New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-04
and these are the principles laid down by the
Great Master as pure religion.
COMFORT IN SUMNER.


People whose brains were in condition for
thinking during the recent spell of hot weather
must have asked themselves more than once
why science, in this era of boosted civilization,
has not done more to protect human beings
against suffering from heat during the summer
season. Their thought must have run some
what in this wise: The savage man finds no
refuge against extremes of heat and cold save
what nature offers in caves the shelter Of
forests the civilized man has learned how to
defend his body against the attacks of frost
by warm clothing fires and well-built houses,
but when the summer sOstice comes and the
tOrrid atmosphere makes life burden,
he is little better off than the savage-he
can get under the shadow of a roof or tree
and that is about all. Why should not the civ
ilized man cool his dwellings in summer as well
as warm them in winters In fact, there is no
good reason why he should not. Chemistry
and mechanics have solved the problem of pro-
ducing artificial cold. There is no mystery
about the process. 1t is in constant use for the
preservation of fruits and meats and in the
manufacture of beer. Readers Of THE TRIBUNE
will remember an account which appeared
week ago in an article by one of our cOntribu
tors of the manner in which the vaults of brew
cries are cooled at trihing expense by the use
of ammonia. The process which produces boar
frost and iccles in these vaults could easily
be adapted to lower the temperature of the at
mosphere in private houses and hotels to
degree which would make it delightfully."- cool
in the hottest of the dog davs.
In this matter of artificial refrigeration
science is ahead of an intelligent popular de-
mand. We believe the time is not far distant
when people will wonder why their ancestors
were stupid as to live without cooling APP
paratus in their houses. In future generations
the endurance of the excessive heat of summer
by the inhabitants of great cities will seem as
unreasonable "a to live through the winter
without fires. Tn that blessed day every house
will have its cold air register as well rs its
water pipes, its furnace and IFS gas-meter.
Companies will furnish the cold air from CEN
trail refrigerating establishments, and the pay
ment of n small sum will enable the house
holder to enjoy temperature of seventy
degrees when the mercury stands in the nine
ties in the street outside.
Much will. no donbt, be done toward dimin-
lshinc the discOmforts Of hot weather in cities
in other ways than by cooling processes. The
electric light, which gives off no heat will
take the places Of the tens of thousands of
little gas fires that are now used for illumi-
longer employed for light, the companies en-
gagged in ts manufacture will reduce its
price to make it generally available as substi-
tute for coal for cooking. Our kitchen ranges
generate large amount of unnecessary heat
The whole of the range, together with the
pipes and chimney flue and the adjacent walls
are brought to n high temperature TO develop
heat enough to broil steak and boil tea
kettle. When gas is used the flame can be
directed so as to produce its effect on the
exact spot desired and nowhere else. Cooling
apparatus for dwellings, hotels, churches
stores and factories electricity for light and gas
future very different place in summer from
the city of TODAY. What vast aggregate
amount of human energy will bc saved when
the vitality Of people is not drawn upon
for three months Of the year 10 resist the eff
fects of high temperatures! And how much of
the fret and worry of life, which is more de-
strucive in it's action on nerves and tissues
than hard work, will be obvated We might
go further and discuss the social phases of
the subject to show how city homes will
become so attractive, when their atmosphere is
made refreShingly cool, that no one will feel
bound to endure the mseries of country
boarding-houses, and life in town will have
peculiar charms in the hot season but the
reader can easily carry forward the thought
for himself. OF one thing we may feel as
surcd-as soon as the public demand for pro-
lection against heat is strong enough the means
will be found, and people will then marvel
| why it was not sooner adopted.