In the exhibition of inventions at the Inventors' Insti- tute,
Dashwood House, New Broad Street, there is a smokeless fire-place which is worth notice. We know nothing of its merits, but it is said to succeed, and the inventor, named. Moerath, deserves the credit of having understood English conditions. We, being sentimental idiots, do not want a close stove, but an open fireplace, which will burn up its smoke. Mr. Moeratb, therefore, places a quantity of asbestos and tubing eighteen inches above the fire. The smoke goes up the tubes, the asbestos heats the carbon till it is consumed, and the resi- duum, gas, is conveyed away through a pipe, and may, we presume, be utilised. That is not quite a perfect arrangement, for we want the smoke-burner to be out of sight, above the fireplace, in the entrance to the chimney, but the principle is there. If the English would agree to close stoves, the smoke nuisance could be abolished in a year or two ; but this is precisely what they will not do.
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