The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-08
In the Sweet
Summer Time

NMEE have had some summer this
vFW season If all goes well, we
W. shall have some more. At the
first onset of the high tenn
perature the newspapers heightened
and blackened their scare headlines
preparatory to making out the heat
as big thing as possible. The most
prominent news item of each edition
was the record of those who had been
Knocked over with the heat, in the
street at their daily tasks or in their
homes. This was encouraging and call
culated to make the ordinary mortal
say to himself or herself: Il wonder IL
my turn won't come tomorrow? Oh
and ah! I wonder if this awful heat
viii last another twenty-four hours.
and If it does 1 wonder if I'll live
through it? oh and all! oh and aht,'
So they made the most and worst Of
the heat and enjoyed thinking how
they suffered.
The heat prostrations and the deaths
from sunstroke occurred oftener than
otherwise among the very poor. those
who do not know enough to battle
themselves and would not do it il they
did. They simply lay down and smoth-
cred in their own skin incrustations,
woolly. unclean clothing and their own
nicrobe surcharged atmosphere.
We sing the virtues of wateri When
you are parched with thirst, which
would you accept first, champagne at
$40 bottle or a gourdful of cold water
from a hillside spring? Nobody will
die from the heat who knows the health
giving. health preserving qualities of
clean water
Are your rooms sitting? Up with
your stuffy woollen rugs, down with
suffocating lace curtains and dust
catching draperies-if you have not
already downed them. Bring a pail
of clean, cold water-the cleanest, cold
est you can get. Dip a clean dust cloth
into it. wiring out and wipe off the
heated furniture of all that room, chair
rungs. tables. bookcase = everything.
Particularly wash thoroughly the
superheated window sills and castings
| upon which the sun beats fiercely. So
soon as the water becomes dingy
change ii for another pailful of the
blessed life bringing fluid and go on.
Last of all wipe the floor with the
cold water and cloth You will be sur
prised at the cool refreshment that fills
the room. 1 did this one of the hottest
days of the summer. and really the
temperature seemed ten degrees lower
! Wnen naQ n1llSncQ.
Conclude the performance with a
slashing, splashing bath yourself, warm
or cold, as suits you best, and you too
will be ready TO sing a brave song to
the glory of water, a blessing the
creator has showered upon US in such
quantity that only those die from sum-
mer heat who do not utilize the COM
mon blessing.
Look about you at the foolish people
| who are so distressed by the heat.
Most of them are clad in woollen
clothing only a shade lighter than they
wear in the coolest weather. Why.
even the four footed wild animal has
sense enough to shed its fur in the
summer; man is the only creature who
apparently does not know enough to do
this. Awfully stupid, we arel There
are a few simple suggestions that will
help anybody to keep cool in the hottest
weather. Do not lose sight of the
virtues of water. Sprinkle it freely
upon floors that cannot be wiped con-
veniently. Take a bath twice day IL
you can, and three times won't hurt
you. See that the children are bathed
before they are put to bed at night.
Troublesome? Yes. But not half so
troublesome as sunstroke. Wear the
thinnest. lightest clothing possible, and
| dress your family in the same way
The conventionalities of raiment put
upon US twice as much dry goods as
we ought to wear in hot weather. Off
with the superfluous half of it, No
body but yourself will know any better
and you will be comfortable. Drink
great quantities of water, too. Eat
| only half as much food as usual. Let
it be of the lightest quality, such as
fruits. vegetables and cooling drinks.
Avoid meats and heating drinks. Final
ly, keep cool in your mind. Don't fret
and fume over the heat. Put it out of
your mind altogether. What are you
here for, if not to control your
thoughts and sensations?
MARY GOULD LYTLE.