Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-10
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

from a friend In the north on a sub
ject which IS worthy OF notice by our
people In every part OF this State. The
complaint which he makes is common,
and ought TO be placed before the spe-
clal attention OF those who are In
charge OF the meeting houses OF the
Latter-day Saints, He says;
For about two months have at
tended but one meeting on account OF
the Impure air that II kept In our meet
Ing house. The Janitor Is allowed to
depend almost entirely upon the breath
OF the people TO warm the room and
for fear Of making Il too cold no fresh
air Is admitted As soon as the people
leave the house II Is entirely closed up
untn another session, and so II con-
tinues one week after another Much as
! desire to attend meeting | cannot
tolerate the poison air that fills our
meeting house and I ind that others
keep away for the same cause"
We can sympathlze with our friend.
for we have experienced similar disgust
In being compelled TO breathe the foul
air, caused by large number OF
breaths In tightly closed room, where
there Is no opportunity for the impure
atmosphere to go out nor for fresh air TO
come in except when the door is opened
for some one who comes late 70 meet
ing. 1t Is difficult, however, TO suit con-
ditlons to different people. Some folks
are afraid to have cold air admitted,
while others almost gasp for breath in
a Initiated atmosphere.
What is called a cold" is caused
oftener by Just such conditions as our
correspondent complains Of. than by
contact with chilly air. There are two
things in the way Of healthful condi-
ton in public assemblies. One is. the
aversion which few persons have to
any kind Of ventilation; and the other
is. the lack Of common sense in persons
who are entrusted with the duty OF pro-
vidlng H.
II people would learn the simple fact
that a certain quantity Of oxygen Is alb
solutely necessary to health. and that
when II becomes nearly exhausted
through being inhaled, and the air is
impregnated with that which is
brea,hed out from so many lungs, Il be-
comes actually poisonous and danger
Gus 20 life. they would not object TO the
admission Of fresh air, even II II is
q little colder than seems pleasant, but
they would look upon 1t as absolutely
essential to comfort and TO health. But
when the ordinary attendant Is request
ed TO make a change in the atmospheric
conditions. he viii usually let down the
windows, or open the doors. in such a
way that cold blast Will strike bald
headed or otherwise sensitive persons,
who Immediately make demand that
the aperture shall be closed.
Ordinarily, two or three inches Of
space at the top OF meeting house win
dovs will be found sufficient TO ven
tilate the room during services. When
the wind Is blowing from one partlcu-
lar directltu. the windows on that side
need not be let down so as to convey
the blast upon the heads OF necks OF
folks sitting In that vicinity. But Il Of
ten occurs that when word Is given to
lower the windows so as to change the
air. they will be let down on the wind
ward side and so have to be closed
again or some people will suffer.
Meeting houses, school houses. lee
ture halls, and places Of public enter
tainment ought TO be ventilated both
before and after the audience assem-
bles. and IN the winter season they
should be warmed beforehand II jani-
tors viii not use their brains on this
matter those persons who preside
should think over IT, and so direct that
people will not be injured In body when
they come together TO be refreshed in
spirit ard enlightened In mind. The
subject OF ventilation needs 10 be ven-
lilated, as regards both our public
holdings and our private dwelling
nlaces