The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-03-07
CHAPTER VI.
INDOOR LIFE-tcontinued.)

INDOOR LIFE-(continued.)
A plain-spoken old Army Surgeon Of my ac-
quaintance used to describe the certain i'm
PrOvements Of modern architecture as " a con-
trivanee for saving money at the expense Of
health z. and the frequent correctness OF That
definition is well illustrated in the COMPARE
tive merits Of modern and old-fashioned ire
places An open-chimney FIRE wastes certainly
3 prepOster0us amount Of fuel, but from hygl-
chic point Of view that primitive arrangement
is ont and ont preferable 10 the best stove thus
far invented.
Fer VentilatOry purposes the draft Of an open
chimney iiue surpasses indeed, al other con-
trivances, with the exception Of two open
windows at opposite ends Of a room. heglsters
distribute their air more evenly. but furnace
warmed air hasalways stufy, unpleasant smell,
aud tends to thIckeu the atmosphere by con-
strained influx Of gaseous currents. In cold
weather il IS, therefore, 10 bad plan TO have
stove and an open fireplace in the same room,
and 70 regulate the temperature by the occa-
siOnal opening OF hall door. The surplus OF
heat thus vented is not lost, but viii help TO
ecualize the temperature of the room by sur-
rounding it, 50 10 say, with a mantle OF warm
air. On the same principle two Or three gar
ments Of light texture make a warmer cover
than single layer Of thicker stun. Downy
fur becomes worthless if it is pressed into
compact mass Of felt. aud wide mItteus llined
with warm air are preferable to tight-htting
gloves.
DTsNFECTIoN.
Carpets prevent cold feet, and even the pleas
IRE OF tresding soft material, easing the sole
like a springy turf should outweigh the objec-
ton to possible bit Of extra dust. The Stats
tics OF several European capitals prove that
such occupations as street-swecping or even
chimuey-s weeping} arc by no means inc0mpati-
bic with longevity; and 1t seems indeed that
our lungs are able 10 rid themselvesOf dust and
such Ike impurities by a mere sitting process,
and that the true lung bane is the subtle, case
Gus poison OF Initiated air. Teamsters often
walk for days Ia a thick whirl of dust-clouds
without any perceptible detriment, while a
single night IN the foul dungeon Of the Black
Hole killed l22 out Of l46 prisoners. All the
carpet-dust which man is apt 10 breathe lout-
side Of carpet-cleaning establishment in the
course Of his life is not likely TO hurt him as
much as the fumes Of a strong cigar. In such
matters the testimony Of our senses is a pretty
safe guide. sunbeam falling into a new
swept room often reveals myriads Of floating
dust notes, unheeded by cur oliactory organs,
which promptly warn us against nicotine
fumes. SUI phuretted hydrogen, and other kinds
OF foul air. On the evidence Of the same cri-
terion 1t has been justly doubted If the afro
ciOus OdOr OF earbOlic acid really improves the
atmosphere. The Turks fumigate their hospi-
tals with fragrant incense that seems TO sub
Que the nOxious influence as well as the often
EiFeness Of impure air. In southern Europe
aromatic fumigating powders are sold in every
drug store. Sugar does something more than
disguise the taste Of sour fruits; il makes them
more nutritious by supplying deficient ingre-
dent, and perfumes probably benefit, as well
ss please, our respiratory organs. In default of
incense, vinegar or Juniper berries, burnt on a
hot pan. will counteract offensive Odors. For
the disinfectiOn of sick-rooms, Burnet's Lia-
uid Chloride Of zinc may be used as prefera-
bic 10 the ab0Ve-named abomination, and as
proved by analysis, is more efficient in destroy
ing the germs Of contagious diseases. Leaf
plants are natures disiufectants: their yege-
table lungs exhaie oxygen and absorb or neu-
tTalize all sorts Of gaseous impurities, and the
inhabitants OF such towns IS Savannah, Ga,
with her fOurlold avenues Of almost evergreen
trees, breathe pHrer atmosphere, in spite of
surrounding swamps, than the burghers of
many treeless city on the airy nights OF the
Spanish American tablelands.
LIGHT AND SHADE
Shade trees in the immediate neighborhood
OF a dwelling house are therefore a double
blessing. They exclude sunshine, but their
shade is that Of the forest that bred our stout
ancestors, and we should not forget that in
Winter, when sunshine is most needed, the fall
ing leaves open that screen. Besides, it is easy
enough TO trim cut yistas In front Of the sit
tlng-rOoIn windows or balconies. But il Is true
that for the cure Of certain disorders lchioro-
SIS Tor instance, and ricketts, there is no balm
like sunshine and We might initiate the old
Romans, who used 10 construct s0Jdrid or sun
bath rooms on the tops OF their houses-gass-
covered little mansard rooms-where the in
valid could bask ike an exotic plant in a hot
house. Experience has taught the wives of the
poor Baltic fishermen 10 battle their sick chill
oren IN the Sane OF a warmed beach, and
Prince Puckles Musksn mentions that an old
Albanian mountaineer advised him TO try sun
light as a cure for sleeplessness, and adds that
the complaint yielded 20 the first full dose.
INDOOR EXERCISE.
The sick children Of civilization. though
have often more urgent needs than sunshine
and IN every family dwelling there ought TO be
some sort OF indoor gymnasium, even if the
available space should be limited to a garrett
corner or PIT IN hay loft Exercise. TO be bene-
nclal. ought TO be pleasure as well as a task.
and there are Winter days when country bows
not less than their city cousins would be clad
OF chance Tor an hours rOugh-and tumble plav
without paying for the privilege by the risk of
freezing their ears. 1t is amazing how fast even
young children acquire the knack Of such con-
trivances as horizontal bars, turn-leyers and
grapple swings, and how soon the gain in
strength begins 10 tell upon the general nv
glenlc condition Of the little gymnast. From
sanitary point Of view monotonous drudgerv
e1 tse q A-AA4 4to4 FdiuS, ana, DeslQeS ant
70 result IN a One-sided kind of muscular de-
Velopment. Wood chopping from morning till
night will strengthen the arm sinews of q child
st the expense Of his spine and his chest by
tending 10 keep him for hours in a half-stoop
ing position. Girls, especially in families that
can afford hired help, are generally still worse
on Win their lstless sedentary modes of
life, II Is no wonder that they almost monopo-
lie certain forms Of disease. They need more
outdoor sport, more fun, more sunshine. but
their chief trouble is the aUaat Of arm exercise.
Tor many poor, hectic girl q ropinq-
Hlacille lseyera varieties sold for less
than Slo) would be more useful present than
whole car load Of tonic bitters and couph
candies. Another effective specific is orapDle
stotHg-a par Of screw hooks fastened to a beam
d. the ceiling two stout ropes and pair of
leather-coyened iron rings reaching down to
about seven feet from the floor. Grapple swings
as well as rowing-machiBes, can be operated
without much previous instruction, and conn
feTact the astbmatic influence Of indoor life in
more effective way than all chemical tonics
In Midsummer when farmers children suffer
now and then from the opposite grievance-viz,
from over fatigue, the proper remedy is still
les doubtful; for in nincty-niBe out of hun
ored cases the cause Of the trouble is not over
work, but the unnatural and ruinous practice of
after-dinner work. The plainest language of our
natural instincts tells US that work interferes
with digestion. a man walked from his sound
est sleep feels less disinclined to active exer-