Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-12
HOW ABOUT THE eeoRooMi

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CoLuxu. Oxford DeaoozsA Paris. Aains
HOW ABOUT THE eeDRooMi
Nothing has more important bearing
upon ones health of mind and soul, A.
we'll a. body, than the conditions under
which one endeayors to rest aud restore
the wastes Of the days activities.
IL the atmosphere Of your bed-chamber
pure, fresh and invigoratings And are
the bed, bed clothing, and your own
underwear and bed-gown 40 sweet and
light, and yet 90 warm that sleep comes
from blissful bodily comfort and pure
air, and you awake In the morning to
carry cheer to the breakfast table, and q
brave and hopeful heart to the days
battle with business complications, or
the carking cares of domestic lifrs
There's nothing obscure about this
plan of preserving or restoring health.
Ii IL the plain "yop shalls," and "you
shall nots," that bring our lives into har-
mony with the clear intentions OF nature.
As by far the greater number Of people
must live in houses Of some ones else
Building, and that they can neither move
nor alter, we shall leave all details OF
site and construction out OF considera-
ton, save to utter pleading word for
M open fire place In every bedroom OF
the coming house. Under ordinary con-
dltions the air in such room cannot be
impure. Properly furnished and cared
for, there are few bedrooms In comfort
sble homes that need be condemned on
sanitary grounds.
In furnishing, there are two inviolable
rules, namely; There must be no ar
rapgement of window draperies that OBJ
s,ructs the free entrance OF air, nor any
appointments whatsoever that are not
easily kept free from dust. The main
snd indispensable point Is thst there
shall be an adequate exit for impure air,
and an abundant entrance OF that which
IL fresh and Dncontsminated.
In n general, vsgue sort OF way, we
know fresh air IL essential to life. Bat
how msny OF even the most conscienti-
Gus hou sekeepers have an ever-present,
active realization that fresh air IL one oil
the two sources of nourishment possess
ID by the bodyt That Ii starves for the
want OF fresh air Just as surely, and far
oftener, than for the want OF food: and
that, no matter how clean snd active the
kin IL kept, the lungs are constantly
hrowing of poisonous csrbonic scid
gss; and II this gas Il confined In room
md absorbed again In the process oil
breathing, we are recklessly batterinH
down the fortress with one hand, while
we build IL up with the other.
Starving or overlooking the stomach
makes itself felt so directly and forcibly
tbs, the veriest duilard realizes some.
thing Of his offense. But the effects oil
Inhsling impure air are more diiidsiv,
and obscure, aud We poison, overwors
or s,srve our blood, without a suspicion
Of our culpsbillty. What wonder, then,
that ventilation Is the least appreciated
festure Of domestic ssnitstiony
The dangers from breathing impure
air. are, of course, greater In winter thsr
in warm weather. la fact, more colds,
catarrhs and lu1uenxas are caused b,
over cheated and impure air than expos
ure.
OF course good automatic arrange
ment Is better than window ventilation
because II never forgcts or never sleeps
but once convinced OF the necessity
there are few bedrooms that cannot b.
kept inside the safety line by window
ventilation, direct or from an adjoining
room. But do not make the mistake o.
thiI king that because bedroom IA cold
ar you admit air from cold room, thai
IL is necessarily pure air.
II Is impossible to over-rate the ne
cessity OF fresh air and perfect clesnli
ness. both in the bedroom snd about TN
person; but at the same time the bes
results are not possible unless the cloth
ing OF the bed and its occupants arr
brought into proper sanitary relations
ith the room itself. Ia fact, absolute
cles nliness OF the person or room Is no
possible II the clothing aud bedding re
tain the odorous exudstions from tn
pores OF the skin. Neither can health b.
maintained, nor restored, II the vitality i
oyertaxed TO keep up a comfortable de
gree OF heat, or 10 support excessivei!
heavy clothing or bedding.
Wool seems TO be the one and onll
material that IL In every way calculated
ono doubt Intentionally TO keep tn
machinery OF the BODY 10 perfect work
ing order. Most authorities agree tina
WOODEN garments should be worn mex
the skin By night az well a. by day, ant
there Is no longer sny question but tina
two lightweight wooleu undergarment
or bed blankets are warmer than ont
heavy one.
| IL o.
the moisture and odors that leave tn
body through the pores: but wooden !
porous unless matted together by i'm
proper lsundering). and allows thes'
impurities TO escape; and so Ia not onl.
warmer, because dryer and softer. bu
when clothing and bedding are exclu
sively wooden. these exudations vii
make their way through il, and escap
from the room with the poisonous case
thrown out by the lungs.
Cancels hair and wooden underwear, II
Shich the wool Was steam shrunk befor
| IL was woven. will not shrink perceptiol.
| IL properly washed; but II one can no
be sure OF the later, it Is better 10 maxi
bed. gowns Of French flannel, or othe
mixture in which wool predominant
over cotton, as such fabrics are almos
sure to remain porous.
Sunshine Is an invaluable agent II
purifying the bedroom aud all Its belong
iugs. and IL should be allowed 10 pene
traie TO the fsrthest corner. Frequen
airings and sunnings of clothing ant
bedding are imperative, and no incon
venience should be thought too great Il
secure them. When there Ia no sun
shine, hang them before the fire to DIR.
and freshen.
Are you fighting losing battle slonl
any Of these lines. IL so, better call
halt.-Demorest's Magazine.