- description
- # Master Mason's Assessment of Chimney's Magnitude
## Overview
This is a segment extracted from the short story "[I and My Chimney](arke:01KG8AJ72QDX8N8STJ3550X2NW)" by Herman Melville. The segment, titled "Master Mason's Assessment of Chimney's Magnitude," spans lines 619-636 of the source file, "[i_and_my_chimney.txt](arke:01KG89J1H4TA19251AXAPE3ZWC)". It captures a conversation between the narrator and a master mason regarding the chimney's impressive size.
## Context
The story "[I and My Chimney](arke:01KG8AJ72QDX8N8STJ3550X2NW)" is part of the "[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)" collection. This segment follows "[Introduction of Mr. Scribe and Survey Begins](arke:01KG8AJMKF80TKFRHGV4FJ5NPE)" where the narrator introduces the master mason, Mr. Scribe, to the chimney. It precedes "[Financial Implications of Retaining the Chimney](arke:01KG8AJMKF7A49760M547R6J4C)," where Mr. Scribe calculates the financial cost of maintaining the chimney.
## Contents
In this segment, the master mason expresses his astonishment at the chimney's size, particularly its foundation. He measures the base and calculates it to be twelve feet square, or one hundred and forty-four square feet. He remarks that the house seems to have been built solely to accommodate the chimney. The narrator then asks the mason if he would abolish such a famous chimney.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:01.361Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- Master Mason's Assessment of Chimney's Magnitude
- end_line
- 636
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:36.358Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 619
- text
- “This is a most remarkable structure, sir,” said the master-mason,
after long contemplating it in silence, “a most remarkable structure,
sir.”
“Yes,” said I complacently, “every one says so.”
“But large as it appears above the roof, I would not have inferred the
magnitude of this foundation, sir,” eyeing it critically.
Then taking out his rule, he measured it.
“Twelve feet square; one hundred and forty-four square feet! Sir, this
house would appear to have been built simply for the accommodation of
your chimney.”
“Yes, my chimney and me. Tell me candidly, now,” I added, “would you
have such a famous chimney abolished?”
- title
- Master Mason's Assessment of Chimney's Magnitude