The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-20

lean ingenuity. Portable awnings and
tents are adjusted on the outside of win
dows and make an indoor window tent.
There are several inventions, but all
of them are constructed to allow the per-
son to sleep with his head out of doors.
and yet be entirely protected and SAFE
All of those modern devices are for those
who cannot get out in the open country,
or who do not have screened porches
where they can sleep.
Sleeping In the open was a great fad
this summer at a number Of country
houses in Western North Carolina. At
one of these houses the porches were
Utilized by bringing out cots every night,
and by being provided by thoughtful
hostess with sufficient bed covering no
discomfort was felt Although ON orc
night the rain set in the cots were not
moved and those occupying them only
tucked their comforters in q little more
snug.
One enthusiastic New York woman has
slept out on the lawn of country house
in the Satire country. She provided her
self with plenty of warm covering and
drew over her comforter an oil cloth COW
err In the morning, due to the heavy
dews, the water ran off the oil cover III
rivulets. This woman is one of the most
enthusiastic converts TO the sleeping in
of health and beauty.
With the snd of vacation days 1t is
generally supposed that the out of door
life of summer is over. We say goodhy
to the days that have been passed be-
meath the trees, to fresh air and life in
the open and make our preparations to
go back to town. to resign ourselves to
close houses for the greater part of the
year.
The time is coming for us to hibernate.
But now is the season when the fresh
air enthusiasts are preaching to us to let
the fresh air In our rooms day and night,
and to stay out of doors in this fine au-
tumn weather.
With the first breath of autumn chill
and the first touch of winter we are In
clined to give up our out Of door life
and to set aside the simple rules that
have meant for health as long as we
let ourselves inhale the fresh air that
possesses so many healing properties.
The result is disastrous to our vitalities.
The setting aside of this health creed
that we adopted long as we were out Of
town means that we will have to comfort
the same colds and similar Ills and that
we are simply undoing all Of our good
work.
But a distinct advance has been made
where 1t is proved that colds are not
contracted In the open air, but In stuffy.
poorly ventilated houses.
heard a woman say this summer that
she had discovered the cause for the
aenemic condition of the mountaineers,
their pale washed out appearance.
Entire families sleep in one room, Oft
en- windowless, and without any ventila-
ton whatever with the exception of the
small open fireplace, which is not suffi-
cient ventilation, although so much is
claimed for It. Year after year large
families, the mother and father and any
where from five to ten children sleep in
this one small room, and it is not surpis-
ing that the children look pale and poor
" nourished, breathing this atmosphere
from the moment they come into the
world, until they move into cabin of
their own and which is no Improvement
upon the one In which they were raised.
Tuberculosis is frequent among these
natives in the southern mountains and
when it selzes them they do not have
the same beneficial results from the eli
mate as do the tuberculosis patients who
come from other sections Unless they
go away they succumb quickly, while In
the very section of country where they
have lived all their lives, people who
know the curative powers of that climate
are reaping Its full benefits