Much of the picturesque effect of the old English and Italian houses, undoubtedly arises from the handsome and curious stacks of chimneys which spring out of their roofs. These, while they break and diversify the sky outline of the building, enrich and give variety to its most bare and unornamented part. Examples are not wanting, in all the different styles of architecture, of handsome and characteristic chimneys, which may be adopted in any of our dwellings of a similar style. The Gothic, or old English chimney, with octagonal or cylindrical flues or shafts united in clusters, is made in a great variety of forms, either of bricks or artificial stone. The former materials, moulded in the required shape, are highly taxed in England, while they may be very cheaply made here.
