The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-09-23 00:00:00

VENTILATION IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

To the Editor of the Dorset County Express and
Agricultural Gazette.

SIR,— Ism a stranger in this town, and during
the lad week have been to two of its places of wor-
ship. One of these I visited once, and the other
twice, and on each occasion found them almost
insupportably close, without a breath of fresh air,
and apparently without any means of ventilation—
not a window open—the doors all closed, and this
too at • time when the weather was extremely
warm. Now, Sir, if this is the sass in all the plows§
of worship hi %mouth, how somparativsly

unprofitable must the worship of God and the
preaching of the Gospel be to the people who
frequent these buildings. In the first place, the
impure and vitiated atmosphere which must
necessarily be attendant upon imperfect ventilation
in a crowded building, greatly impairs the health of
persons breathing it; and then, how can they take
bold of the truths that are presented to their minds,
when their brains are partially stupified with the
hot and poisoned air, and their faculties are over-
come by the drowsiness occasioned by such a state
of things ? Moreover, the minister cannot preach
with the same amount of earnestness and vigour he
would wish to employ, for he too must be as much
oppressed as his people, and thus the chief end and
object of the establishment of places of worship is
in a great measure frustrated. Surely something
might very easily be done to rectify this, and make
them cool, healthy, and pleasant, and thus enable
worshippers to join in the service and listen to the
sermon, without the sensation of oppression and
languor which has been so painfully experienced
by your obedient servant,

Weymouth, September 17, 1862.

MEDICUS.

PLEASURE p. CHARITY.

To the Editor of the Dorset County Express ea
Agricultural Gazette.

SIR,-At this season of the year, when all the
world is at the seaside, and when excursions,
picnics, and rural festivities are engaging the atten-
tion of every one—from the tenants of Belgravia to
the ragged school urchin who shouts vociferously as
he is rolled along to his holiday treat in Epping
Forest—it is a melancholy reflection that while
pleasure goes on, our charities for the most part
stand still. It is all very well that Dives should
hurry away to the enjoyment of his marine villa or
rural sports, but let him not forget that Lazarus is
still a suppliant for the crumbs Which fall from his
table, and that if he is unable to follow his lordly
patron to the scene of his present recreations, he
must inevitably starve.
It is well-known to any one who will take the
trouble to inquire, that very many of our charitable
societies and institutions are compelled to exist, as
it were, from hand to mouth, and are therefore de-
pendant on the daily alms of the benevolent. When,
however, the eleemosynswy patrons take to them-
selves wings and By away, what is to become of
their neeemitons pensioners? At least let our plea-
sure-seeking citizens take care to emitter enough
crumbs before their departure to last till their
return.

And now, Sir, to the point. A short time since
had occasion to visit the offices of the society for
the Rescue of Young Women and Children, at 85,
Queen-street, Cheapside, and while there I saw
enough to fill me with the deepest pain and regret.
The rooms were crowded with young girls of
various ages and circumstances, all earnestly en-
treating, snme with clasped hands and on banded
knee, to be received and sheltered. All were suit-
able, many of them promising and deserving cases,
but to most, if not all, the only verdict wae—rejee-
floe, for want offunds I
I trust, sir, that not one of your benevolent
readers will ever know what it is to have the
ground of hope cut from their feet, as fell to the lot
of these poor girls, but I could wish that all who
now read this statement had stood where I then
stood and witnessed that moving spectacle. Me-
thinks the seaside visits, the excursion tripe, and
other recreations, would have been sacrificed with-
out a struggle for the pleasure of bidding thaw
bruised and broken spirits live. The present is a
time of preseing need to this and other similar insti-
tutions, but thaw to whose liberality an appeal is
generally made with success are now all out of
town, and unfortunately they have taken their
money, and it is to be feared their charity with.
theta. Meanwhile God help these poor waifs of
womanhood. The wreckers indeed are at work,
and their unhappy victims are drifting madly down
the stream of time into the great Unseen, but
where is the life-boat ready to speed to their rescue?
such institutions as that on whose behalf I now
plead, may be not inaptly compared to the life-
boat, but it is empty, and the crew who are to man
4Lnd prapel it—where are they?
Hoping, Sir, that my words may set others think
ing and acting,
I am, your obedient servant,
ONE WHO HAS STOOD BEHIND THE SCENES

Lownon. P.S.—Do any of your readers want to
see more into this subject! Let them obtain the
last report of the above society, and they will be
amply paid in interest and information for the half.
dozen postaue stamps, which, sent to the Secretary,
will procure its transmission.