Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-03-12
NUMBER g
Comfortable Rooms.


The idea that becoming hardened to
cold is beneficial to the human body or
good for the soul, is lhorougly exploded.
Our best physicians now advise that
sufficient clothing to keep the body warm
should be worn. Ii two flannel shirts
are not enough, put on three. II one
pair OF hose will not protect the feet
sufficiently, put on another pair. 1t is
well understood among farmers that if
they would have their cows give the
greatest quantity OF milk in winter, or
accumulate fatness rapidly, the animals
must be kept warm. Otherwise the body
uses up what would 90 to the production
of milk or Eat in maintaining its own tenn.
perature. Just so with tho human body.
The force employed in keeping the body
at % degrees, unless assisted by food and
clothing aud artificial heat, will consume
the energies Of the system, leaving little
power to be exerted in any other way.
So as matter of pure economy, it pays
to keep warm.
Another idea that the character is ben
elited by the endurance Of unnecessary
hardship, is erroneous. Ii one cannot
have TODD enough they may increase their
virtue by patience nnder priyation, or by
uncomplaining submission to inevitable
suffering. Bal We all pronounce that
man a tool who thinks TO staryc himself
into virtue when abundance Of food is
provided to satisfy his hunger, or from
false idea of pride refuses to dress with
taste and comfort when he has ample
means ioI doing So The fact is, the
more perfectly our physical wants arc
supplied, the more force and energy and
checrlulness wo cau bring to the per-
iormance OF our dailJ tasks.
Comfortable rooms, sufficient lood and
proper clothing are essentials and by no
false idea OF the excellence OF stoical
philosophy, to be lightly esteemed. 1t is
well understood by those who have tested
il by careful and repeated experiment
that comfort and economy alike require
the keeping up OF = li'o in the household
at night. Then there is one room where
the family may assemble in the morning,
and escape the inevitable chiils they
must suffer from shivering over new
lighted fire. There IS also saving OF
kindling wood and the fuss OF building a
fresh fire, beside the increased heat nec-
essary to overcome the cold of The lurni-
ture and walls Of the apartment.
We by no means recommend warm
sleeping rooms. On the contrary, our
experience is that rooms without fires,
but open to sun and air all day and used
only at night, afford tie most healthlul
and refreshing sleep. But for the sake
Of The little ones and oil The advanced in
lie let there be one room where the fire
never goes out, and to which, on these
shivery winter mornings, they may 80
from a warm he'd, and find the tempera-
turo all the body requires No light de-
gree OF resolution is required TO spring
from warm bed, dress ones self IN the
cold and descend to room at the ireez.
ing point, perhaps several degrees below
it, and all the time teel sunny and warm
and Jolly in ones heart, when the fingers
are numb and the feet like Jumps OF ice.
and the cold making goose tlesh and play
ing hide and seek up and down ones
spine.
We housekeepers know how long it
takes TO start things on these cold winter
mornings, and if YOU have never tried i,
my rural friend, just make the expert
ment at the cost of an armiul OF oak
wood or scultlelul Of coal, and see how
much better OF = frosty morning things
will 90 OF, how your good temper will
di(ruse cheer and brightness over the
family circle, how quickly the breakfast
will arrange itself and how Of a sudden
summer will seem 10 spring from the
arms of December.-N. !. IrjjHae.