, but with large airspace around the combustion area, which does not let so much heat go up the chimney, but lint can collect in that space and a sudden explosion and flame sends a cloud of burning lint into the room.
