New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-23
.,en for some pahry twenty or thirty Dol

sicn for some paltry twenty OF 'niC -.
lars; yet he neglects it and leaves MS on,'
49, c...., - their own corruption night
after night until they finally sicken and Ole
q, want of that element which God aound-
,,,lv and freely supplied for their susten-
s bnt which he in his dense ignorance
IA, perversely shut out and rejected.
Our Architects, so called, are shamefuily
N fault in the premises. They have no
night 70 be ignorant of the necessity Tor
ample ventilation and if not Ignorant they
have no night TO construct slaughter-Pehs
and collins where they are pad Tor erect
inc proper dwellings, They have no ouSi-
cess to plead. NY employer did not 'eaHt
Ventilation - fox if they know their own
bu,;ne.s. they know full well that he vitality
,.,ded il, though the density OF his igno-
rance prevented his desiring it. They are
Maid 70 know what he does not and they
should never draw the plan Of an edifce Of
any Mind without providing for its thorough
ventilation as a matter of course. Should
the employer interpose objections, (Which
he rarely why it is their duty to enlighten
and convert him. IL he should insist on
exslting his obstinate stupidity above the
architects scientific knowledge and prac-
ticed skill, (Which not one in a hundred
will do,) the latter should quietly say, " Sir,
Il have studied faithfully and labored hard
ito acquire the requisite knowledge of
Architecture if you think have not sue
.ceeded, please employ some one else ; but
If / direct the construction of this house,
1T must be thoroughly ventilated cam
mot in good conscience be responsible for
ANY other"
-" Why" says Thickskull, whence
comes all this clamor about Ventilation !
If it is SO vital a matter, why didn't our
wise ancestors know something about 1t
why did Mt the want of it kill them, I'd
like to knew mistrust 1t s one of the
'new-fangled 'Isms, and closely related to
Socialism and lnfdelity y
Most conservative Thickskull, your fore
fathers did not thrive in the absence of
Ventilation, but because they had It. 1t is
precisely because we have all departed,
necessarily and irrevocably, from their hab
its that special attention to Ventilation has
become so necessary. They lived far more
in the open air and less in crowded assem-
blages than the present generation does
they sat around huge fresides which vora-
ciousIy sucked all the yitiated air up
chimney They slept oftenest in spacious
unpartitioned chambers and garrets, whence
the stars were visible through the creyces
IN the sides or roof. Such bedrooms
needed no yentilators-need none nov
The mischief is that you cannot have them
or will not sleep III them. The hospitable
old fire place has been narrowed and low
cred, or has given place to a stove or fur
mace the bedroom is ceiled and papered;
the doors listed. the floors caulked, and
the modern house, though In some respects
more commodious and comfortable, is far
less healthtul aud lnyigoratlng than those
which it has supplanted. Hence the neces-
sity for special regard to Ventilation
There uere novels and dens Of old, mainly
in cities, where the poor herded in atnos-
rhero touler ii possible than tina, of our
modern churches during service, and of our
mansions On soiree nights and from these
Spotted Fever, Black Death Plague, and
other pestllences went forth to devas-
tate the world. If you want these results
of the wisdom of our ance stEs back again,
Just blunder on in defiance of the montiOns
of Science respecting Respiration and Air,
and you will very probably be accommo
dated.