The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-03-07

Az and Sunshine,
Air aud sunshine are called common
blessings Of humanity; but how many
people treat them as sworn onemica
What oarrioades are raised against them
~ the way Of outside blinds, inside shut
ters, screens, and window curtains In
how many houses are they looked unon
a. unwelcome intruders- sunshine pro.
hihitod entirely, and only air enough nd.
mitled to sustain life, In summer ltbeinr
too hot, IN Winter too cold besides. coal
is dear, and the heated afr must be made
to do good service both down stairs and
up, and none allowed to escape
!. Recently, during a country drive, we
were led 10 seek shelter from threaten,
ing storm 10 waysldo farmhouse, very
/ attractive with it, coat Of white paint and
is well.kept door-yard. But alasl hos,
/ pitality went too far in ushering us into
the best parlor Instead OF the kitchen, Of
which we caught one bright glimpse, with
Its white sanded floor, puss asleep In tho
doorway, and the pet canary singing ai
one Of the windows. The door Of this
/ paror had not been opened, we were Ger.
tain, since the last visitors made their ex.
it, we know not how many weeks or
months before.
Twilight and bad air peryaded every
corner; the heavily curtained windows
were proof against the least flicker Of
sunshine. We hoped the careful house.
wife, so anxious to make US comfortable.
would lin the curtains and throw open
the easement; but In vain We wero
wei come TO sit in her best rocking-chairs,
aud fan ourselves with antique feather
fans she hastened TO bring us, which had
descended from her great-grandmotheri
but the blessed light Of day must remain
without.
She told us she had been troubled mora
than usual with flies last summer, but had
managed to keep them out Of the front
part of the house by keeping II shut mp.
Misguided womanl She had learned that
flies could not live without air and sun.
shine, but there her philosophy ended.
How the Summer time seemed all al once
to have faded Queer; bnt as we sat
there we kept thinking how Il would
seem to be buried alive. How glad we
were to hurry forth whom tie rain was
over.
Beecher says that when things are called
by their right names, instead Of laying The
evil rs some people do to bad conscience,
IL should be laid TO lack of air and sun.
shine.
We wonder there should be even half a
dozen healthy mothers of families extant
Gas one writer has ascertalned), when we
consider how they are debarred from out
door exercise, air, aud sunshine their
days divided between house-work IN a
snbterranean kitchen that never knew the
light of the sun, and receiving calls In a
parlor very likely filed with every luxu-
ry except the luxury of light and air;
their nights, too, often spent In a sleeping
room as small in proportion as the parlor
Is large, very likely on the shady side Of
the house, and the one or more windows
barred from the least breath Of fresh air,
for fear the baby will take cold. DO you
think thisis an exaggerated picture? A
true one. Keep your eyes open, aud you
soon will have facts enough TO c0rrobo-
rate it. And then, whenever spare half
hour comes when they can step out of
doors, ten 10 one they defend themselves
securely against The air and sunshine
with gloves, thick wells, huge sun-hats
and umbrellas.
What fate Is bad enough for the man or
woman who invented yeilsY Why are pale
faces more TO be admired than those that
have the glow Of hcalths What objection
can there be TO sun-browned hands II the
owner thereof, during the process Of get.
ting them Drowned, Is also getting happi-
ness for mind aud body?
DO YOU know, suffering humanity, that
air and sunshine are the best tonics you
can takef Never exclude them, as II TOO
often done, from sick rooms. Better dis
pense with the daily visits Of the physI.
oiaD than to shut your doors and windows
against the healing elements
Build your houses 50 that air and sun
can have access TO every room. Don't
cover your floors with such costly mate
rial that ray Of sunlight must never fall
on IL. Give us h0me-spun carpets and
sunshine rather than the most expensive
velvet aud Brussels without Il. Better
fade your carpets than your cheeks.
We know the haryesls we see rpening
Oh hil-sides and Ia valleys do not come
10 perfection without the aid Of air and
sunshine. No more can we expect hAr-
vest Of noble deeds from men aud women
having feeble minds in slckiy bodies, for
want Of these life-giving influences
Parental Coysramsnt.
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