The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-21
Hnnfof-tahla Houses.


strength OF mind and her sincere piety.
--------------------
Comfortable Houses.
A correspondent In yesterdays OiSpatc6
urges builders OF houses to introduce into
them conveniences for heating, cooking,
washing, &C., such as were not known IN
former times, and which are so advantage
Gus to tenants. He names heating by steam,
Latrobe stoves. We consider the Latrobe
stove great nuisance in any house, and VIC
like heating with neither hot air nor steam.
The best mode Of heating, in the absence of
the open fireplace, is by hot water, because
that is most healthy, most comfortable ana
most easily regulated.
But 4 great deal has yet to be learned
about introducing heat into dwelling
houses. We think that hot air in dwellings,
has been the cause Of many deaths, while IT
has occasioncd great deal OF discomfort
and indsposition the cause OF winch the
victims d,d not know. DR.. JoYNEs some
wears since read paper before the Faculty
on the subject OF warming houses when
exhibited much learning and great deal OF
practical wisdom. He assumed that the most
healthy warmth that man could have was
that given from the sun, which was radiated
through the atmosphere without impairing
its hcalth-giving qualities, whilst the hot air
passed over heated iron underwent chem
ical change that impaired its health-sNlnS
power. He contendcd that the mode OF
warming 4 house that most rcsemblcd the
heat difrused from the sun was the best, ana
therefore he decided that the fire OF an open
fireplace was the most healthy artificial
agent for diffusing warmth yet known. lie
objected to heat from anthracite coal even
in the fireplace, because that material Is
great absorbent OF oxygen. and impalrS the
oualitv OF the air. lie favored wood above
all other fuel, and placed first afterwards
the spint and camel Goals, and then btu
minous Goals generally, as acceptable fuel
for tirc-places.
We have been long OF opinion that society
was impairing its real comfort and health
bv its devices to make itself very happy and
very serene indoors. 1t has been purchas-
ing the "cthercal mildness" at great
cost-at the cost OF health and life. 1t has
introduced with genial warmth headaches,
nervousness, prediSposition to colds; and
they again Introduce train OF evils, any
one of which fastened upon one member OF
q family drives away from whole house
hold for months, and sometimes years, all
quiet and pleasure. All, what trouble,
what affection, what heavy losses, we often
bring upon ourselves in an unwise attempt
to complete what we call comfort and save a
few tons of fine burning coal in winter.
How many houses arc made sad and
miserable by the gloom that follows the
Punishment OF the cheerful and bright fire
in the hearth! What a privation it is and
the apparent pryation is nothing compared
with the real injury which, as VIC said
above, often comes to a room that has hot-air
and concealed tire-places!
Of course people will go on with their
hcating-apparatus and We suggest that with
hot water as the best. We know, however,
that peoples hate OF ashes and coal-scuttles
will turn the scale, and fancied economy re-
inforces the objections. But they are little
aware Of the dangers and damages that are
encountered in the many ways OF making
people too comfortable for either pleasure
or health.
The OVERRIDING of things in the way OF
heating dwellings has 4 counterpart in
the appliances to promote the convenience
of tenants. They are pushed in many III
stances to a degree that makes the very
means resorted to for convenience rccoi
upon tenants, causing foul gases and null
sanoes that annoy people, put health in
peril and often add to rather than dimin.
| ish household labor and care. 1t will not
do to carry the systems of avoiding work
too far. There are limits to this policy. II
we go beyond them we suffer. We get toe
seli-indulgent, and we find that our econo'
mics end in extravaganza in ways we little
thought OF. Clean houses-clean from in
dustry and forecaste; conveniences wisely
in their right places cheerful fires; aplenty
OF light, and frugal but generous fare, to-
gether with well-regulated habits, will
make us all happy.