The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-12-12

matter of light and air has been the
subject of earnest consideration on the
part of the municipal authorities. Ev-
cry municipality has it's official archi-
tect who superviseS the construction of
all buildings and issues all building
permits He sees that all the laws are
strictly complied with, and the laws
haVeIbeen carefully framed with a view
to compelling all the city buildings to
have plenty of light and air. The inge-
puity with which the laws have been
framed is equalled only by the ingenui
ty with which they have been nuilified.
1t is provided by law that the ceiling
of every house shall not be less than
thirteen feet high and that each house
shall have an open court yard one quar-
ter the size of the building. The airi
ness thus obtained is offset by the man
ner in which the building is construct
ed. Next to the open court is built
long hall In the rooms which open
from this hall there are no windows
The rooms are without ventilation eX-
cept what comes through the door.
They are, therefore, most delightful for
sleeping; an absolutely close room is
esteemed a great luxury in land
ter weather. The poor people who are
unable to shut the air completely out of
their miserable shacks swathe their
heads in blankets when they sleep.
| The window novelty has caused much
discussion among the Americans, and
the arguments caused by the Porto Ri
can habit of keeping the front shutters
closed and when the wind blows have
Ibeen heated and frequent. One prying
Americana attempted to secure positive
Information and put a mild native to
the torture in this manner:
| Say, Spiggoti, why don't you have
windows in those rooms opening off the
lhall?"
The law forbids," replied the native
''Forbids what?"
Having the window"
"Why?"
The native shrugged his shoulders
why does it forbid having windows
lSpiggoti?" persisted the American.
"Oh, / don't know. It's an old law
But why is it law? What is it tc
lprevent?'
I'VE might get through the windows
on our neighbors property"
We'll what if you did? Would you
harm the property?"
Il don't know. suppose they might
not like 1t, eh?"
"Ain't you honest?"
II think so; yes
Yes; l don't think, you mean. II
you've got such a fool law, why didnr
you build the hall on the dark side ="
| ''Oh, l don't know
. You don't know Ell? / guess that.
no jest. If you'd put the rooms on thi
side and the hall on the other you'C
have got light and breeze, wouldn'
: lyou?"
Yes, 1 suppose So
why didn't you do it then? ]
wouldn't have cost any more"
[ Il never saw one built that way"
Don't you like light?
Not to sleep in"
, Don't you like air?"
. "The night air-you people of IN
+ north don't know what it is. 1t is s.
: damp and cold, it gives what you cal
the pneumonia. 1t is very bad-boo-o-
and the native shivered at the thought
Then you like to sleep cooped up il
, those dark kennels, do your
r "The rooms you see, those we like.
The law which forbids windows tha
: open toward or upon the adjoining
property is so strictly enforced thai
man who owned two lots and built ol
5 one of them was forbidden to put win
{ dows on the side Of the house whicl
r was next to his other lot. The city ar
= chitect, who was backed by tha
! dominant and august parsonage, tn
T Alcalde, said that some day the 10
might be sold and the new owner nigh
e object to the windows. 1t so hapne"'