Towards the end of the 18th Jeentury continuous and excessive use lof firewood diminished the supply. Then, also, times had changed. More Towns oasted of several fireplaces. As fireplaces Jerew in number they decreased in size. Firedogs continued to be popular. necessary and more and more
Better-class homes chose simple Jand dignified designs of iron. or brass, such as the twisted flame tops, win tops, steeple tops, balls or baluster tops with splay' or claw feot. These, by the way, are a distinguishing. mark of rarity. The steeple form was a great favourite, but the ball top was the best seller of the 18th'eentury. The flame-top, through extreme appropriateness of Jéesign, also had many admirers. Another interesting design expressed itself in rights and lefts. These possessed shanks, curved to left and right with knobs to prevent the fire stick from falling forward. Later jon it became fashionable to have figures as ornaments on the firedog, fand heads of women, Indians, Turks, and negroes were used. A favourite hero might be put on the irons, or even the family crest would find a place there.—Bernardine Wolfe.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.