The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-02-07
A Damp Clty.

/ "Osias Miiwinter says in letter
/ from the South 10 the Cincinnati Com
Hitrolat, that the dumpness Of New Or
/ leans upon wet day impresses one as
something phenomenal. You do not
know in the North what such dampness
is. Ii drscends from the clouds aud
arises from the soil simultaneously il
eIudes from woodwork II perspireS
from stone. Ii in spectral, mysterious,
ineHplicable. Strong walls and stout
doors can not keep Il from entering;
windows and doors can not exclude il.
You might ms well try 10 lock ont
ghost. Bolts Of steel and barriers of
stone are equally uuavailing, and the
stone muulders, and the steel in smitten
with red loprusy. The chill sweat pour
ing down from the walls, sOakes into
plank floors, and the cunning of the
paper hanger is useless here. Carpets
become 50 thoroughly wet with the in
visible rain that they utter soughy
marshy sounds under the foot. Con-
sequently few houses are earpeted with
IN, and those good folks who insist upon
carpets spun learn the folly Of putting
them down on more than one or two of
the upper rooms. Mating is the substi-
tute even IN the aristocratic huuses-dry
crisp, neat mating Paper-hangers and
carpet-laVers would starye 10 death here.
IL you even lay few sheets of writing
paper upon Your table at nightfall Won
will find them quite limp and rebellious
Of ink IN the morning Articles Of steel
must be carefully laid away IN air tight
drawers. The garments hung upon the
wall. the coverings of beds, the we'll
stretched shirts IN the bureau seem AS il
they had been raiued upon the stair
carpets become like wet turf and
mnuldy, mubty smell preyades the at
muSphere,
Fire is the only remedy possible
against this invasion Of moisture ana
mildew, and fires are absolutely neces-
sArv Ia al bedrooms almost all through
the winter. Daring the daytime, IN
winter mouths, doors and windows are
generally left open, except on exception
ally oold ~ rainy days; the fires are al
lowed 10 80 out. and the winds are in
yitei IL come IA and keep things dry.
but when night falls, chill mists invade
thc city, aud txhalAtions Of dampness
rise from the moist earth. This Is the
ease even ia clear weather. and Louis
nniAns would not think Of sleeping
without a fire ia their bedrooms 30 dry
the air and bAnlsh thc spectre Of damp
hess. Even in the heat of the summer
the night-uows are often heavy like
heavy rains
In the North ycu place open vessels
Of water upon your heating stoves that
the warm air may be kept moist. Here
an possible efforts are made 30 heat the
air 80 that il may hold in suspension as
little moisture rs possible. For the city
SITS upon a marsh, and swamps lie about
her crescent boundary.
Carpets become an aifliction here.
Save in the house Of the wealthier,
where continual free keep them dry,
they absorb the uuhealthiuess Of damp
ness in the wet season. They al the
huuse with an oior 81 mustiness that
makes one think Of bacteria and
vibri0ues. and divers other horrors ot
the microscope | say houses Of the
wealthicr, because here there are few
families who can afiori 20 maintain q
good fire fight all the year round with
the swamp dampness